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Dickens - anti- imperialist?

Interesting that the libby - left BBC has now adapted Dickens’ Great Expectations as ‘a strong anti-colonial message’. Fionn Whitehead, the actor who plays the grown-up Pip, says that the British Empire was “a horrible thing” which “destroyed a lot of cultures around the world” and anyone who disagrees is “clearly kidding themselves”. As Whitehead apparently admits he doesn’t read any books himself I don’t know how he knows this. Presumably by trolling left-wing websites? Funny in my visits to ex-colonial countries there are many of its peoples who appear grateful to the benefits colonial rule brought. But then again they need to listen to the wisdom of Mr Whitehead and get educated!
An interesting corollary is that a former labour counsellor was in the news about three years ago for spraying walls with the fact that Dickens was a racist, insisting that Dickens was “a notorious genocidal racist... That’s the real Dickens.” So now the left is using him as an anti-imperialist we have come the full circle in muddled thinking!
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Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M
his fiction probably demonstrated its greatest prowess in changing public opinion in regard to class inequalities. He often depicted the exploitation and oppression of the poor and condemned the public officials and institutions that not only allowed such abuses to exist, but flourished as a result. His most strident indictment of this condition is in Hard Times (1854), Dickens's only novel-length treatment of the industrial working class. Wiki
Mathers · 61-69
That is why the comments by the left wing are so utterly ridiculous. Dickens is absolutely full of social comment @Fukfacewillie
Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M
@Mathers My understanding is that he wasn’t “left” on race or British imperialism.
Mathers · 61-69
Of course it depends on how you view British imperialism. We are in as much error about it now as we were then@Fukfacewillie
Fukfacewillie · 56-60, M
@Mathers I still love Churchill, but I struggle with some of what I read about India.
Mathers · 61-69
I think you have to realise he was a man of his time and generation . If you went to India as I did you will still see some of the older generation to appreciate the British rule@Fukfacewillie