63 pages • 2 hours read
Charles DickensA modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Content Warning: This section discusses addiction to alcohol.
Barnaby’s intelligent raven, Grip, is not only an extension of Barnaby but also a symbol for sincerity and truth within the novel. Many characters describe Grip as the smartest person in the room, yet others are either entertained or unnerved by his loquaciousness. Like Barnaby, who is known to pay attention to things he pretends not to notice or listen to conversations while he fakes sleeping, Grip is hypervigilant and always aware of what is going on in a room, even when Barnaby is unaware, such as when Barnaby Rudge Sr. hides in Mary’s closet. In this way, Grip seems to be able to judge the true character of everyone immediately. Just as he only performs for those he deems worthwhile, he stays away from people he knows will cause him trouble.
Like Barnaby and his “silly” musings, much of what Grip says appears to be nonsense, but has symbolic meaning upon closer inspection. His repeating phrases of “never say die” and “I’m a devil” ring especially true when Barnaby is defending himself against the militia during the riots, or when he comes across wicked characters like Gashford and the country justice. Grip is tempered by his experience in prison and learns the truth of Barnaby’s involvement in the riots along with Barnaby.
By Charles Dickens
A Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol
Charles Dickens
A Tale of Two Cities
A Tale of Two Cities
Charles Dickens
Bleak House
Bleak House
Charles Dickens
David Copperfield
David Copperfield
Charles Dickens
Dombey and Son
Dombey and Son
Charles Dickens
Great Expectations
Great Expectations
Charles Dickens
Hard Times
Hard Times
Charles Dickens
Little Dorrit
Little Dorrit
Charles Dickens
Martin Chuzzlewit
Martin Chuzzlewit
Charles Dickens
Nicholas Nickleby
Nicholas Nickleby
Charles Dickens
Oliver Twist
Oliver Twist
Charles Dickens
Our Mutual Friend
Our Mutual Friend
Charles Dickens
Pickwick Papers
Pickwick Papers
Charles Dickens
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
The Mystery of Edwin Drood
Charles Dickens
The Old Curiosity Shop
The Old Curiosity Shop
Charles Dickens
The Signal-Man
The Signal-Man
Charles Dickens