The Old Curiosity Club discussion
David Copperfield
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DC, Chp. 10-12
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Kim
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Aug 26, 2020 06:57AM
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As far as I can see, Mrs. Micawber stands for Germany here, and Mr. Micawber for Hitler or the Nazis. The cartoon plays on the implicit trust and devotion of Mrs. Micawber for her husband and on the fact that this trust and devotion are not well-placed. Germany, i.e. the Germans in general, are seen as backing up Hitler on his expansionist ideas, which are strangely regarded as focussed not on Eastern Europe but on the colonies overseas. It does make sense in a way, but it does not take into consideration the inveterate goodness of Mr. Micawber.
I'm trying to make sense of the Nazi cartoon. Perhaps when we're farther along in the story something will (dare I say it?) turn up that will explain the symbolism behind it. In the meantime, as someone who owns a x-dachshund, I'm curious about why one was added to the image. Dickens never mentions the Micawbers having a dog, does he? I don't think, other than having their origins in Germany, that the breed had any significance to Hitler or the Nazis, did it? Perhaps the artist just needed to fill the space and a dachshund fit better than a German shepherd or a cuckoo clock.
PS The Hitler Micawber looks an awful lot like WC Fields. That adaptation would have been relatively recent. I wonder if there was anything in the film that would have led to this comparison.
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Hitler himself, by the way, did not own a dachshund, as far as I know, but German shephards. His last one was called Blondi.
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narrow minded people who are by mental immobility, pronounced conformity with social norms and an aversion to changes in the familiar living environment are described in a pejorative way as philistines , philistines or philistines [1] . In Switzerland Bünzli [2] or as fuedlibuerger [3] ( Füdli referred = rump).
Obviously I looked it up.
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Tristram wrote: "The German Spießbürger loves conformity, is devoted to authorities and also enjoys exercising power over his inferiors. He is prone to informing on those who don't obey the rules and he loves law and order...."I'm fascinated by this. How interesting that the dachshund came to be associated with it.
In the current vernacular, here in America these people are called "Karen", as in "don't be such a Karen" or, disdainfully, "okay, Karen." Karens are well known for challenging those who aren't wearing masks, and calling the cops on social gatherings. Presumably, the stereotype is a middle-aged, suburban, white woman, and Karen is a common girls' name for that (my) age group. I knew a lot of girls named Karen growing up. It's a mystery to me how these things catch on in the popular culture. I don't think Karens are depicted with any certain breed of dog. :-)
Mary Lou wrote: "Tristram wrote: "The German Spießbürger loves conformity, is devoted to authorities and also enjoys exercising power over his inferiors. He is prone to informing on those who don't obey the rules a..."
On the other hand Karens are known for refusing to wear masks, because it hurts there freedom, and callous reasons/using other people's disabilities to try and pull it off. For doing social gatherings just within allowed limits. 'Rules for thee, not for me' and hypocrisy. And of course it's older than covid, and they're the types that always ask for the manager when the answer of f.i. retail workers is not to their liking ('I'm sorry, we don't have that shoe in stock anymore for your size.' 'You're lying, I want to speak to your manager about how you want to keep those shoes for yourself, now!' type of things). I don't know how I feel about using an actual name for it, especially since I know a couple of women called Karen who are totally awesome and not like that. But by now I think we know what 'A Karen' is all over the world xD
On the other hand Karens are known for refusing to wear masks, because it hurts there freedom, and callous reasons/using other people's disabilities to try and pull it off. For doing social gatherings just within allowed limits. 'Rules for thee, not for me' and hypocrisy. And of course it's older than covid, and they're the types that always ask for the manager when the answer of f.i. retail workers is not to their liking ('I'm sorry, we don't have that shoe in stock anymore for your size.' 'You're lying, I want to speak to your manager about how you want to keep those shoes for yourself, now!' type of things). I don't know how I feel about using an actual name for it, especially since I know a couple of women called Karen who are totally awesome and not like that. But by now I think we know what 'A Karen' is all over the world xD
Yeah Karen’s are more known for NOT following social norms than actually following them. They are the ones calling their kids’ teachers to demand a better grade instead of letting their kid work for the grade. They are the ones yelling at employees for asking them to wear a mask. They are the ones demanding special treatment. “I want to talk to your manager!” is a phrase associated with the stereotype.
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I can't picture Hitler as a dog person. I like dog people. At least I thought I did.
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I can't picture Hitler as a dog person. I like dog pe..."
Hitler is the odd one out among the dog people.
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I hadn't heard that either.
Tristram wrote: "I never heard about that Karen thing before. In Germany, we often call young people who are slightly unused to culture Kevins. The female counterpart would be a Jacqueline or a Chantal."
Yeah, I know. Kevins are those people here in The Netherlands too, while their female counterpart would be an Anita. They're not quite The Karen, but they come close.
Yeah, I know. Kevins are those people here in The Netherlands too, while their female counterpart would be an Anita. They're not quite The Karen, but they come close.
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One of my pupils knew it, I found this out today.
I have never heard any of that, but I do know an actual Chantal, and she is lovely. Does no one actually name a baby any of those names now? I wouldn't.
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