Little Dorrit - Charles Dickens

I have always been interested in stories that involve legal issues, so it felt natural for me to choose Little Dorrit. I was also curious because I learned that the novel exposes the inefficiency of the Marshalsea Prison as a debtors’ prison and criticizes the corruption of the Circumlocution Office as British system of patronage, how powerful government posts were controlled by elite families instead of earned by merit. Being aware of the powerful satire of Charles Dickens, I became even more eager to read it and understand what made the story so influential.

An important part of the story takes place in the Marshalsea Prison, where twenty-two-year-old Amy Dorrit, known as “Little Dorrit,” was born and raised. Her father, William Dorrit, was imprisoned there because he was unable to pay his debts. Amy lives in the prison with her father and her brother, Edward “Tip” Dorrit, while her sister Fanny lives outside with their uncle, Frederick, and works as a dancer. Together, they struggle to earn a living in order to support themselves and help repay their father’s debts.

But, the novel opens with the story of two French prisoners in Marseilles, Cavalletto and Rigaud. Later, we discover that Rigaud has several connections to the main characters. At first, I felt slightly confused, especially because the names Marshalsea and Marseilles sound so similar. The narrative then shifts to introduce Arthur Clennam, who is returning to England after completing his business in China. On board the ship, he travels with the Meagles family and Miss Wade, both of whom will later play important roles in the development of the story.

This book is 800 pages long, that we will wait to meet Amy Dorrit in. Amy's fate first crosses with Arthur Clennam when she goes to work at Mrs. Clennam’s house as a seamstress, using her needle to mend and sew. It is there that Arthur notices her quiet patience and gentle character. Gradually, he begins to suspect that Little Dorrit is not just an ordinary seamstress, is someone who is somehow connected to his own family’s past. 

The Dorrit family turns out to be victims of the delay and inefficiency of the Circumlocution Office, whose complicated and negligent administration caused the rightful legacy to remain buried for years. Instead Arthur Clennam search for his family past, he discovers a dramatic change to the Dorrit family’s life, transforming them from poverty to sudden wealth. This major shift is reflected in the structure of the novel itself, which is divided into two parts to show the contrast between their life in hardship and their life in riches. However, Arthur keep searching his own family past, make this novel turn into mystery.

In Little Dorrit, Dickens constructs a complex and interconnected story by combining several different plotlines involving the Dorrits, the Clennams, the Merdles, the Meagles family, the Casby and others. Each storyline has a different tone: some parts are full of emotional suffering, others contain comedy, and many sections strongly express social satire. 

One of the most memorable parts for me is when Amy travels to Europe. The tone of the novel suddenly changes from the bleak, gloomy, and hazy atmosphere of London to the bright, pleasant, and colorful setting of Italy. This contrast makes the story feel lighter and more hopeful. I especially like the moment when Amy meets Minnie “Pet” Meagles and becomes her friend, as it shows Amy’s gentle and sincere character in a new environment. The comic interactions between Fanny Dorrit and Mrs. Merdle also add humor to the story. Their conversations and social pretensions provide comic relief and give a lighter touch to the narrative, balancing the more serious and emotional parts of the novel. But what I really waiting for is the triangle love story between John - Amy - Arthur.

The phrase “Do Not Forget” is closely related to the psychological struggles of the characters. Mr. Dorrit strongly wants to forget his painful past in the Marshalsea Prison because he feels ashamed of it and wants to protect his new social status. On the other hand, Mrs. Clennam refuses to forget the past and holds on to guilt and old grievances, similar to Miss Havisham in Great Expectations.

Marshalsea Prison

Dickens also criticizes the financial elite through the character of Mr. Merdle, whose reputation as a successful and brilliant businessman is built more on public illusion than on real honesty. Many people trust and admire him simply because he appears wealthy and powerful. Another example is the figure of the “Patriarch,” Mr. Casby. In front of his tenants, he presents himself as kind and generous, almost like a Santa Claus figure. However, in reality, he is selfish and manipulative. He forces his agent, Mr. Pancks, to collect high rents and pressure the tenants, while he keeps his own reputation clean. Through these characters, Dickens shows how appearances can be deceiving and how those in power often hide their exploitation behind a respectable image.

Speak about The Marshalsea institution was established as part of the legal system at the time, based on the belief that imprisoning debtors would pressure them or their families to settle their debts. However, as Dickens shows in the novel, the system was often cruel and ineffective, trapping families in long-term poverty rather than solving their financial problems. 

