Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens :: essays research papers

Martin Chuzzlewit by Charles Dickens "My main object in this story was, to exhibit in a miscellanea of aspects the ballparkest of all the vices to show how Selfishness propagates itself and to what a grim giant it may grow, from small beginnings"- Charles Dickens about the purpose of his novel Martin Chuzzlewit (130)"Because the selfish man sees no common interest or bond between himself and the rest of his world he is free from moral compunction, free to construct a false self, mask, rle, or persona, and at pains to protect his real self from the encroachments of a hostile world." - Joseph Gold (131)"Any kind of imagination separated from its material or hike becomes a Spectre of Selfhood"- Blake (134) 12/20/96Selfishness Versus Goodness and Hypocrisy Versus CandorIn his book, Joseph Gold gives us a rundown on how selfishness embodies itself throughout Martin Chuzzlewit. He analyses likely symbols in the book, which gave me more of an insight and a new per spective that helped me view the main characters and their transformation in a different setting. Selfishness and hypocrisy mark their victims with false shells and warp personalities and lead them to believe in their superiority over mankind. This renders them incapable of experiencing anything real and leave them fumbling after false truths, while taking advantage of the unalloyed at heart. This seems to be the essence of what Gold wants to communicate with his analysis.Pecksniff is the hypocrite who shuns no one when it comes to him making a profit. Unconscious of his inability to self-reflect or perhaps majestic of his exalted virtuousness, Pecksniff is the epitome of righteousness, as Gold explains he is in the book to display the extreme and helps clarify Americas role as a "national Pecksniff". Through him do Thomas Pinch and Martin Chuzzlewit the Elder finally open their eyes to their own lesser vices Pinchs nave demeanour changes after confronted with the real, or should I say false shell of, Pecksniff, while Chuzzlewit Sr. sees parts of himself in Pecksniff and is at the same time reminded of true virtue, silver dollar and human interdependence through Thomas Pinch. Gold goes thoroughly into an analysis of the paradigm between Jonas and the Book of Jonah, both characters fleeing from their own selves it isnt until they accept the wale, as Sairey Gamp puts it, signifying Jonahs return to God in the whales stomach, that they can reach self-fulfillment.