John Jarndyce told Esther to call him Guardian but not to Richard and Ada. (there was a reason for that) In the installment that we have read, In chapter 17, pp. 212-213, John Jarndyce tells Esther what he knows about her and her history. He tells her a BS story about a letter he receives from a woman caring for a child and that if she dies before the child becomes a women John should take care of that child. (this is why he wants her to call him Guardian). What is hard for me to understand is why a man that gets a letter from a woman about an orphan girl decides to take care of the orphan after the woman dies without a woman in his life to show the orphan girl some guidance. Another thing is why would a woman write to a man about an orphan unless the orphan is related to the man. There is more to the story about Esther and her real parents. Personally, I believe that John Jarndyce should have told Esther the truth about her history and the truth about the letter (if the letter does exist). John Jarndyce is not being the Guardian that he should be to Esther, Esther wants to know about her parents and where she came from and he is holding that back from her which is not fair. (Second thought, John Jarndyce is not a guardian at all to Esther because he is not helping with anything, all he did was make her a housekeeper while he help Richard find a profession and support Ada and Richard on their incest love. Now what good will that make Esther if she learns how to be a housekeeper.)
John Jarndyce is holding something back from Esther, what do you think that is? and Do you guys believe that John Jarndyce did the right or wrong thing on not telling her the truth about her history?
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I think John Jarndyce is actually very nice to Esther for trusting her with all the keys and letting her be the boss lady of the house. I dont think she is JUST a house keeper. John Jarndayce takes good care of Esther for letting her stay in Bleak House and it's not like Esther is unhappy being there.
ReplyDeleteEsther is not ready to know about her history. I think it will kill the suspence of the story and make the story boring after knowing about Esther's past.
I have to agree with the above comment from Munasiba. John is a guardian in that he has given Esther a better life. Her own aunt had branded her an outcast due to her heritage. Imagine if Esther had grown up in this society, held stagnant in old ideals, with everyone knowing she had been born out of wedlock. She'd be no better than the brickmaker's family in the eyes of these upper class people, and possibly in as worse a condition as Jo or Jenny. Hell, maybe she'd have the black eye and sickly baby.
ReplyDeleteInstead, I imagine John as believing he is a guardian of her mind as well. It may be misplaced--Esther is an adult now-- but John has reason to be scared. He's seen what secrets can do to people through the Jarndyce case itself. Esther's origins may have an ominous tale behind it and it may be hard for him to share that, especially if he isn't apart of it directly. Can you imagine if you had to explain to someone the actions of another? It'd be incredibly difficult, especially since any explanation of why her mom and dad gave her up could very well be speculation on his part. Esther would inevitably be doubtful or even more curious and John would be unable to quell her thirst for a suitable history.
John has given her a lot in means of comfort, and he also has given her a lot of responsibility, far more than the likes of Rosa or Hortense in the other household. Esther is no ordinary housekeeper: she has all the keys to the house because he trusts her--hopefully he doesn't break that trust by not being truthful with Esther.
He has made her an unofficial companion of Ada and Richard and has relied on her to do as he cannot, which is to provide guidance to Richard and Ada, in effect making her a guardian as well, which I think shows that he has helped to define her qualities, or help her see them. Esther didn't think highly of herself at first but John always points out what he sees in her, which has given her much self esteem and helps her to see what makes her so important and worthy of her duties.
Perhaps you can argue that he may be wrongfully shaping who she is or he is wrongfully expecting her to do what he cannot. Maybe that's a good argument. But I think for a man who has problems reaching out to people that this is the best he can do, and it's not a bad job.
Interesting stuff. I think Masoud is quite right to remind us how precarious Esther's life could have been if not for Jarndyce's intervention. We'll take a look at "fallen women" in the next couple weeks and the options are not good. And as Masoud concludes, the case has taken its toll on everyone's life/character and Jarndyce has his own disabilities. Still, Judith raises a good question: what is Jarndyce's relation (literal and metaphorical) to Esther. Remember, she called him "Father" once and a dark look passed over his face. What do we imagine he wants for her?
ReplyDeleteahhh??? why wouldn't he be her guardian?? maybe she gets more care because she is much more needy then ada and richard. just maybe, i mean they do have each other dont they? who does esther have? if i do recall there was a heavy empasize on the letters john received from esther's "aunt" and the scarce nature which he told esther about this letter was quite disturbing...no one looks at it like that but yea.... I'm Just Sayin'
ReplyDeleteHe is her guardian because he chose to be as opposed to the court ordering him to take care of Richard and Ada. About the letter: do you remember the time when Esther was young and Kenge came by and her aunt said 'yes, this is the girl?'=I believe she did write the letter. I'm not quite sure why she sent it to him. They seem to have had a history since in the Lady Dedlock chapter they both mention that he met her sister more often than her. Maybe he really doesn't know Esther's whole history or maybe he thinks finding out the whole thing would hurt her and he seems to care a lot about her and doesn't want her to get hurt. If he really is her father maybe he doesn't want her or anyone to know as a way of protecting her from the case. We've seen several people the case has destroyed and the novel alluded to many more. Miss Flite waiting penniless for the judgement 'which will come any day'. Tom Jarndyce shooting himself because of the case. Richard unwilling to commit to put in the work and learn a profession since he expects to be rich as soon as the case is decided and does not expect to have to work a day of his life after that.
ReplyDeleteJohn Jarndyce provides each of them with different guidance and different kinds of care. With Richard, he wants him to find himself and to work for his money rather than waiting for the settlement from Chancery. With Ada, he wants her to have the love and the life she deserves. And finally with Esther, he provides her with the necessary tools to shape her. He gives her responsibilities beyond those of the others. He has placed a level of trust in her that seems uncharacteristic to him. In essence, he is allowing Esther to grow into her own woman and only providing with the basics. He understands that Richard is aimless and needs goals and incentives, so he seems more pushy with Richard. Ada doesn't have the dreams that Esther has, and so Cousin John just wants the best for her, whatever she wants it to be.
ReplyDeleteI also believe that the reason for his dark look when Esther calls him "Father" is that he doesn't want to be associated with Esther's father, who essentially abandoned his "mistress" and illegitimate child. Esther's aunt/godmother wrote to John Jarndyce because that's what the women did. He cared when noone else seems to.
I have to agree with Irene's comment--perhaps Jarndyce does not want to be associated with a man who has abandoned his mistress and illegitimate child. Afterall, Esther is not the only one who would be ridiculed for her parent's "sin." The sinner would also experience shame and alienation from society for his misdeed, especially since he has not taken any responsibility for his actions. If John Jarndyce does happen to be Esther's biological farther, which I hope is untrue, caring for Esther is obviously a way of stepping up to the plate.
ReplyDelete