S’émeuter ou s’émouvoir ?

Posté par admin
mercredi 29 mars 2006 [n° 1160]

Ceux qui s’émeutent…

I want some more !

Anti-CPE demonstrations, Paris March 2006

The evening arrived; the boys took their places. The master, in his cook’s uniform, stationed himself at the copper; his pauper assistants ranged themselves behind him; the gruel was served out; and a long grace was said over the short commons. The gruel disappeared; the boys whispered each other, and winked at Oliver; while his next neighbors nudged him. Child as he was, he was desperate with hunger, and reckless with misery. He rose from the table; and advancing to the master, basin and spoon in hand, said: somewhat alarmed at his own temerity:

‘Please, sir, I want some more.’

The master was a fat, healthy man; but he turned very pale. He
gazed in stupefied astonishment on the small rebel for some
seconds, and then clung for support to the copper. The
assistants were paralysed with wonder; the boys with fear.

Oliver Twist- illustration by George Cruikshank 1

‘What!’ said the master at length, in a faint voice.

‘Please, sir,’ replied Oliver, ‘I want some more.’

The master aimed a blow at Oliver’s head with the ladle; pinioned
him in his arm; and shrieked aloud for the beadle.

The board were sitting in solemn conclave, when Mr. Bumble rushed into the room in great excitement, and addressing the gentleman in the high chair, said,

‘Mr. Limbkins, I beg your pardon, sir! Oliver Twist has asked
for more!’

There was a general start. Horror was depicted on every
countenance.

‘For _more_!’ said Mr. Limbkins. ‘Compose yourself, Bumble, and answer me distinctly. Do I understand that he asked for more, after he had eaten the supper allotted by the dietary?’

‘He did, sir,’ replied Bumble.

‘That boy will be hung,’ said the gentleman in the white waistcoat. ‘I know that boy will be hung.’

Nobody controverted the prophetic gentleman’s opinion. An
animated discussion took place. Oliver was ordered into instant
confinement; and a bill was next morning pasted on the outside of the gate, offering a reward of five pounds to anybody who would take Oliver Twist off the hands of the parish. In other words, five pounds and Oliver Twist were offered to any man or woman who wanted an apprentice to any trade, business, or calling.

‘I never was more convinced of anything in my life,’ said the
gentleman in the white waistcoat, as he knocked at the gate and
read the bill next morning: ‘I never was more convinced of
anything in my life, than I am that that boy will come to be
hung.’

Title: Oliver Twist

Author: Charles Dickens2

___________________________

Et ceux qui s’émeuvent

À l’évidence, la droite n’aura rien gagné dans ce dossier. Mais la grande perdante, ce sera probablement la France. D’abord parce que cette affaire n’est pas bonne pour la marche de l’économie, surtout quand celle-ci repose essentiellement sur la consommation des ménages. Ensuite, comme l’a d’ailleurs souligné la patronne des patrons, Laurence Parisot, parce que l’image du pays, déjà fragile à l’international, va en prendre encore un coup. Il y a quelques jours, le Figaro rapportait une intéressante étude commandée par l’université du Maryland démontrant que la France est le seul – bien lire le seul ! – grand pays au monde dans lequel la majorité de la population se déclare hostile à l’économie de marché. 3

Les perdants François-Xavier Pietri, La Tribune 29/03/06


  1. Dickens’ illustration page
    Biographie de George Cruikshank, illustrateur d’Oliver Twist
    Excellent article pédagogique : “Oliver Twist” : Du Roman au Film, Analyse “From a great book to a major film, Part 3″ [back]
  2. Release Date: November, 1996 [EBook #730]
    [This file was last updated on March 25, 2006]
    Edition: 11
    This etext was created by Peggy Gaugy.
    Edition 11 editing by Leigh Little. [back]
  3. Etude dont les conclusions ont été rapportées dans Le Figaro-Economie des 25-26 mars 2006. Il s’agit compte d’un sondage GlobalScan réalisé pour le compte de l’Université du Maryland selon lequel, parmi les vingt plus grands pays du monde dans chacun desquels 1000 personnes ont été interrogées, la France est le seul dans lequel une majorité substantielle (50% contre 36%) n’est « pas d’accord» que « le système de la libre entreprise et de l’économie de marché (soit) le meilleur pour l’avenir ». [back]
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