‘Mothers’ in Dickens.

Te Aroha News, Volume VII, Issue 471, 14 May 1890, Page 6

‘Mothers’ in Dickens.

‘I say,’ remarked an old friend—a mother—to me recently, ‘ that Dickens has done us the most cruel injustice. I imagine that there is no man living who would dare to state as a serious fact that mothers are in reality a detestable and coratemptible class —surely the world’s history proves the contrary—and yet, how has Dickens treated us ? Shamefully, I say. Our very pride in our children has been made ridiculous, and, according to him, when we are not demons we are fools !’ ‘ Oh, no, no,’ I interrupted : ‘you must be mistaken.' ‘You are a student of Charles Dickens, are you not?’ ‘ Certainly ; I think you could scarcely mention a character of his with which I am unfamiliar.’ ‘ Very well, then, if you can point me out one mother in the whole of Dickens’ movels, with any claim to education, who can be admired or repeated, I own that I have wronged him. lam ready to admit that on the lower orders he is less severe.’ Eager to prove that she misjudged my favourite, I began to search my memory. At the end of ten minutes I was still searching, but I had not spoken. The tact was, I was terribly perturbed in spirit. I was most anxious not to be worsted in the argument, for it seemed to me that a grave slur had been cast upon Charles Dickens’s character ; therefore to feel that I could only bring forward, as being worthy of respect, David Copperfield’s childish mother, was exceedingly mortifying. ‘ My memory is at fault,’ I muttered to myself. ‘I will go home and consult my Dickens.’ Pleading a headache, I made my excuses, but as I was leaving the room my old friend called after me—‘lf you have a headache, don’t pursue this subject to-night. I warn you you are going to search for a needle in a bottle of hay, only ’ somewhat grimly— ‘ the needle is not there !’

I locked myself in my study and set to work. At the end of two hours, wiser and much sadder, I paused, and gazed blankly around at a formidable heap of volumes. I had selected the books haphazard, and had made a pencil note on each, with this result. ‘ Great Expectations.’ No parent of any importance. Slight sketch of Herbert’s mother (a decidedly blameable fool). ‘Old Curiosity Shop.’ Old Mrs Garland (weak). Kit’s mother (lower orders). Mrs Jiniwin (detestable). •Hard Times.’ Gradgrind (idiotic). Bounderby’s mother (lower orders). ‘ Little Dorrit.’ Mrs Clenam (criminal). Mrs Merdle and Mrs Gowan (worldly, heartless wretches). Mrs Meagles (nice, but very homely). * Our Mutual Friend.’ Mrs Wilfer (outrageous). ‘ ISlicholas Nickleby.’ Mrs Nickleby and Mrs Kenwigs (lunatics). Mrs Squeers (a horror). ‘Dombey and Son.” Mrs Skewton (a disgrace to her sex). Alice’s mother, “ Good Mrs Brown ” (an ogress). Bollie Toodles (lower orders). ‘Martin Chuzzlewifc.’ Mothers not in it, with the exception of character sketch—- * The Mother of the Gracchi ’ (a fool). * Barnaby Rudge.’ Mrs Yarden (intensely objectionable). Mrs Rudge (lower orders). ‘ David Copperfield.’ David’s mother (amiable, but weak-minded). Mrs Micawber (a caricature). Mrs Creakle (a poor thing). Mrs Steerforth (horrid). Mrs Heep (hateful). ‘ The old soldier ’ (worse). ‘Bleak House.’ Lady Deadlock (well, well, the least said, ). Mrs Jellybj (another culpable fool). Mrs Pardiggle (an insupportable creature). Mrs Guppy (abominable). George's mother (lower orders). In ‘ Oliver Twist ’ * Tales of Two Cities,’ and ‘ Pickwick Papers,’ the mothers are very much in the background, and taking Mrs Bardell as a specimen of those who do appear, perhaps it is just as well they should be. 4 My friend was right,’ I murmured regretfully ; ‘ but I wish she had not called my attention to the fact.’ —‘Temple Bar.’