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Allusions
Chapter 26: I Fall into Captivity
Explanation and Analysis—Mrs. Crupp:
In Chapter 26, Mrs. Crupp (David's landlady) notices that David must be infatuated with a woman because he is preening and neglecting to focus on things that matter more than appearances. She delivers a short monologue to him in dialect, advising him to pursue things besides Dora's attention:
"[...] I should never wish to intrude where I were not welcome. But you are a young gentleman, Mr Copperfull, and my adwice to you is, to cheer up, sir, to keep a good heart, and to know your own walue. If you was to take to something, sir," said Mrs Crupp, "if you was to take to skittles, now, which is healthy, you might find it divert your mind, and do you good."
Related Themes:
Chapter 52: I Assist at an Explosion
Explanation and Analysis—'Umble:
Uriah Heep, who works his way up from a working class background, retains signs of his upbringing in his dialect. He comments on the class background that shaped his dialect in Chapter 52, when David accuses him of excessive "greed and cunning:"
Unlock with LitCharts A+"[T]here never were greed and cunning in the world yet, that did not do too much, and over-reach themselves. It is as certain as death."
"Or as certain as they used to teach at school (the same school where I picked up so much umbleness), from nine o’clock to eleven, that labor was a curse; and from eleven o’clock to one, that it was a blessing and a cheerfulness, and a dignity, and I don’t know what all, eh?’ said he with a sneer. ‘You preach, about as consistent as they did [...]"
Related Themes:
