Religion and Ethics Forum
General Category => Literature, Music, Art & Entertainment => Topic started by: Steve H on December 13, 2020, 09:14:13 AM
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I've been watching this drama, from the BBC in 2015, on iplayer. It is a mash-up of characters from many different Dickens novels into one 20-episode drama. I've watched seven so far. Inspector Bucket (from 'Bleak House') is investigating the murder of Jacob Marley (Christmas Carol), with the help of Mr Venus (Mutual Friend). He first suspects Bill Sykes (Oliver Twist), but later arrests Bob Cratchit (CC) on the morning of his daughter's wedding, but soon releases him. Meanwhile, Arthur Havisham, a spoilt brat, and Meriweather Compeyson, a charming scoundrel, are plotting against Arthur's sister, Amelia (all 'Great Expectations'). Fagin is also involved, and I was rather chuffed to see that they've done what I've long thought a film or TV dramatisation could do to avoid a charge of anti-semitism: Portray Fagin as described, but simply never mention that he is Jewish, because in the book we wouldn't know it if Dickens didn't continually remind us that he is Jewish. He doesn't use any typical Jewish expressions, he has red hair, which is not typical of Jews, and his name is Irish, not Jewish. Being a dirty, wheedling villain fits the anti-semitic stereoptype (or "trope", as we're all supposed to say nowadays if we want to sound intellectual), but none of those characteristics, even in the eyes of anti-semites, are exclusively Jewish.
It's a pity that there are no characters from 'David Copperfield', probably CD's most popular novel, and CD's own favourite. (There is a brief mention of Urah Heep, but he doesn't appear.) Mr Micawber would be very entertaining.