Little Dorrit is rather overshadowed by the more popular of Dickens' novels, but it really is worth reading.
Broken up into two parts, the first being Poverty and the second being Riches,
the whole premise centres on the theme of imprisonment (both physical and
mental).
When Dickens was a young boy his
father was sent to the Marshalsea debtor’s prison whilst the young Dickens went
out to work in a blacking warehouse.
This very negative experience served as inspiration for this novel. The character ‘Little Dorrit’ is Amy Dorrit, a slight young woman, who is born into the Marshalsea and has lived there all
her life up to the point where the story first commences. She looks after her father, an impoverished
gentleman, and finds work sewing for people outside of the Marshalsea, whilst her siblings enjoy a better life living with their uncle.
When the Dorrit's receive a
change of fortune Amy finds it very hard to live on the other side of the
prison walls having known nothing else.
Mr Dorrit, known as the ‘Father of the Marshalsea’, in respect of the
many years he has endured there, is a very arrogant and selfish man. He soon
rejects all those who have helped him and befriended him in the past and takes
his family abroad. However, even
distance does not give him piece of mind, for he lives in fear that his
children might let something slip in society or that he will meet someone who
is familiar with his previous circumstance.
There is another storyline which centres
on the House of Clennam and a suspicious foreign criminal, but I found it rather
messy and hard to follow. The main
character from this storyline is Arthur Clennam and he links the two stories
having befriended the Dorrits during their imprisonment (Amy had done some
sewing for his ailing but iron-willed mother).
Arthur also has dealings with the wonderfully named ‘Circumlocution
Office’, which is a government department and a prime example of how things
should not be done. Dickens shows his
satirical prowess to great advantage when writing about this office.
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| Flora Finching - BBC Adaptation |
There are many other characters,
some relevant and some just filler, but by far my favourite was the kind hearted Flora
Finching. Flora and Arthur had been
sweethearts and when they meet again on Arthur's return from overseas she is
much changed ie rather rotund and older for her age. What I loved about her were the references
she made about herself, and her weight, and the long dialogues which she
delivers at a rate of knots whilst drifting off subject in a big way before finding
her way back again. She had me laughing every time, I thought she was brilliant.
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| John Chivery - BBC Adaptation |
Another good character was John
Chivery who works at the Marshalsea. He
loves Amy Dorrit, his childhood friend, but is usurped by Arthur Clennam. He comes up with various epitaphs for his own
headstone relevant to whatever event has taken place in each of his scenes. Ie Here lie the mortal remains of John Chivery,
never anything worth mentionin', who died of a broken heart, requested with his
last breath that the word "Amy" be inscribed over his ashes which was
accordingly directed to be done by his afflicted father. I thought him very adorable and heartbreaking!
The BBC have a wonderful adaptation available, you can see the trailer here: Little Dorrit
I just can't get enough of
Dickens at the moment, I was only going to read three this year but I've just
lined up another two (Hard Times and Our
Mutual Friend), but before I delve into them I'm going to read Jane
Austen's Persuasion.
So, until we meet again, Happy Reading !
Maxine
