PlotEdit
A collection of comic sketches serialized in Charles Dickens's journal Household Words, these stories look to sympathetically portray changing small-town customs and values.[2] Harkening back to memories of her childhood in the small Cheshire town of Knutsford, Cranford is an attempt to portray an affectionate picture of a class and customs already becoming anachronisms.[3]
Chapter I - Our Society
Attempting to protect their town indefinitely with ideals of polite society, the women of Cranford are characters of beloved idiosyncrasies hoping to preserve their lifestyles from change, which is developed from the outset. Rowena Fowler, possessor of a red silk umbrella, conservatively considers an heir while her infirm body has outlived her kin. Miss Betty Barker is also determined to preserve the past, but in the form of her cow, which she sews pyjamas for, as it lost all of its hair after falling into a lime-pit. As for Miss Deborah Jenkyns, she establishes the norms and customs by which the town must abide, adding to the theme of societal perpetuation.
However, upon the arrival of Captain Brown, Brown challenges the women by openly admitting his own poverty, which is beyond the rules of respectful company expected in Cranford. This is particularly awful to Miss Deborah Jenkyns, which Brown also offends by finding Charles Dickens a better writer than Jenkyns' preferred Dr. Johnson. Nevertheless, Brown’s warm manner subdues his detractors’ contention of his supposed social awkwardness, and to such a degree he may inevitably bypass social customs that frown upon visiting before 12:00. Brown also has two daughters: Miss Brown, an ill-tempered woman with hardened features and Miss Jessie, who has an innocent face. Miss Jessie, like her father, is also naive of Cranford’s rules when she boasts that her uncle can provide her with large amounts of Shetland wool, as an aristocratic Ms. Jamieson overhears, who takes exception to Miss Jessie putting on airs.
Chapter II - The Captain
Like any other small town, all is known by all, and the Browns’ shortly are no exception. While their economic distress was evident from day one, what soon became understood was Captain Brown’s kindness. This was probably most notable in his treatment of Miss Brown, who had a debilitating illness - Which contributed to her ill-tempered nature - as Captain Brown and Miss Jessie endured abject poverty, in part, due to providing Miss Brown any small luxuries necessary of her condition. This is continued by Captain Brown’s attempts to reconcile with Miss Jenkyns, which is done by crafting a wood-fire shovel for her with his own hands.
After leaving Cranford for a time, our narrator, Mary Smith, a woman who frequently stays with Miss Matty, remains abreast of the town's events through correspondence with other characters, returns to find nothing changed, not even Miss Jenkyns animosity for Captain Brown. Captain Brown is still indigent as his daughter’s condition worsens. Uneventful, the town soon becomes hectic upon learning of the death of Captain Brown. Taken by the railroads, the women of the town then look to bear the brunt of burden considering Brown’s daughters. With the final pages focusing on funeral arrangements, consoling the daughters, as well as Miss Jenkyns attempts to take Miss Jessie in, the chapter concludes with Major Gordon, man who served with Captain Brown, and his attempts to connect with Brown’s children, which is done with Miss Jenkyns approval.
Chapter III - A Love Affair of Long Ago
Miss Matty, Miss Jenkyn’s sister, is overwhelmed by the upcoming visit of her cousin, Major Jenkyns. This anxiety is due to the fact that Miss Matty’s sister always ruled over her, which leaves Miss Matty ill-prepared in taking in visitors - A job Miss Jenkyn’s would’ve oversaw herself. In the meantime, Miss Matty takes on a new servant, and Mary Smith trains her. Fortunately, the acceptance of visitors goes without a hitch for Miss Matty, aside from one small inconsistency: Martha nudges Major Jenkyns when he does not help himself fast enough at the dinner table.
The chapter concludes at Johnson’s store, when Miss Matty and Mary notice Thomas Holbrook enter. Holbrook, according to Miss Pole, proposed to Miss Matty when they were young. Recalling the tale, Miss Matty says that Miss Jenkyns did not feel Thomas Holbrook was appropriate to marry, and the two failed to wed in spite of mutual interest. Nevertheless, Holbrook invites the women to spend a day with him at his home.
Chapter IV - A Visit to an Old Bachelor
Arriving at Mr. Holbrook’s house, Miss Matty, Miss Pole, and Mary Smith are received well, and Miss Matty is flush with ideas of what may have been. Allowing Miss Pole and Miss Matty to get acclimated, Holbrook then shows Mary around the grounds, which is a fine home indeed. A hard-working man, nevertheless, Holbrook is content with a meagre social status, as his passion is books, not climbing social ladders.
