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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell
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Jonathan Strange & Mr Norrell - Week 4
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Chapter 14. Clarke is not only telling us a story of olden days, she has included an eccentric father, whose glimpses we get in works Of Dickens, Thackeray and Scott.
These chapters were very entertaining, a brief mention of Jonathan Strange’s background (very Gothic) and then back to Walter Pole’s home. The enchantment of Stephen Black and Lady Pole borrow from the legends of fairies, but Clarke is always adding a twist to link it with her London setting.Magic is not bringing any happiness - the Pole family are depressed, Mr Norrell is fighting a losing battle with the gentleman with thistle down hair who appears to have tricked him with their bargain, and Stephen is being tempted away from his attachment to Sir Walter.
I found these chapters funny and enjoyable. I wonder if Jonathan already has some magic in him? The part where Stephen didn't see him in his bedroom was eerie.
Chapter 16. It is spooky. I was strongly reminded of The Devil inviting Margarita to his party in The Master and Margarita. But the party is less devilish here.
Nidhi wrote: "Chapter 16. It is spooky. I was strongly reminded of The Devil inviting Margarita to his party in The Master and Margarita. But the party is less devilish here."
Interesting! I feel like these parties are getting more and more devilish as they go on.
Holly wrote: " I feel like these parties are getting more and more devilish as they go on..."I agree Holly, they initially feel quite charming and entertaining but Clarke gradually turns this around and makes it feel quite chilling and sinister. I like the way she does that.
I really enjoyed this section - there was a lot of dry humor and whimsical commentary. I can't say I was too sad that Lawrence strange passed away - it seemed like just desserts given the circumstances. I'm interested to see what becomes of Stephen Black, it seems like for the most part everyone is impressed with everything about him. It's interesting that he fell ill at the same time as Lady Pile though, I wonder if they were afflicted with the same thing or how that came about. The thistle-haired gentleman also remains on the scene as an enigma for the time being.
My plot summaries (as always these are full of spoilers)
(view spoiler)[
14. Heart-break Farm
The story of Lawrence Strange, a Shropshire gentleman whose fortune started with his marriage over 30 years earlier and his Scottish wife’s inheritance but is largely self made. The wife has died, leaving him one son. Her family and Strange sue and counter-sue for many years over her inheritance, but Strange allows his son to spend a lot of time in Edinburgh. A new servant comes to work for Lawrence Strange. Strange calls him at night asking for sherry. Having located some after a lengthy search of the cellar, the servant returns with the sherry. Strange drinks it and asks for more. Having been told that Strange’s son has sherry in his room the servant goes there rather than repeating his long walk, and finds the bottle hidden in a boot. Strange then sends him on an errand to take a message to a Wyvern who lives over the hill, at Heartbreak Farm. The walk there is arduous and confusing, but he eventually finds a very overgrown house, where a servant tells him Wyvern has been dead for five years and he should have used an easier road to get there. After the errand the servant falls in, and Strange encourages his illness by leaving windows open and refusing him treatment, but falls ill himself and freezes to death.
15. “How is Lady Pole?”
Lady Pole is still full of life. Her country servants struggle with life in London, and the London servants play tricks on them. STEPHEN BLACK, a black servant is in charge of the others, having previously been Sir Walter’s sole servant and factotum. Rumour among the servants says he is an African Prince. There is a dinner, attended by Norrell, Lascelles and Drawlight. The conversation is about various stories of magical events. Lascelles suggests that Norrell needs an assistant to help him with the many demands on his services. When they have gone, the servants start to tell Stephen Black stories about strange events in the house. One says he has seen a ghostly figure behind Lady Pole, another claims to hear music coming from adjacent rooms and a third says that there are trees growing around the house.
16. Lost-hope
The Poles’ servants continue to believe that the house is haunted. Black hears a bell ringing and goes to the set of nine bells he has had installed to tell him where help is needed, but the bell that is ringing is a tenth that he did not remember, labelled Lost-hope. On investigating he finds a new room in the house. He meets a pale gentleman with a lot of silvery thistle-down hair. Stephen assumes he is a guest of the Poles. The gentleman tells Stephen that Lady Pole will be attending a ball in his house tonight, and asks Stephen to help shave him and dress him. The gentleman is impressed by Stephen. Stephen finds a little box and is told a great treasure that he wants Lady Pole to wear at the ball – this is a finger. The gentleman tells Stephen he looks too noble to be a servant, and invites him to his ball. They find themselves in a great hall, where there are many guests. Some ask Stephen to dance, and Lady Pole spends all night dancing with the gentleman.
17. The unaccountable appearance of twenty-five guineas
We are introduced to Brandy’s grocery shop, which is where Pole’s grandfather used to get his fine coffee. The grandfather dies with a large bill unsettled. The old grocer dies shortly afterwards, and the business passes to his young widow, who had been unhappy with her miserly husband. One morning her assistants tell her there is 25 guineas too much in the till, and they discover a heap of guinea coins that shine weirdly. They find the spice drawers renamed. Mrs Brandy suggests calling for Stephen Black, who arrives, saying Lady Pole is not well. A customer calls and is served. When the close the cash box, the room grows dark. Stephen starts to feel ill, saying he feels like he was dancing all night, but has no memory of a ball. On his way home, a fog envelops Stephen and he gets lost. A gentleman starts to accost him but turns into a tree. Piccadilly turns into a wood, where he finds a stone house. He enters and is told he is expected.
18. Sir Walter consults gentlemen in several professions
Walter finds his wife ill, tired and cold, saying she is tired of dancing. He calls a doctor, who examines her and pronounces her well, suggesting a marital rift which Pole denies. He goes out to a cabinet meeting, where his friends suggest asking Norrell to help. Walter returns home to find Lady Pole still sitting where she was that morning, and calls for Norrell, who says her condition cannot be fixed by his magic. Walter mentions Lord Castlereagh’s opinion that her condition can only be fixed by magic, to which Norrell says that this is the Meraudian heresy. Norrell goes home, retreats to his study and murmurs a spell. The gentleman with thistle-down hair appears, and Norrell accuses him of breaking their agreement. The argue, Norrell declines the gentleman’s proposal and he disappears. The Poles remain in their depressed state.
19. The Peep-O’Day-Boys
Nobody in the Pole household notices that Stephen is also suffering from Lady Pole’s malady. He sees strange rooms in the house, and these seem to raise his spirits. He goes walking at night to a coffee shop in Oxford Street, meeting place of the Peep-O’Day-Boys, a sort of club of distinguished servants. He hears the gentleman whisper that he is right to ignore his fellow servants. He tells him that London is much reduced since his heyday, when miracles occurred frequently and he was often consulted. By day Stephen does not remember him except as a figure from dreams. The gentleman tries to turn Stephen against Sir Walter, who he accuses of keeping Stephen in chains. The gentleman offers Stephen a kingdom of his own. (hide spoiler)]