Book 2, Chapter 2:
When Mr. Harthouse was introduced, Dickens continuously uses
satirical reversal to expose that he was an abnormal individual. He had been “a
cornet of Dragoons” (cavalry) which is so full of action and rushed
life, but he “found it a bore.” He had been an “English minister abroad,”
meaning that he’d be meeting new people, and having new experiences away from
home, yet he “found it a bore.” This reversal, coupled with a parallel
structure, is used throughout the passage; an exotic experience or action, like
“stroll[ing] through Jerusalem,” would be followed by Harthouse getting bored.
But, when he is offered to study statistics, normally a boring subject where the
same thing is studied, James was described as “taken by the novelty” of the
idea and wanted a “change.” Though such,
Dickens once again uses a reversal to expose that Harthouse is an individual
who doesn’t really belong with the rest. Also, Dickens says that “Mr. Harthouse
was very happy…to have a pleasure” and that ”Mr. Harthouse would be charmed”;
this repetitive use of third person pairs Mr. Harthouse’s speech with his
identity, thus suggesting that he cannot think or behave as an individual, but
is described as symbolically robotic for being incapable of producing thought
himself. This makes him similar to Louisa: another lost, detached soul.
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