How about a short story about the Bagnets?

I'm beginning to appreciate this book. While Dickens takes his sweet time setting the stage for the twists and turns of this story, his back story is well worth it once action begins to take place! There's finally some intrigue and excitement including, as previously mentioned, an orphaned daughter reunited with her mother (which must never be spoken of), this secret shared in society, a murder, a proposal, and the subject of this post, more with the Bagnets!

I wonder if Dickens ever wrote a short story about the Bagnets. They are wonderful, what especially endears me to their subplot is the interaction between Mr. and Mrs. Bagnet. He, Mr. Bagnet, never speaks his opinion, but rather simply acquieses to his wife who always knows his opinion and speaks it eloquently. The beauty here is that Mr. Bagnet fully acknowledges this interaction and sanctions it repeatedly. It's a testament to feminism and love in a marriage in that Dickens paints a picture of a household that is run by a woman both in terms of functionality and philosophy.

My favorite interaction with the Bagnets so far was one I just finished reading where it's Mrs. Bagnet's birthday and she her prescribed birthday present is to do nothing all day long. The humor arises as she must watch, hands tied, as her husband prepares her birthday dinner, along with the help of the children, and she cringes with each misstep. But, because of her love for her family, she does not interfere, at least verbally, and allows the birthday meal to be prepared with little but knowing glances to her daughters when serious errors are being made. I certainly do no justice to the interactions here, but because of Dickens' style, the images created in my mind's eye of their house on that day, were comical and heartwarming. I'm anxious to see how the BBC handles these scenes.

I'm also finding that I've developed more sympathy for some of the lesser characters as this book is progressing. I'm saddened by events that are unfolding and am eager to see if seeming unjust treatment of some of the characters is rectified, or if it proves warranted.

Needless to say, I'm glad I weathered the first 800 pages of this book, as the detail with which Dickens writes is proving useful as events become more and more exciting and entertaining!

More later......

Only 300 pages left....

It's hard to believe but I'm still reading Bleak House. Dickens is very long winded and while this style was charming at first, now I'm finding it tedious. I'm finding that even when surprises happen, I'm just not excited about them because it takes entirely too long to read about them. What started out as an enjoyable journey through Dickensian England, is now just becoming laborious and I really want it over so I can go onto something new. Perhaps that's why I've not written in nearly a month and a half. I promise the next book will be better. At least I hope it will.