These concluding scenes
are so drawn that human language, urged by human thought, could go
no farther in the excitement of human feelings. And the pathos is of
that best order which is relieved, in great measure, by ideality. Here
the book has never been equalled,- never approached except in one
instance, and that is in the case of the "Undine" by De La Motte
Fouque. The imagination is perhaps as great in this latter work, but
the pathos, although truly beautiful and deep, fails of much of its
effect through the material from which it is wrought. The chief
character, being endowed with purely fanciful attributes, cannot
command our full sympathies, as can a simple denizen of earth. In
saying above, that the death of the child left too painful an
impression, and should therefore have been avoided, we must, of
course, be understood as referring to the work as a whole, and in
respect to its general appreciation and popularity. The death, as
recorded, is, we repeat, of the highest order of literary
excellence- yet while none can deny this fact, there are few who
will be willing to read the concluding passages a second time.
Upon the whole we think the "Curiosity Shop" very much the best of
the works of Mr. Dickens. It is scarcely possible to speak of it too
well. It is in all respects a tale which will secure for its author
the enthusiastic admiration of every man of genius.
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