In the end, the moral message of the story seems to question what “home” truly means. Is home a place of wealth and social status, or is it where love, loyalty, and sincerity exist?

Amy Dorrit, as the emotional heart of the novel, shows a beautiful and sincere ability to forgive and to reconcile with the past. She does not care about status, money, or social ambition. Even after experiencing wealth and traveling abroad, she still feels deeply connected to the Marshalsea Prison, because it is the place where her love and sacrifices were rooted. Through Amy, Dickens suggests that a true home is not defined by riches or reputation, but by compassion, memory, and genuine human connection. 

"None of us clearly know to whom or to what we are indebted in this wise, until some marked stop in the whirling wheel of life brings the right perception with it. It comes with sickness, it comes with sorrow, it comes with the loss of the dearly loved, it is one of the most frequent uses of adversity. "

Finally, I give Little Dorrit four stars. Although the novel is rich and meaningful, I often found the conversations overly long and repetitive—especially Flora’s rambling speeches and Mr. Meagles’ lengthy remarks. The extended satire of the Circumlocution Office and the detailed descriptions of the Barnacle elite sometimes felt excessive and made parts of the book is bored.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬(4/5)
Title : Little Dorrit
Author : Charles Dickens
Publisher : Wordsworth Classics
Year : 2013 (First Published in 1857)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 848 pages
ISBN :  9781853261824

Bleak House - Charles Dickens

I pledge to read at least one Dickens novel each year, as a way to stay connected with the richness of classic literature. When I came across Bleak House, I didn’t expect much—until I found myself completely absorbed into the world Dickens created. His words drew me in so deeply that it felt like I was living alongside the characters, wandering through the fog of London, feeling their struggles and hopes. It was an unforgettable, immersive reading experience—one that reminded me why Dickens remains timeless.

The case of Jarndyce and Jarndyce is a very old and confusing court. It is about a group of people fighting over a large amount of money left in a will. The case had been going on for many years, so long that even the people involved didn’t fully understand it anymore. It wasted everyone’s time and money, and many people’s lives were ruined while waiting for the result. 

Esther Summerson, Richard Carstone, and Ada Clare are closely connected to each other through both personal relationships and the Jarndyce and Jarndyce case. Esther is the kind and humble narrator of the story, who becomes a companion and guardian to Ada. Ada and Richard are young cousins who fall in love, and both are wards in the Jarndyce case, meaning their futures depend on the outcome of the lawsuit. They all live together at Bleak House under the care of Mr. John Jarndyce, who acts as a father figure. While Esther tries to keep peace and offer wisdom, Richard becomes obsessed with the court case, which causes tension and worry, especially for Ada. Their lives become more complicated and emotional as they try to support each other while dealing with the harmful effects of the endless lawsuit.

Bleak House has many mysteries, many subplot are conected to each other, at first, the novel seems to have many separate storylines, but as the story goes on, Dickens slowly shows that all these plots are interwoven. The mysteries about Lady Dedlock's past become a central of the story, is about where she really comes from and the secret she hides. Mr. Tulkinghorn, her husband's serious and cold lawyer, becomes suspicious and starts watching her closely. He tries to find out the truth, like a cat chasing a mouse. As he digs deeper, he uncovers a hidden connection between Lady Dedlock and Esther Summerson. Their pasts are secretly tied together, and this mystery becomes one of the most important parts of the story.

In this novel, Dickens shows how the law system is full of problems and corruption. The lawyers make the case go on for many years without ending it, just so they can keep getting paid. They do not really care about helping people, but only about making money. This makes the people suffer while the lawyers and the court waste time and money. 

Dickens made Esther’s character is truly angelic, she is kind, patient, humble, and always puts others before herself. Esther was admired by several gentlemen, including the clerk law clerk at Kenge and Carboy, William Guppy and the surgeon Allan Woodcourt.

I like the character of Lady Dedlock, she is truly a noble lady. She remains strong, elegant, and graceful even when facing difficult and painful situations. Despite the secrets and dangers around her, she keeps her dignity and never loses her composure, she shouldering the flawless future of the Deadlock family.

Afterwhile, we see that Bleak House has so many characters, too many to mention. Many of them are "devil-like" figures, such as Mr. Tulkinghorn and Mr. Vholes, the sly lawyer who drags out Richard Carstone’s case just to make money. There are also disgusting and selfish characters like Mr. Skimpole, who pretends to be innocent while taking advantage of others. But the most devil-like figures is the Chancery Court itself, because its broken system creates suffering without responsibility. 

