Review of “The Poor Relation’s Story” — A Short Story by Charles Dickens
A few days ago I was going through some bins of Christmas decor in our basement. In emptying one of the bins, I came across several books filled with classical Yuletide literature. The largest of these was Stories for Christmas by Charles Dickens. It included A Christmas Carol as well as a number of short stories that are not too well known. One was “The Poor Relation’s Story” (1852).
This “poor relation” indeed has a name: Michael. And at the holiday get-together, he is pressed to be the first to relate a story of himself to the audience of the chummy gathering. So, after some degree of reluctance, Michael begins his tale. This turns out to be the story of his life in a nutshell. It starts off with his narrative depiction of what his family and friends’ apparent view is of his daily life and woes. One of the highlights of this glum illustration is Michael’s friendship with a young lad simply known as Little Frank, the son of his first cousin. (I take this as a plot variant on the character of Tiny Tim from A Christmas Carol.) Like a reformed Ebenezer Scrooge with Tiny Tim, Michael treats Little Frank to a variety of little pleasures and social excursions.
Yet, a few minutes into his narrative, he confesses this grim opinion of his state in life is very much exaggerated, in fact, mostly inaccurate. Instead, his love life is very much existent; his business experience constantly being improved; his living conditions quite adequate. Little Frank, contrary to some opinions, is not his solitary comrade. John Spatter and his family are more than business associates. They are fast friends. Michael has lived in a castle (or so he says) with his children and now grandchildren. Little Frank will come over to play with them.
In Michael’s own words: “My dearest and most devoted wife, ever faithful, ever loving, ever helpful and sustaining and consoling, is the priceless blessing of my house; from whom all its other blessings spring.” He sees his spouse Christiana as a vibrant, warm, and powerful light in his life, and he is grateful for her. The courtship and marriage between these two are picture perfect, their relationship deep and truly romantic.
Apart from the business troubles, which are to be expected, Michael’s biggest woe in life seems to have been a quarrel or misunderstanding with his Uncle Chill. This aged relative kicked Michael out of his home prior to Michael’s marriage to Christiana. Enraged with the news of this marital notion, Uncle Chill let his nephew Michael have one last breakfast under his roof before banishing him, although the uncle orally announces he hopes the young man chokes on his food.
Charles Dickens exquisitely paints a rather bleak, darkening picture for the reader in Michael’s narrative: “When he [Uncle Chill] had done, he carefully snuffed out the candle; and the cold, slate-coloured, miserable day looked in upon us.”
However, this singular dramatic sorrow or inconvenience seems unique in his life’s story. For he and Christiana did get happily married and have children. Michael’s business endeavors have been modestly successful. He has friends, family, and joy. The outcome, really the essence of this short story by Dickens, is filled with the bliss of the Christmas season.
Editor’s Note: This article originally appeared on Of Intellect and Interest’s native site here.
