Profpointy
Legendary Member
I dug up the BBC series of Oliver Twist from 1985... 13 thirty minute episodes, far more involved than any other tv/movie version. Obviously it's not as much fun as the musical starring Mark Lester and Oliver Reed, but thoroughly engaging.
It got me thinking though... It's supposed to be a scathing critique of the Poor Law, but it's even more scathing in its portrayal of the lower classes... all of them are dirty rotten scoundrels, even the lower middle class characters. It's only the upper class characters who are nice and caring and selfless, including Oliver, despite being brought up in a workhouse. It must be in the blood
whilst I must confess my knowledge of Dickens' work is mostly from TV dramas rather than reading, I totally agree with your point, in that it does seem to be that each class belongs in their place, and that justice is only served when the young foundling is finally elevated back to his proper high born status, or the ruined family are once again able to live in bourgeois idleness have been rescued from the lower class climbers above their station who have temporarily gained by their own efforts (admittedly dishonestly like Uriah Heap, but at least he actually works). Not exactly reforming society never mind socialist is it?
I did get through half of Tale of Two Cities and concede the writing is awesome. Only gave up as the print was small and I'd not then succumbed to glasses.
) but I think I’ve seen it all now 
