

The mud and the cold too often emphasize the evils of urban life, and their inescapability mirrors the corruption of the society at large. Or, to take another example, Lady Dedlock is often shown in the rain, which signifies her deep and unending boredom and sorrow. Thus Dickens begins the novel in a deep "London particular" fog, signifying the foggy confusion of the Court of Chancery. This, like the other grotesque elements of his style, is done with a greatly exaggerated panache. Throughout the novel, Dickens consistently identifies human moral or subjective states with the weather. Indeed, to take the theme one remove farther, Dickens suggests that England is in a permanent state of bad parenting, with the parents - the government, the courts - neglecting, abusing, or generally using the children - the people of England. In this way, bad parenting undermines all of society. This poor parenting, in turn, creates disillusioned and disenchanted children, thus perpetuating the original neglect or abuse. Turveydrop, to take some examples, all abuse, neglect, or generally use their children for selfish reasons, thus quashing the happiness and development of those children.


Buy Study Guide Bad parenting and societyīleak House is filled with bad parents.
