After leaving Martha, and then parting ways with Mr. Peggotty, David comes upon his aunt's cottage, late, a light burning, a man standing in the yard. The same man they had encountered at an earlier time on the London streets. David waits back, hiding in the shadows to observe as his aunt emerges from the cottage and hands the man money. The man complains that it is not enough, but finally leaves, when he can extract no more. David crosses his path as he exits the yard, asks Betsey whom the man is, and if he should go speak to him. Betsey takes him inside and asks him to wait a little while and she will explain.
He was once her husband. A liar, gambler, and a cheat, he left her broken-hearted, and broke her fortune, becoming less of a worthy man than he once was when she gave her heart to him, long ago.
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Martha
A rainy Sunday morning of a long weekend, and I've procrastinated writing and working on acting stuff (I have two upcoming auditions, plus the class film thing) for a few hours now: rewashed all the silverware, swept, took out recycling and garbage, went out to get coffee with the intenion of coming home and writing, and now an hour and a half later I am back (brief errand turning into a longer, bird-observing walk.) About to throw all of my pants in the wash so that I can't leave the house again until it is finished. I've already read this section a few times, but again, his writing is so dense, I don't know where to start. I've actually read most of the rest of the book. And I feel I have too many loose ends, so I'll catch up here.
Martha. Mr. Peggotty and David follow Martha (trying to remain unseen) through the London streets to a poisoned section of the river (Thames?), a wasteland of rusted mechanical structures, abandoned and left to sink themselves until they disappeared forever in the thick mud. It is possible that she meant to take her own life there, but first David approaches her, and then Mr. Peggotty joins him, and they carry her away from the water, onto dry stones, as she cries and moans,"Oh, the river!" again and again. She refers to herself as defiled and miserable, like the river. David recalls, "I have never known what despair was, except in the tone of those words." She is in a frenzy, and they wait beside her until she becomes more tranquil before speaking to her.
She finally breaks down and says that she couldn't show her face again in Yarmouth, believing as she does, that the fall of Emily was her own fault. (I think she must be a prostitute.) They explain to her that they do not blame her for what happened. They offer her acceptence (which she has not had.) She pledges her life to find Emily. When they leave one another, they try to offer her money, but she refuses. She will do this for trust and love, not money. She is honorable.
Martha. Mr. Peggotty and David follow Martha (trying to remain unseen) through the London streets to a poisoned section of the river (Thames?), a wasteland of rusted mechanical structures, abandoned and left to sink themselves until they disappeared forever in the thick mud. It is possible that she meant to take her own life there, but first David approaches her, and then Mr. Peggotty joins him, and they carry her away from the water, onto dry stones, as she cries and moans,"Oh, the river!" again and again. She refers to herself as defiled and miserable, like the river. David recalls, "I have never known what despair was, except in the tone of those words." She is in a frenzy, and they wait beside her until she becomes more tranquil before speaking to her.
She finally breaks down and says that she couldn't show her face again in Yarmouth, believing as she does, that the fall of Emily was her own fault. (I think she must be a prostitute.) They explain to her that they do not blame her for what happened. They offer her acceptence (which she has not had.) She pledges her life to find Emily. When they leave one another, they try to offer her money, but she refuses. She will do this for trust and love, not money. She is honorable.
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