Thinking about Dickens

[pegkerr]

I am enjoying Nicholas Nickleby enormously and it suddenly occurs to me to realize why (belatedly. Duh, Peg) The theme of the heart of flesh/heart of stone is EXACTLY what Dickens is all about.

"But you were always a good man of business, Jacob," faltered Scrooge, who now began to apply this to himself.

"Business!" cried the Ghost, wringing its hands again. "Mankind was my business. The common welfare was my business; charity, mercy, forbearance, and benevolence, were, all, my business. The dealings of my trade were but a drop of water in the comprehensive ocean of my business!"

(See here)

and

"Are there no prisons? Are there no workhouses?"

I must consider what Dickens thought led to the heart of stone. Certainly the pursuit of money could lead to a hardness of heart, but having money wasn't a necessary condition. There were the benevolent rich (Fezziwig, Scrooge after reformation) and there were those who were poor, even those who weren't scrabbling for money (like the Squeers) who were still venal (Bill Sykes, etc.)

How does this apply to a fantasy novel? One thing Pat Wrede told me to think about was, why fantasy? (She also warned me to consider why isn't magic available to everyone.) Why does my story about an ice palace have to include magic? Why can't the story of Solveig, Jack, Ingrid, Agnes and Mr. X be a mainstream novel, a Dickens novel, if you will? Well, if Mr. X is after SOMETHING that requires magic, which turns his heart to stone, what would that be? Is magic a better way to acquire money? Why isn't he satisfied with just acquiring it on the stock market? (Which some people regard as magic, after all, although not lately). Does he need magic because his goal is immortality, or at least long life? I don't have an answer for this yet, and this stuckedness, I think, is part of the reason I'm hesitating. I'm learning a lot about Mr. X, however, by reading about Ralph Nickleby and the Squeers. And I think I'm reading about Solveig and Jack by reading about Nicholas and Kate.

Off to think some more.

BTW: Can anyone think of a name for Mr. X? I find it irritating to think/write about a character if I don't have a name. It's as if we haven't been properly introduced. I might make his first name be Ralph, in honor (so to speak) of Ralph Nickleby (Maybe. Maybe not.) But the last? This will be set in Minnesota, so something Germanic/Nordic.

I don't promise to use any suggestions, but feel free to offer them.

Peg

Comments

[queerasjohn.livejournal.com]

How about Anders? Nice and sibillant at the end there for Mr X. Or Per? Short, and mysterious?

I'd suggest Viggo Mortensen, but that would be my mad side coming out. :D

[daedala.livejournal.com]

Well, if Mr. X is after SOMETHING that requires magic, which turns his heart to stone, what would that be?

Maybe it's the other way around; maybe he wants his heart to be stone, and knows, perhaps not entirely consciously, that this is how to get it. Stone has many advantages.

[papersky.livejournal.com]

Stone is safe. Stone can't be hurt. Maybe he has been hurt. Maybe he wants the magic to set right what hurt him and because he has the heart of stone he doesn't notice or care about what he hurts on the way? Maybe he is, like Solveig, one of those Garrison Keiller Lutherans who don't speak their feelings and hate embarrassment but he wants to not feel underneath either. What was his childhood like? When was his childhood? Maybe he has immortality but wants eternal youth? Is he mortal? Jack is something else, isn't he? Is Mr X entirely or maybe partly something else? If partly, maybe he struggles against one side or the other. Maybe he wants to end the carvivals, or make them utterly corporate and for profit, stop them being the natural expression of the flow of the year, because people cut off from the flow of the year are closer to stone, more like something he wants, or something?

The reason it is fantasy has to make everything real more true.

[redbird]

Carlsen, as a sideways homage to Dickens? (This might work best if his heart is going to melt or soften.)

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

I love your read on Nickleby (and Dickens in general...); it's been a long time since I read any Dickens novels. Maybe I should reread NN.

Names: There's a Web site I often plunder for names. Even though the naming is focused on medieval/Renaissance records, The Academy of St. Gabriel has often provided me with interesting options to consider, and their information is arranged by country. I found Niclisson (Nicholson) in there. ;)

[peacockharpy.livejournal.com]

Found this interesting one from Landnamabok (Iceland):

Sundafyllir -- sound-filler, able to fill a bay with fish by magic

It seemed appropriate, even if not for Ralph X.

- Darice