After an enjoyable dinner, Holbrook asks Miss Matty to fill his pipe, an apparent honour from the past. Upon finishing their meal, Mr. Holbrook reads poetry, to which Miss Matty falls asleep during. Upon finishing his smoke, Mr. Holbrook reads poetry, to which Miss Matty falls asleep during. As the day comes to a close, Mr. Holbrook says he will call upon them again. As Mr. Holbrook dies later, Miss Matty resigns herself to allowing Martha to date, for she does not wish to prevent love in the same way Miss Jenkyns did to her.
Chapter V - Old Letters
As the novel engages in a time-shift for chapter five, the story goes back in time to when Miss Matty and Miss Jenkyns were young. Focusing on the childrens’ parents, Molly and John, the emphasis in the tale is now on Molly’s annoyance at John’s constant confessions of love for Molly within their correspondence. Not as enthusiastic for marriage as John, yet finally heeding to his advances, they are married when Molly is eighteen.
Letters then consider their grandfather, who writes at the news of his granddaughters being born, to which he believes will be great beauties of Cranford. As later a son is born, Peter, the grandfather hopefully suggests Peter does not fit into the proverbial “snares of the world.” Finally, John, or now Reverend Jenkyns, receives some acclaim in having one of his sermons published, to which Molly’s love apparently finally matures, and is illustrated in how she now addressing him as “my honored husband” in their letters.
Chapter VI - Poor Peter
Chapter six focuses on Miss Matty’s brother, Peter. Close with Matty but not Miss Jenkyns, Peter had a life of prestige ahead of him, destined for an education of distinction at Cambridge. Preferring a life of mischief, Peter would dress as a woman, posing as Miss Jenkyns by holding what would be construed as an illegitimate child, to upset his father, the reverend. The reverend then beats his son with his walking stick, and Peter goes upstairs after kissing his mother. He then leaves without telling anyone, and his mother cries for his return.
A few days later a letter from Peter arrives. He signs up to work on a ship. Unfortunately, Peter’s letter arrives late, and his parents’ attempts to persuade him otherwise go to no avail. Shortly thereafter, Peter’s mother dies from grief over her son, as Mrs. Jenkyns promises to take care of her father. After some time, Peter returns with some military accomplishment, and his father shows him off to Cranford. Peter then leaves for a war in India, to which he is never heard from again.
Chapter VII - Visiting
A woman named Miss Betty Barker visits Miss Matty prior to a socially acceptable time and this overwhelms Matty once again. Accidentally putting on two caps to receive Miss Betty, Mary Smith was highly amused with the mistake. Miss Betty, a modest, clerk’s daughter, once was employed as a maid. After saving enough to open a millinery shop with her sister, and working with a well-connected woman on clothing patterns, Lady Arley, they focused on selling to aristocrats.
Miss Betty invites the women to tea, even Miss Betty’s former employer, Mrs. Jamieson. Class consciousness begins to inflate, yet later recede, and a Mrs. Fitz Adam went without invitation due to her background. During the tea party, Miss Betty’s tea tray arrives with extravagant goodies, which is social misconduct for Cranford, and considered vulgar. However, the rules begin to recede as the women begin play cards and order another tray, to which the ladies consume a little too much brandy from it.
Chapter VIII - Your Ladyship
The widow of Mr. Jamieson’s eldest brother, Lady Glenmire, is arriving to visit the small town, and staying with Mrs. Jamieson. In turn, Cranford is buzzing to have such a prestigious woman in their midst. That is, all are excited but Mrs. Jamieson, who slightly insults Lady Glenmire. Nevertheless, while Miss Pole specifically wishes to be assured that Queen Victoria is well; however, confusion abounds as to how one should address Lady Glenmire, especially Miss Matty.
Yet in still, Mrs. Jamieson’s butler, Mr. Mulliner, sends out invitations for a small party. Most women wish to decline until they are persuaded by Miss Pole to accept. Uncomfortably quiet in the beginning, no one knows how to begin a conversation with someone of Lady Glenmire’s stature. This awkwardness is concluded when Miss Pole finally asks Lady Glenmire whether she has been to court, to which she states she had not. A mutual friendship is soon formed, while Mr. Mulliner takes too long to appease the hungry guests.
