Dombey and Son by Charles DickensMy rating: 4 of 5 stars
The story of Paul Dombey and his son, also named Paul, should perhaps have been entitled ‘Dombey and Daughter’ for that is what it was essentially, for me at least. From the early part of the story Mr Dombey’s arrogance, pride, and misplaced misogyny made me furious with him. No doubt this was due as much to Dickens’ clever writing as to the changes in the mores of modern society, when a greater amount of respect and due is paid towards women, race, and social class etc. Although, I admit there is still a long way to go in many countries and cultures around the world.
After a brief introduction to Mr Dombey and his son the reader then encounters a large panoply of characters over the following six or seven hundred pages, together with the events and incidents that relate to the ‘great man’ himself, Mr Dombey. Each character that is mentioned in detail has a particular story of their own, and at times the complications woven around them by Dickens can be quite difficult to follow. On a few occasions I found myself looking back to previous chapters in order to be sure that I understood the tale correctly from their point of view. A couple of characters’ names were similar and I was half way through the book before I was sure I knew them, but only slightly even so! One often finds comments, even complaints, in contemporary book reviews about too many characters, and objections to several points of view – or head-hopping as it is usually termed. This makes me smile and feel sorry for those readers who cannot cope with such interesting writing. Maybe they have never read a novel by one of the classical authors, giants of the past; maybe they lack patience or the time to engage with the writer and his characters? I think it is their sad loss.
Altogether, I counted in excess of fifteen different, named characters, of which about ten had a particular relevance to Mr Dombey and Florence, his poor, neglected daughter, and the outcome of the story. Many of them are colourful, amusing and interesting in some way. But surely, we think that this is typical of most of Charles Dickens’ novels? And it is something to be enjoyed and savoured, over whatever time is available for readers to become so properly immersed in the book. Throughout the book I felt great sorrow for the plight of Florence, and disgust and anger towards her father. When he appeared to be getting his come-uppance towards the end I was glad, and then there is a twist that I will not reveal of course. However, it certainly made me feel surprised, disappointed and even fuller of my admiration for Florence’s generosity of love and spirit.
This was a thoroughly good read; thought provoking, and enormously compelling.
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