Quote:
Originally Posted by fantasyfan
On the Esther-John Jarndyce relationship, it's interesting that Esther, before the marriage proposal does see JJ as a father figure and even says that to him. I recall that when she does so, JJ is rather upset about that! {though he hides his disappointment} I think it's clear in hindsight that Dickens had no intention of having their personal relationship develop along romantic lines.
I keep wondering if there is some emotional echo of Dickens' own relationship with his sister-in-law whom he idolised and who was much younger than he. (However, she never got married}
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Yes, I thought it was clear that by the end Esther would marry Allan. I do agree that Esther's character is modeled after his sister-in-law, Georgina. Esther's devotion / duty to home life is one of her greatest virtues in John's eyes. She is presented with the trust of the basket of household keys nearly immediately after she arrives to his home. Also, instead of being upset that Allan is better suited for her, John promotes their marriage and offers them a lovely home which is modeled with all of Esther's quirks in the way of setting up the gardens and interior. To pay such attention to those details shows how much he values them. All of her pet nicknames emphasize this part of her character too.
I did a little research of Dickens's biography last year when I read the fiction novel
Drood by Dan Simmons.
Drood is about the last 5 years of Dickens's life after the Staplehurst rail crash and up to his death while writing
The Mystery of Edwin Drood as told through the eyes of his friend / colleague Wilkie Collins. This book relates how he had a terrible marriage to Caroline and how important his sister-in-law was to the management of his household and the raising of his many children.