Chapter IX - Signor Brunoni
Mary Smith decides to return home to nurse her ailing father, leaving her interest in Cranford behind. Yet in November, while he father is returning to health, Mary receives an odd letter from Miss Matty. Asking about Turbans, styles and fashions, Miss Matty inevitably put the confusion to rest by saying a conjure
PlotEdit
A collection of comic sketches serialized in Charles Dickens's journal Household Words, these stories look to sympathetically portray changing small-town customs and values.[2] Harkening back to memories of her childhood in the small Cheshire town of Knutsford, Cranford is an attempt to portray an affectionate picture of a class and customs already becoming anachronisms.[3]
Chapter I - Our Society
Attempting to protect their town indefinitely with ideals of polite society, the women of Cranford are characters of beloved idiosyncrasies hoping to preserve their lifestyles from change, which is developed from the outset. Rowena Fowler, possessor of a red silk umbrella, conservatively considers an heir while her infirm body has outlived her kin. Miss Betty Barker is also determined to preserve the past, but in the form of her cow, which she sews pyjamas for, as it lost all of its hair after falling into a lime-pit. As for Miss Deborah Jenkyns, she establishes the norms and customs by which the town must abide, adding to the theme of societal perpetuation.
However, upon the arrival of Captain Brown, Brown challenges the women by openly admitting his own poverty, which is beyond the rules of respectful company expected in Cranford. This is particularly awful to Miss Deborah Jenkyns, which Brown also offends by finding Charles Dickens a better writer than Jenkyns' preferred Dr. Johnson. Nevertheless, Brown’s warm manner subdues his detractors’ contention of his supposed social awkwardness, and to such a degree he may inevitably bypass social customs that frown upon visiting before 12:00. Brown also has two daughters: Miss Brown, an ill-tempered woman with hardened features and Miss Jessie, who has an innocent face. Miss Jessie, like her father, is also naive of Cranford’s rules when she boasts that her uncle can provide her with large amounts of Shetland wool, as an aristocratic Ms. Jamieson overhears, who takes exception to Miss Jessie putting on airs.
Chapter II - The Captain
Like any other small town, all is known by all, and the Browns’ shortly are no exception. While their economic distress was evident from day one, what soon became understood was Captain Brown’s kindness. This was probably most notable in his treatment of Miss Brown, who had a debilitating illness - Which contributed to her ill-tempered nature - as Captain Brown and Miss Jessie endured abject poverty, in part, due to providing Miss Brown any small luxuries necessary of her condition. This is continued by Captain Brown’s attempts to reconcile with Miss Jenkyns, which is done by crafting a wood-fire shovel for her with his own hands.
After leaving Cranford for a time, our narrator, Mary Smith, a woman who frequently stays with Miss Matty, remains abreast of the town's events through correspondence with other characters, returns to find nothing changed, not even Miss Jenkyns animosity for Captain Brown. Captain Brown is still indigent as his daughter’s condition worsens. Uneventful, the town soon becomes hectic upon learning of the death of Captain Brown. Taken by the railroads, the women of the town then look to bear the brunt of burden considering Brown’s daughters. With the final pages focusing on funeral arrangements, consoling the daughters, as well as Miss Jenkyns attempts to take Miss Jessie in, the chapter concludes with Major Gordon, man who served with Captain Brown, and his attempts to connect with Brown’s children, which is done with Miss Jenkyns approval.
Chapter III - A Love Affair of Long Ago
Miss Matty, Miss Jenkyn’s sister, is overwhelmed by the upcoming visit of her cousin, Major Jenkyns. This anxiety is due to the fact that Miss Matty’s sister always ruled over her, which leaves Miss Matty ill-prepared in taking in visitors - A job Miss Jenkyn’s would’ve oversaw herself. In the meantime, Miss Matty takes on a new servant, and Mary Smith trains her. Fortunately, the acceptance of visitors goes without a hitch for Miss Matty, aside from one small inconsistency: Martha nudges Major Jenkyns when he does not help himself fast enough at the dinner table.
The chapter concludes at Johnson’s store, when Miss Matty and Mary notice Thomas Holbrook enter. Holbrook, according to Miss Pole, proposed to Miss Matty when they were young. Recalling the tale, Miss Matty says that Miss Jenkyns did not feel Thomas Holbrook was appropriate to marry, and the two failed to wed in spite of mutual interest. Nevertheless, Holbrook invites the women to spend a day with him at his home.
Chapter IV - A Visit to an Old Bachelor
Arriving at Mr. Holbrook’s house, Miss Matty, Miss Pole, and Mary Smith are received well, and Miss Matty is flush with ideas of what may have been. Allowing Miss Pole and Miss Matty to get acclimated, Holbrook then shows Mary around the grounds, which is a fine home indeed. A hard-working man, nevertheless, Holbrook is content with a meagre social status, as his passion is books, not climbing social ladders.
