ShareThis
by Fred C. Wilson III
December 18, 2010
“Lead on!” said Scrooge. “Lead on! The night is waning fast, and it is precious time to me, I know. Lead on, Spirit!”
–Charles Dickens–
DICKENS, THE WRITER
Charles Huffman Dickens was born on February 7th, 1812 and died June 9th 1870. He was born at a time when the nescient United States of America was engaged in the fight of its national life with Great Britain in the War of 1812. It was also a trying time on the Continent when the fate of Europe rested on the outcome of a single battle at a small place called Waterloo. This epic battle pitted the world against Napoleon Bonaparte a little man with global ambitions who made his authority felt from Russia, Africa, and the Americas. This ‘Little Corporal’ tried to seize the world by force of arms like another corporal Adolf Hitler over a century later. Both failed miserably but damn near succeeded. These historical ‘coincidences’ was a portent of things to come in the turbulent life and times of the author who’s wide body of works still resonates at the dawn of the 3rd millennium.
One hundred thirty years after his death Dickens is still recognized as an early pioneer in world social reform. His iconic characters that parade across the pages of his books, short stories, articles, and other literary gems speak loudly for themselves. A social reformer who was born, lived, and died amidst troubled times, Dickens the writer was praised by co-greats Leo Tolstoy, G. K. Chesterton, George Gissing, and many, many more literary luminaries through the present day.
As with all people great and small, Dickens had his share of detractors. They thought the great man too sentimental in style and his stories too incredible to be true. If anyone who was raised in dire poverty, your beloved writer included, no tragedy is too implausible to be considered untruthful; POVERTY AIN’T PRETTY! The horrendous social conditions of his time that inspired his masterful works are still prevalent today in 2010. They will continue to be so as long as the scourge of poverty exists. To this day none of Charles Dickens many works have ever gone out of print which says a lot about the world class stature of Dickens the writer and humanitarian, and the human condition.
DICKENS, THE MAN
Mr. Dickens was born into dire poverty. His family was so poor that at a very young age the only job the boy Dickens could get was working 10 hours a day at the Warren’s Blacking Warehouse. Child labor laws were non-existent in 19th century Great Britain. At Blacking’s disease infected rats as big as medium sized cats challenged humans for dominance. Reader, when I was a young boy, I used to sit on a crate in my aunt’s backyard in New Orleans and watch the rats, some as large as the ones I’ve mentioned, stand on their hind legs and literally ‘duke it out’ (box) with the dogs and cats on our property! These rats used to number well into the 100’s. If you want to ‘see for yourself’ what life was like in the Dickensonan era just go to one of the many Charles Dickens websites. Another good bet is to read John Forster’s ‘The Life of Charles Dickens.’ It stands to reason that his personal experiences with poverty greatly influenced his subsequent writing.
ENDING POVERTY
I had a grandfather I’ve mentioned before in a previous article about Freemasonry who, when my mother + may she rest in peace + once asked him “Do you believe in GOD?” you may remember when I told you how he took out a crisp $5 bill from his pocket and held it high over his head like a priest at the Elevation of the Mass, and replied “This is my god!” Many people have adopted his negative attitude about one of GOD’S finer gifts-MONEY. They worship the stuff. I don’t have to get into a lengthy tirade about how greedy bankers work hand-in-glove with dime store politicians and how they screwed up our country. Reader, you already know that; unless a bipartisan effort is made by all of us poverty will not only continue to exist but in time reduce this once great country into a third world state. Human greed not only paralyzes but will kill any nation that has the audacity to grow rich from the blood, tears, and sweat of its people.
IS DICKENS RELEVANT?
You bet! Dickens will remain up to date as long as there’s a child crying him/herself to sleep each night for lack of food. He’ll be relevant as long as homeless people solicit us for spare ‘change’ (cash) in front of churches, panhandle shoppers in front of Macy’s, Water Tower Place, hustle passersby at bus stops, beg for food in front of Jewel’s, Dominick’s, or Mc Donald’s. As long as poverty exists the words of Charles Huffman Dickens remain applicable. Even if that blessed and glorious day dawn when involuntary poverty will be no more ‘A Christmas Carol’ will continue to remind humanity about the disease we call poverty and its lethal effects on the human body, mind, and spirit.
That’s it for this week’s Mega Scene’s Philippine Adventures. For the next two weeks, unless assigned otherwise, we’ll devote them to Holiday topics. With the January 7th edition we’ll enter the dark world of human organ trafficking in the Philippines; not a pretty subject. Reader, please understand that I have a personal vendetta against the twin evils of injustice and poverty. I hate them!! GOD how I do hate them! Friend I won’t sugarcoat reality for you. That’s what movie magazines do, not Mega Scene.
Another reminder; if you want to join me for our annual on line spiritual Retreat you can still sign on at: www.kolbehouseministry.org. Please go see ‘A Christmas Carol’ at Chicago’s very own Goodman Theatre. It’s a great play. You’ll love it. May you have a blessed Advent, GOD be with you, your loved ones, and see you next week for our annual Fil-Am Christmas special!
(vamaxwell@yahoo.com)