The Past is Relevent

BBC (British Broadcasting Corporation)has created some mind-blowing films. Their 2008 film, Little Dorrit, shows the dark and gloomy side of London in 1820. Charles Dickens' novel exhibits society as a problematic issue in that day in time. Andrew Davies took Dickens' words from Little Dorrit and wrote an outstanding script for his actors\actresses.

My favorite characters from Little Dorrit were:
Amy Dorrit(Claire Foy), Arthur Clennam(Matthew Macfadyen), John Chivery(Russell Tovey), and Mr. William Dorrit(Tom Courtenay). These characters portray selflessness, kindness, generosity, love, passion, and self pity.


Amy Dorrit is the selfless daughter of William Dorrit. She does nothing for herself and joyfully serves, helps, and cares for her family. Amy is a picture of genuine altruism.






Arthur Clennam is a gentleman who always does what is right and proper. He shows kindness and generosity to people in a much lower class than he. Arthur, the hero of the novel, brings the stories together by setting things right.










John Chivery is the assistant turnkey at the Marshalsea Prison. He is sweet and gentle spirited. He is MADLY in love with Amy Dorrit, a childhood friend. John's passion, love, kindness, and gentleness towards Amy is a picture of true love. Every girl would want to be admired and adored the way John adores Amy.


William Dorrit is the longest serving inmate at the Marshalsea, 26 years. His life long goal is to be respected and thought of as a gentleman. Because of his self pity Amy and those around him suffer.






All of these actors and actress successfully played their roles by making very believable characters that have problems that are relevant today. Amy Dorrit and Arthur Clennam are too good at times which makes their characters too good to be true. Russell Tovey, who acts as John Chivery, made my heart ache when he was hurting. William Dorrit's self pity, pride, and selfishness are overly common sins of 2010 as well as 1820. Mr. Dorrit ,along with Mrs. Merdle, Fanny, and the rest of the higher society, are imprisoned by the worldly and modern call of being in style and looked up to. Imprisonment is a theme throughout the novel. Noticeably Mr. Dorrit is imprisoned in the Marshalsea and Mrs. Clennam is imprisoned to her wheelchair. Amy is imprisoned by her character trait of bring altruistic. I long to become a Little Dorrit.

Other characters that spice up the story are Rigaud and Flora Finching. Both of these characters add life, surprise, or humor to the mystery.

Charles Dickens wrote about things that were familiar to him. When he was twelve years old his father became in debt £40 [pounds](the amount of Tips debt). Because of this debt the Dickens family was sent to the Marshalsea Prison. His mother left him and his older sister, Fanny, to fend for themselves most of the time. After marrying in 1836, Charles and his wife, Catherine, had ten children. The youngest, named Edward, they called: Plorn. In Little Dorrit Dickens' view of society and the problems of his time are clearly viewed.

Everyone can either relate to or learn from Little Dorrit.