Liberty Mutual Commercial

Ok...I've been thinking about Dickens characters in modern commercials.  I would like to put several of them in those touching Liberty Mutual Commercials where people see other people helping people and then pass it on.  I just LOVE those commercials and could see several of Dickens' characters in one of these.  Because the following characters have been so nice and helpful in the works, they should be helping others in a commercial and make some money on it.  There may be more to come but this is what I have thus far.

Lizzie: She's always willing to help (Betty, Charlie, Wrayburn).  

• She will be helping a person in a wheelchair into a building that has no handicap accessible doors.

Riah: He helps Lizzie escape Headstone and sacrifices his job to maintain his friendship with Jenny.  

• He will be stopping a young boy's dog from running out into a busy intersection.  

Rokesmith: He clears Hexam's name and allows the Boffins to keep his fortune.  

• He will be giving his umbrella to a pregnant woman standing in the rain.

Mrs. Boffin: She wants to help people with her money (Bella and Sloppy).  

• She will be paying for a stranger's coffee in a coffee shop.

Mortimer Lightwood because of his dedication and helpfulness to Wrayburn.  

• He will be picking up a heavy bag for someone at an airport baggage claim.

Sydney Carton: He sacrifices his life for Darnay's and in his last few moments of life he helps another woman.  

• He will be helping an older woman across the street.

Mr. Lorry does what he can to help Lucie and her father.  

• He will be helping an elderly person fill out a form in a city hall.

Rev. Crisparkle helps Neville and believes in him when no one else does.

• He will be helping a young girl get a doll from a tall shelf in a toy store.

After thoughts

I believe I may have judged A TALE OF TWO CITIES too harshly.  I didn't like the character development and I felt it was a little scattered; however, it has had some impact on me because I keep thinking about it.  Maybe it's because Easter is upon us which has its own sacrifice or maybe I'm trying to find something more.  I'm still not a fan of the dummies who went back to Paris but maybe I'm too focused on the surface meaning.  They went for their own reasons and that is something to be admired.  Maybe Dickens was trying to make that point.  We may have to make fatal choices in life but we have to believe in our decisions.  We don't need a French Revolution to remind us of the sacrifices we have to make.  They are sometimes small, a salad instead of a burger.  They are sometimes big, not eating yourself to give your child food.  Would I read it again soon...nope but I guess ATOTC was better than I thought.

In sickness & in health

2 very different ceremonies:


Rokesmith & Bella
I must admit that I was extremely shocked & excited when there was mention of their marriage.  What pleased me even more was the way Bella's mother took the news.  She is the most outspoken and ornery individual but I find myself wanting to spend time with her.  The person I would hate to be is Rokesmith...to have such a mother-in-law would not be my requests.  I guess that's why they include "for better or worse" in the nuptuals  I am so impressed with Bella's change in character.  She tells her mother like it is in a polite manner and has given up her love of money for her love Rokesmith.  When I read her pouring over housework and newspaper articles I had a smile on my face.  She has grown up and taken responsibility of her life.  As much as I've read about them all, I feel like a proud mother in her progress.  


Wrayburn & Lizzie
How sweet and sad their ceremony was.  I have been pulling for Lizzie from the beginning and it seems as though, up until now, she has come out on top.  She escaped crazy with the help of Riah, came to Betty in her hour of need, saved Wrayburn from immediate death, and getting married.  She has had a hard life but continues to remain so positive.  Wrayburn's desire to protect Lizzie is proof that the good in life is seen.  She has never asked for anything but yet gains so much more.  Dickens has issues with women but thus far, she is the one woman who is so pure.  While I don't see their marriage being a long one, I do feel it's a true love. 


Nuptials with new meaning:
In sickness: Wrayburn
In health: Bella & Rokesmith...so far


Till death do us part: Wrayburn & Lizzie will see this sooner than Rokesmith & Bella


For better: Wrayburn marries to protect Lizzie & also because he loves her
Or worse: Rokesmith got one heck of a mother-in-law & Bella has some hard work to do


For richer: Lizzie has wealth in love (cheesy I know but true)
Or poorer: Bella gave up her riches for Rokesmith

The men are continuing to take the lead

I am simply going to start with my thoughts...

Headstone: I didn't like him to begin with but my dislike has only grown.  He is such a despicable person and doesn't deserve to work with children.  Charlie is correct in changing his opinion of the man and should be glad his sister didn't not get involved.  I had originally thought Alfred would be the devil but Dickens proved me wrong.

Wrayburn: He is truly an admirable man.  He doesn't make a good first impression, in my opinion, but he doesn't deserve to be beaten in the night.  Although I think about him torturing poor crazy Headstone by wandering the streets at all hours of the night which drove him mad, there is no excuse for the violence.  What I find most redeeming is his request not to punish Headstone.  He does it for Lizzie's reputation which made me tear up a little.  I also think about the guilt that Headstone has to live with which is also a punishment in itself.  There is something so sweet in his love and in his last few hours this loyalty and dedication to Lizzie grew.

Rokesmith: After being attacked by Boffin, he continues to better himself in life without telling his secret.  He kept his calm and didn't fight back...what a man!  While I feel it will come out at some point, I admire him for keeping it up to this point.  I believe I would be jealous of Bella if I were in their circle of friends.

Riah: Such an admirable Jew.  He threatens his friendship with Jenny when he does what Fledgeby tells him to only to search his soul for his true self.  He quits his job to become the "exception" to the Jewish stereotype and to regain Jenny's trust.  In this encounter with Jenny, he transforms from the "wolf" back into the "godmother".  He knows what society thinks of Jews and he doesn't want to be part of that stereotype.  Love him for that!!

Mr. Doll: Ok...is it just me or is it creepy that Jenny continually refers to her father as her child?  It took me quite some time to figure out who she was talking about until he died.  I always thought she was too young to have had a child of that age.  I would love to know what Freud has to say about this.

Lightwood: I just want so say how wonderful it is to see his dedication to his friend on his deathbed.  I am touched by his granting Wrayburn's every final request.