I almost forget to mention Mr. Bucket ! 

The character of Mr. Bucket is a pioneer of the modern detective, as he shows sharp observation, calm thinking, and clever methods long before the classic detectives of later fiction. Mr. Bucket solved the central case of this novel.

Though it is long, every page builds a rich world filled with mystery, emotion, and unforgettable characters.  His writing may take time, but it rewards the reader with wisdom, beauty, and truth that still matter today. 5 stars for Bleak House.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬✬(5/5)

Title : Bleak House

Author : Charles Dickens
Publisher : Penguin Classics (black spine)

Year : 2003 (First Published in 1853)

Format / Pages : Softcover / 989 pages

Review David Copperfield by Charles Dickens

The story is centered on the principal protagonist, David Copperfield, and runs from his childhood to his adulthood and success as a writer which is principally narrated through his perspective. David's description of all the obstacles that have kept him from achieving peace, financial stability and finding true love is so detailed. It's considered to be Dicken's partial autobiographical novel.

David Copperfield enjoy his childhood with his mother and her faithful servant, Peggotty, until his mother marries again and proves powerless to protect him from the cruelty of his stepfather, Mr Murdstone. Mr Murdstone sends David to a boarding school in London where he makes friends with Steerforth and Traddles. When David’s mother and his brother die, His step father exploit him and sent to work at Mr Quinion’s business. David, who is only a child at seven years old must deal with slavery work till he runaway to Dover to find his only relative, aunt Betsy Trotwood, then he met Agnes Wickfield and Uriah Heep. The story is even more interesting, because the more David grown-up and, the more obstacle in life to deal with, the more mature he become.

This book is one of the popular works of Dickens and is widely read. And everyone is more or less aware of the storyline and the characters. The sinister sibling of Mr and Miss Murdstone (metallic woman) is not something to be easily forgotten. The first impression of Mr. Murdstone according to little David's view was quite charming but after the mariage, his true nature comes out, he becomes cruel and dictator. His evil and violent behavior traumatized Little David. 

Even beloved characters will never be forgotten, I love aunt Betsy Trotwood- the best aunties ever, Peggoty-who always understanding Davy,  the spoiled Dora Spenlow- the childlike lady (David's love interest) but very cheerful and enjoying her life, and the eccentric ones, Mr, Micawber-  always speaks sophisticatedly like Shakespeare and seems hard to understand, but luckily has a wife who loving him unconditionally. About Agnes Wickfield, for me, she is too perfect. For David,Those people means a lot. 

  

This is the first time I read Charles Dickens' novel in english edition, take a lot two months ! I admit this is the longest Dickens' novel I ever read. If we can't be the hero for somebody else, at last we can be the hero for our own.

"Whether I shall turn out to be the hero of my own life, or whether that station will be held by anybody else, these pages must show." (Chapter 1, pg. 5)

Rating Ruang Buku Megga : ✬✬✬✬ (4/5)

​Title : David Copperfield

Author : Charles Dickens

Publisher : Wordsworth Classics

Year :  2000 (First Published in 1850)
Pages :  750 pages

ISBN : 9781853260247

Review Novel Klasik North and South - Elizabeth Gaskell

North and South is a Victorian realism novel written by Elizabeth Gaskell. It is quite dark and satire, but spiced up by romance. The story begins in South, the protagonist Margaret Hale has lived happily in beautiful southern village, Helstone. She was the daughter of a Clergyperson, but suddenly her father leaves the Church of England because his unexplained doubts and cricis conscience, so he decided to become a tutor in a nothern town, Milton. 

Milton is an industrial town that is mostly in cotton manufacturing. The Milton atmosphere dominates the main story, most of the smokiness and pollution. It's opposite from southern Helstone which is clearer, greener and fresher. There is a wealthy and influential manufacturer, John Thornton, master of Marlborough Mills, whose destiny is intertwined with Margaret. John Thornton is one of Mr. Hale's student. Margaret and Thornton are at odds with each other. He saw the beauty of Margaret, but was annoyed with her initial prejudice.

