Red Whiskers

From: Bob Lines (boblines@ODYSSEY.APANA.ORG.AU)
Date: Wed Jan 27 1999 - 03:18:14 PST


Mr Dickens,

In my reading I frequently come across characters who have red hair or red
whiskers
who are disreputable to some degree. You yourself,sir, (as David
Copperfield) continually refer to Uriah Heep's red hair calling him at one
time Red Whisker and at another Rufus. I am reminded also of  Meryl Streep's
rufous locks in her role as the French Lieutenant's Woman - a lady of
questionable morality. Was there a stigma attached to  russet hair or was
it a literary device to damn the character as lacking respectability in the
eyes of the reader?

The (belated)compliments of the season, sir.



Bob


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