Are We All Stubborn?

Last night in my reading of Bleak House I began to notice yet another theme in this novel. I was reading the section where Mr. George is his jail cell (616-621) and noticed his obstinate resistance to the idea of hiring a lawyer for his case. First off, Mr. George is a really likeable character, yet we would have to admit that he isn't the sharpest crayon in the box. He seems to be one of Dicken's characters without a hidden agenda. He is a simple minded guy leading a simple kind of life. He is enjoyable because of his simplicity. Yet, when I came to this point in the novel I became a bit exasperated with his character. He seems to have a good point about wanting his own truth to set him free, but he doesn't seem to understand or accept societal facts that without a lawyer, entering the "game of the courts" will turn into his own demise. When approached by Jarndyce as to the imperative need for a lawyer to represent him, he says, "I must decidedly beg to be excused from anything of that sort" (617). He becomes emphatic with, "No lawyer!" (617). I couldn't help but thinking that it will probably turn out to be his stubbornness determines his fate and that he can't see that he is hurting himself.

With this thought in mind, I began to apply it to every character within the novel. There seems to be a theme of stubbornness throughout the novel. There is Jarndyce, determined and obstinate in his stance about never succumbing to the enticement of the legal suit. Ada is adamant about loving Richard. Richard is adamant about loving Ada, as well as, never letting the legal suit go. Mr. Tulkinghorn is adamant about the protection of Sir Leicester Dedlock and about keeping Lady Dedlock controlled. Lady Dedlock is adamant about keeping Esther a secret. Mrs. Jellyby is adamant about Africa. Mr. Turveydrop is adamant about his Deportment. His entire household is adamant about keeping his Deportment at the forefront. Mr. Bagnet is adamant about doing whatever Mrs. Bagnet says and Mrs. Bagnet is adamant about Mr. George's obstinance and goes to get his mother to help him. Esther, the central character, seems to be adamant about keeping everyone happy. The list could go on and on. It's so easy to look at Richard and see how stupid he is in his stubborn determined law suit and to point the finger at him, yet what about the others. I believe Dickens would have us take a few steps back and see through his looking glass. He is trying to show us a new perspective. As an outsider to anyone's life it's easy to say to a friend, "You need a lawyer," but if the friend can't see the fire coming, maybe we should go get their mother like Mrs. Bagnet. Maybe Dickens is trying to say that we shouldn't be so quick to point the finger, but should resolve to be there when they fall like Jarndyce is for Rick. Dickens is strongly pointing out that we all have a tendency to point a finger very quickly. It is so much easier to see the "flaw" in someone else, yet not see that we are all stubborn to our own ideas and ways. Sometimes we can't see ourselves and the messes we are in and we should be able to count on a friend that will love us past our human nature of stubbornness. Maybe, Dickens is saying that if sticking to your guns is a flaw, then we are all flawed and we should lighten up on one another.