‘A more proud, disagreeable girl I never saw. Even her great beauty is blotted out of one’s memory by her scornful ways.’  (John Thornton, Pg. 99)

https://www.morganodriscoll.com/art/laurence-stephen-lowry-industrial-town/57184

Margaret finds the town of Milton is strange, the new condition that she must deal with. She is upset by its poverty and dirty environment. The poor people of the south are not as terrible as in the north. Margaret befriends the daughter of the worker, Bessy Higgins. When Bessy worked at a cotton mill, she was too polluted by the 'fluff'. The workers must face dangerous working condition at the cotton mill.

‘Fluff,’ repeated Bessy. ‘Little bits, as fly off fro’ the cotton, when they’re carding it, and fill the air till it looks all fine white dust. They say it winds round the lungs, and tightens them up. Anyhow, there’s many a one as works in a carding-room, that falls into a waste, coughing and spitting blood, because they’re just poisoned by the fluff.’ ( Page 118)

Margaret tried to please herself by talking with Bessy, Since then, Margaret became concerned about poverty and the health of manufacturing workers, and then, she had the opportunity to hear about the strike (the workers refuse to work) from the perspective of a working family. Because her father was a good friend of John Thornton, Margaret became close to the Thornton family. She met Mrs. Thornton, John's mother and his sister, Fanny. Gaskell shows two sides and two points of view between the workers and the masters. We see the way the workers view their masters, and what the workers thought about the master.

....Th’ women are as bad as th’ men, in their savageness, this time. Food is high,—and they mun have food for their childer, I reckon. Suppose Thorntons sent ’em their dinner out,— th’ same money, spent on potatoes and meal, would keep many a crying babby quiet, and hush up its mother’s heart for a bit!’ (Bessy, pg. 177) 

‘Yes; the fools will have a strike. Let them. It suits us well enough. But we gave them a chance. They think trade is flourishing as it was last year. We see the storm on the horizon and draw in our sails. But because we don’t explain our reasons, they won’t believe we’re acting reasonably. We must give them line and letter for the way we choose to spend or save our money...."

'Do you give your servants reasons for your expenditure, or your economy in the use of your own money? We, the owners of capital, have a right to choose what we will do with it.' (John Thornton, pg. 137)

Technological advances that drove the industrial revolution made entrepreneurs gain multiple profits, with very fast and large production. The workers in the north were no longer slaves, they worked with machines. But workers are humans, not machines. If there's something that they disagree with the master, they must riot and rebel because it's the only way the master would hear. If they united, they have the power to shut down industrial. So, this could be a weapon against the master when they want a higher wage.  

The North and South is not only about northern versus southern, but also about master versus workers. If it was a competition, who would be the winner? If there's any win-win solution to both of the welfare? The balance of industry lies in the workers and masters. A mill cannot run without a master, and a master can not operate a mill alone. Master and workers are like a symbiosis mutualism. They must work together to achieve the balance. But, the thing is, how the master treats them. Do they treat as a slave or just mere machines?

‘Mr. Thornton,’ said Margaret, shaking all over with her passion, ‘go down this instant, if you are not a coward. Go down and face them like a man. Save these poor strangers, whom you have decoyed here. Speak to your workmen as if they were human beings. Speak to them kindly. Don’t let the soldiers come in and cut down poor-creatures who are driven mad. I see one there who is. If you have any courage or noble quality in you, go out and speak to them, man to man.’ (Margaret, pg. 209)

I think Margaret's existence in Milton could be a mediator between master and workers. She is strong-minded, incredibly cares for working-class people, but she is very bold when she speaks about humanity and poverty to upper-class people. The story about poverty caught the reader's sympathy. What I like about John Thornton is, he is a family man. I admire his hard work from zero to become a successful businessman. He is a figure who puts his mother first, quite like mama's boy but he is a kind of man who doesn't talk much but acts. There's a character that I do not quite like. She is Mrs. Hannah Thornton, because she was underestimated Margaret, she considers Margaret a peny-less woman and do not equal to her son. 

This is my first experience reading Elizabeth Gaskell novels. So long I've been curious about her writing. I really enjoyed my reading process. Obviously, it's not disappointing, I love it so much, it's really expanding my 19th Victorian reading which I like the most. Sure, I will read many of her masterpieces novels in the future.

Fun fact: Elizabeth Gaskell wanted the novel to be titled after the heroine, Margaret Hale, but Charles Dickens, the editor of this series, insisted on North and South.