After an enjoyable dinner, Holbrook asks Miss Matty to fill his pipe, an apparent honour from the past. Upon finishing their meal, Mr. Holbrook reads poetry, to which Miss Matty falls asleep during. Upon finishing his smoke, Mr. Holbrook reads poetry, to which Miss Matty falls asleep during. As the day comes to a close, Mr. Holbrook says he will call upon them again. As Mr. Holbrook dies later, Miss Matty resigns herself to allowing Martha to date, for she does not wish to prevent love in the same way Miss Jenkyns did to her.
Chapter V - Old Letters
As the novel engages in a time-shift for chapter five, the story goes back in time to when Miss Matty and Miss Jenkyns were young. Focusing on the childrens’ parents, Molly and John, the emphasis in the tale is now on Molly’s annoyance at John’s constant confessions of love for Molly within their correspondence. Not as enthusiastic for marriage as John, yet finally heeding to his advances, they are married when Molly is eighteen.
Letters then consider their grandfather, who writes at the news of his granddaughters being born, to which he believes will be great beauties of Cranford. As later a son is born, Peter, the grandfather hopefully suggests Peter does not fit into the proverbial “snares of the world.” Finally, John, or now Reverend Jenkyns, receives some acclaim in having one of his sermons published, to which Molly’s love apparently finally matures, and is illustrated in how she now addressing him as “my honored husband” in their letters.
Chapter VI - Poor Peter
Chapter six focuses on Miss Matty’s brother, Peter. Close with Matty but not Miss Jenkyns, Peter had a life of prestige ahead of him, destined for an education of distinction at Cambridge. Preferring a life of mischief, Peter would dress as a woman, posing as Miss Jenkyns by holding what would be construed as an illegitimate child, to upset his father, the reverend. The reverend then beats his son with his walking stick, and Peter goes upstairs after kissing his mother. He then leaves without telling anyone, and his mother cries for his return.
A few days later a letter from Peter arrives. He signs up to work on a ship. Unfortunately, Peter’s letter arrives late, and his parents’ attempts to persuade him otherwise go to no avail. Shortly thereafter, Peter’s mother dies from grief over her son, as Mrs. Jenkyns promises to take care of her father. After some time, Peter returns with some military accomplishment, and his father shows him off to Cranford. Peter then leaves for a war in India, to which he is never heard from again.
Chapter VII - Visiting
A woman named Miss Betty Barker visits Miss Matty prior to a socially acceptable time and this overwhelms Matty once again. Accidentally putting on two caps to receive Miss Betty, Mary Smith was highly amused with the mistake. Miss Betty, a modest, clerk’s daughter, once was employed as a maid. After saving enough to open a millinery shop with her sister, and working with a well-connected woman on clothing patterns, Lady Arley, they focused on selling to aristocrats.
Miss Betty invites the women to tea, even Miss Betty’s former employer, Mrs. Jamieson. Class consciousness begins to inflate, yet later recede, and a Mrs. Fitz Adam went without invitation due to her background. During the tea party, Miss Betty’s tea tray arrives with extravagant goodies, which is social misconduct for Cranford, and considered vulgar. However, the rules begin to recede as the women begin play cards and order another tray, to which the ladies consume a little too much brandy from it.
Chapter VIII - Your Ladyship
The widow of Mr. Jamieson’s eldest brother, Lady Glenmire, is arriving to visit the small town, and staying with Mrs. Jamieson. In turn, Cranford is buzzing to have such a prestigious woman in their midst. That is, all are excited but Mrs. Jamieson, who slightly insults Lady Glenmire. Nevertheless, while Miss Pole specifically wishes to be assured that Queen Victoria is well; however, confusion abounds as to how one should address Lady Glenmire, especially Miss Matty.
Yet in still, Mrs. Jamieson’s butler, Mr. Mulliner, sends out invitations for a small party. Most women wish to decline until they are persuaded by Miss Pole to accept. Uncomfortably quiet in the beginning, no one knows how to begin a conversation with someone of Lady Glenmire’s stature. This awkwardness is concluded when Miss Pole finally asks Lady Glenmire whether she has been to court, to which she states she had not. A mutual friendship is soon formed, while Mr. Mulliner takes too long to appease the hungry guests.
Chapter IX - Signor Brunoni
Mary Smith decides to return home to nurse her ailing father, leaving her interest in Cranford behind. Yet in November, while he father is returning to health, Mary receives an odd letter from Miss Matty. Asking about Turbans, styles and fashions, Miss Matty inevitably put the confusion to rest by saying a conjure
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