So gleefully do Darke and his wife Suzy rip into those they consider beneath them, however, that one is tempted to read the novel as parody. There are many clever, biting takedowns, a form of sparring greatly enjoyed by those educated at Oxbridge. Yet the reader is also asked to empathise with Darke’s “helplessness” and “desperation”, to recognise that “Everyone is a moon, and has a dark side.” Some readers will, others won’t; Darke’s repellent views and callousness towards his daughter’s suffering are egregious. Mr Gekoski gives this modern-day Scrooge three visitations that pry him open bit by bit, but Darke’s redemption is nothing like what the “slobberer” Dickens would have conjured. It is partial, and only partially convincing.
达克和他的妻子苏茜兴高采烈地批判那些他们认为不如他们的人,因此读者不由得把这本小说当做诙谐作品来读。书中有不少机智而辛辣的揶揄,英国的上流知识分子很是欣赏这种斗嘴。这本书甚至想让读者同情达克的“无助”和“绝望”,并承认“每个人都是像月亮一样,有黑暗的一面。”有些读者能体会到,有些读者则无法赞同。达克令人生厌的观点言论和对自己女儿的痛苦的冷酷无情使人震惊。杰寇斯基先生描写了对这个现代的守财奴的三次造访,一点点将他呈现,但是达克的救赎并非像“流哈喇子的”狄更斯写的那样。这是偏袒,只有一部分令人信服。