Rating Ruang Buku Megga : ✬✬✬✬✬ (5/5)

​Title : North and South

Author : Elizabeth Gaskell

Publisher : Penguin Popular Classics

Year :  1994
Pages :  521 pages

ISBN : 9780140620191

Review dan Ulasan Novel Klasik Tess d'urbervilles by Thomas Hardy

Tess of d'Urbervilles is a romance classics novel, naturaly portray the peasant life of fictional town called Wessex. The protagonist, a young Teresa Durbeyfield is innocent and pure, because what her family believe that they are decesdent of d'Urbervilles, the old house who came from Normandy with William The Conqueror as appears by Battle Abbey Roll. Tess live with her drunkard father, mother and her little brother and sister.

She had errand to seeking for financial support and fortune, she began a journey towards d'Urbervilles  mansion to klaim kin. Little does she know, at d'Urbervilles mansion, her apparence captivated in Alec d'Urbervilles' eyes, a men who turns up her world up-side down. Tess gets a job as his mother poultry keeper.  Tess's life at Tantridge was quite pleasant, her income may help to support  family. But, an incident came, she impregnated by Alec, the incident is not by her will and she does not love Alec, Tess is swore that she never ever see him again. Tess return home and give birth Alec's child, the poor child named Sorrow only given a short life. 

Review dan Ulasan Novel Mansfield Park karya Jane Austen

Review ini saya tulis bertepatan dengan ulang tahun yang ke 244, Jane Austen yang lahir pada tanggal 16 Desember 1775.

Kehidupan di Mansfield Park benar-benar merubah Fanny. Fanny Price, gadis miskin dari Portsmouth pada usia sepuluh tahun diminta pamanya, Sir Thomas Bertram untuk menetap di rumahnya yang bernama Mansfield Park di Southampton. Karena perlakuan Mrs. Bertram terhadap Fanny harus dibedakan derajatnya dengan sepupunya tak jarang Ia diperlakukan seperti pelayan oleh semua sepupunya, kecuali sepupunya yang lebih tua, Edmund yang menyayangi dan menghormati Fanny layaknya saudari sendiri.
Kebaikan Edmund membuat Fanny lambat laun jatuh cinta. Malangnya hati Edmund sudah terlanjur tertambat kepada Mary Crawford, gadis bangsawan yang menawan. Fanny pun harus puas hanya dengan memandang Edmund dari jauh, terlebih setelah Edmund berkata ingin menikahi Mary. Tanpa diduga, pada saat bersamaan Henry Crawford, adik laki-laki Mary, mendekati Fanny dan berusaha merbut hatinya. Bisakah Fanny melupakan Edmund dan beralih ke Henry?

Review Great Expectations - Charles Dickens

Great Expectations

Great Expectations menyusuri sebuah Autobiografi seorang anak yatim piatu, tidak terkenal benama Philip Pirrip, namun mereka memanggilnya Pip. Seumur hidup Pip belum pernah melihat orang tua nya, di atas  makam dan batu nisan orangtuanya lah tempat nya ia bisa sendirian membanyangkan seperti apa sosok kedua orang tua nya. 

Tiba-tiba, seorang pria yang mengerikan, menggeram, berpakaian compang-camping, dan dengan kaki diikat, muncul dari balik batu nisan dan menangkap Pip. Narapidana yang melarikan diri ini mempertanyakan Pip dengan kasar dan menuntut agar Pip membawakannya makanan, pisau belati dan kikir.

Resensi dan ulasan buku Sense and Sensibility - Jane Austen

Judul : Sense and Sensibility
Penulis : Jane Austen
Format : Soft Cover
ISBN : 6024020171ISBN13:9786024020170
Tanggal Terbit : 1 Juni 2016
Terbit Pertama Kali : 1811, Inggris
Bahasa : Indonesia
Penerbit : Qanita Klasik
Halaman : 464
Dimensi : 130 mm x 205 mm

Norland Park adalah sebuah rumah besar yang di wariskan kepada Henry Dashwood berlokasi di Sussex, Inggris. Henry Dashwood tinggal bersama istri kedua nya dan keempat anaknya serta 1 menantu perempuan. Anak pertama nya adalah John Dashwood merupakan anak dari istri pertamanya. Ketiga anak perempuanya merupakan dari istri yg kedua, yaitu Elinor, Marianne dan Margaret. Kemudian setelah John Daswood menikah, istrinya Fanny Dashwood (Fanny Ferrars) tinggal bersama di Norland Park.