I am not a huge fan of Charles Dickens. More to the point,
I have disliked his work immensely. Pardon me if that sounds too blunt, but that's the truth of it...
until now.
I recently watched the new PBS production of 'Great Expectations' on Masterpiece Classic
and my viewpoint has changed quite for the better. Did any of you catch it? Superb, don't you think,
on so many levels.
Gillian Anderson (from X-Files) plays the forlorn role of Miss Havisham...so delightfully creepy...
and the engaging Douglas Booth plays Pip, who "had come into great expectations
from a mysterious patron," and journeys to London where his hopes of becoming an English gentleman
seem to come true...
~ photo courtesy of PBS.org ~
The entire production (for me) was about the first perception of self as deficient...defined by what
one lacks, or is without...and as a result, subject to desire and all its complications, including guilt.
I have been thinking a whole lot about great expectations since then...
Here is a quote from Pip that I especially like: "That was a memorable day to me, for it made great
changes in me. But, it is the same with any life. Imagine one selected day struck out of it, and
think how different its course would have been. Pause you who read this, and think for a moment
of the long chain of iron or gold, of thorns or flowers, that would never have bound you,
but for the formation of the first link on one memorable day."
Who would have dreamed that Mr. Dickens could set such a spark? Not I.
As it happens, hours of (beadiful) knitting are very conducive to this sort of introspection.
I think I owe dear ole Mr. Dickens an apology.
oh yumm, bead knitting, what a pretty way to use up your whole stash.
ReplyDeleteI watched GE also, was rather taken by it but i tried to read the book at the same time and was disappointed as it diverged from the book on many points. The visuals were fabulous tho, esp Miss Havisham.
Best use of my stash yet, Kaite...oodles of it...thanx!
DeleteI absolutely cannot READ Dickens. Book gets thrown across the room, crashes into wall....
my mom used to read to me from dickens before bed and i eventually read them all and loved them. don't remember any of them now. i tried watching GE but couldn't get into it. i do love your bead knitting.
ReplyDeleteOh my. I can't imagine, Deanna. I struggled immensely with his books when in school (required reading). Don't remember the gist of any of the stories, certainly because I blocked them all out. But bedtime reading??????? yikes.
DeleteGlad you like me knitting, tho ;>]]
GE must be watched in quiet and in the right frame of mind. I loved this version and much as past movies, especially the 1940's version which my husband loves too. What a surprise on that point. I always loved reading the classics when I was young.
ReplyDeleteI've never been able to watch any version but this one. I was shocked by how much I enjoyed it - actually *understood* what Dickens' point was...which never ever ever ever happened through book reading. Me too (on reading the classics)!
DeleteI also dislike Dickens. Always the same. Depressing poverty, blah blah blah.
ReplyDeleteI kind of liked the PBS version. Kind of. Gillian Anderson was beyond creepy..........disturbing really. The self immolation was almost too much for me.
Although I did like "Oliver" the musical in the 1960's. That is about the extent of my liking Dickens.
Sorry! ...but I can only write here as a "reply"...the box won't let me do anything else!!
DeleteI haven't seen the production, but have enjoyed Dickens since reading him for O Levels....
...not always a jolly chap I know...but he does provoke thoughts.
Glad you've been "converted".
Love the colours of those beads!
x C
Roberta ~ you certainly made it farther in your "liking" than I did! Agree, on the Gillian Anderson portrayal. Towards the end, it felt like I was emotionally crouching before she was due to arrive at the top of the staircase. Riveting, in a weird way. Thought she was brilliant in this role.
DeleteChris ~ no worries, me dear, Blogger is always causing hiccups. I hope you can catch this production ~ really quite splendid ~ especially since you like Dickens already. Many thanks for beady compliments. These beaded were like crushed raspberries :>]]
whole heartedly agree - I find Dickens on the page impenetrable, yet really very enjoyable as a talking/moving dramatic production. For me it's not the story or characters that are difficult (although he is not good at writing strong female characters), it's the actual writing, the communication between writer and reader. I find that he writes predominantly for men, and perhaps also peculiarly for fellow extraverts, and I am neither of those and so can't quite relate. In my experience there are a few particularly 'male' writers out there - Conrad is another, Tolkien and D H Lawrence - and Dickens is one of them. Glad to find a similar sister.
ReplyDeleteWhat a lively discussion this is turning into...as I hit the publish button for this post, it occurred to me that I may not receive ANY comments at all, but look what's happened. Dickens seems to evoke some very definite opinions! EEee gads, yes on the Lawrence and Tolkien, too...although L was easier than the others (from school memories). Can't say I've touched a Conrad, at least, not anything I remember. Oh yeah, sister.
DeleteP.S. I love your word ****impenetrable****
DeleteExactly that.
As youngster I started off having to read him for GCE's and then became immersed in his work as social commentary. Must have been in those days when I wanted to change the world.
ReplyDeleteDid Dickens help, Penny? Had a good chuckle with this comment. So interesting how writers can effect us in these important ways in our youth, so different for each of us. Thomas Hardy was one that had a huge impact on me...
DeleteAs I read this posting I couldn't help but think of Dickens "Tale of Two Cities" and Madame LaFarge and her knitting. Perhaps Dickens brings out the knitter in us.
ReplyDeleteWell now, I wouldn't be the least surprised. I wonder if Dickens is tapping his fingers with frustration ~ or delight? ~ as we speak of him in this way?!
DeletePerhaps it's less about Dickens original texts(which often are pretty heavy going) and more about the ability of the director and screenwriter to dig deeply into the intentions behind the writing and point them up for the actors to convey? A type of translation?!
ReplyDeleteHeavy going, as in QUICKSAND, I'd say!! That is exactly what I needed...a new translation. This one just happened to nail my interest.
DeleteStill, you're not going to find me attempting to *read* Dickens any time soon!