Dickens's unsuccessful struggle to represent Jewish characters without falling into stereotypes illustrates the difficulty authors face when attempting to write across difference.
Well, there's a big time gap between the bad (Oliver Twist) and the good (Our Mutual Friend), so it's possible that Dickens just changed his mind. The smoothness of his transaction with the Davises and their evidently graceful manners may have helped - I suspect that Dickens didn't know any Jews before them.
Certainly it's possible that he would have followed the lead of those who found certain Jews acceptable and others not. Hard to know.
Thanks, an excellent analysis! Dividing us up into good and bad Jews is an expression of an antisemitic culture. Dickens fell into that trap.
Well, there's a big time gap between the bad (Oliver Twist) and the good (Our Mutual Friend), so it's possible that Dickens just changed his mind. The smoothness of his transaction with the Davises and their evidently graceful manners may have helped - I suspect that Dickens didn't know any Jews before them.
Certainly it's possible that he would have followed the lead of those who found certain Jews acceptable and others not. Hard to know.
Fascinating. Did you ever read that Salinger?Strange
Not yet! I'm dancing as fast as I can to write a fully researched essay on literature once a week! Don't know how you manage to post so much.
I’m crazy. Haha. It’s been fun. No rush.