1. What might account for Freddy’s inviting
George to go bathing after just meeting him? (380)
2. George votes for fate, Mr. Beebe for our
having choices (i.e. having free will).
Where do you think the book, as a whole, comes out as to which rules, fate
or our making choices? (381-382)
3. Any thoughts as to why the twelfth chapter is
called “Twelfth Chapter,” when most of the other titles have more elaborate
titles?
4. Why might Lucy have brought up Charlotte’s
letter to her mother (387)? True, she’s changing the subject, but she could
have changed it some other way.
5. Can you see a connection
between Mrs. Honeychurch’s speech, “You are young, dears , and . . . young
people will never guess what it feels likes to grow old” (391) and the speech
earlier passage about “the thousand little civilities that create a tenderness
in time” (368)?
6. What’s wrong with
talking about eggs, boilers, hydrangeas, and maids? Why doesn’t Cecil like it?
(392)
Cecil doesn't like talking about trivial matters such as eggs, hydrangeas, and maids. He views these house-hold topics as wrong. I think he doesn't like this sort of conversation because he yearns for a deeper way of conversing. He is something of a philosopher, and likes to delve deeply, and sometimes intangibly, into the ways of the world. He likes to think of himself as above the topics of everyday things like eggs and maids. He is a pseudo intellectual and enjoys pretending to understand, and sometimes understanding, the intricacies of social interaction, barriers between classes, and fate versus control. Cecil has the misconception that simple topics are not worth discussing because they have no intellectual substance. They are common and Cecil takes much issue with that which is common. He likes the feeling of being better than something, or someone. Average (common) is not part of Cecil's vocabulary, just as eggs, flowers, and maids are not.
ReplyDeleteWhat is interesting about the swimming scene is how this symbol acts as somewhat of a turning point (in a major motif of the book). The motif I am refereeing too is the separation between social classes. This is prominent when George, Freddy,and Mr. Beebe, disrobe and enter the water together. Each of the three men are from different social standings, showing their unity in the most bear form. The clothes that the three men leave on the side could also symbolize the necessities of of the world around them, and through the men disrobing they are becoming free of aforementioned afflictions of society.This moment is special because as they have no clothes on they can be liberated for a moment from the social class pressures and demands surrounding them.
ReplyDeleteI think that the reason Freddy invites George Emerson to "bathe" as soon as he comes down the stairs is because he feels a connection with him. It is possible that Freddy knows George is a young man with an adventurous style judging from all the books he owns. Freddy feels comfortable enough inviting George to swim with him and Mr. Beebe, and the experience ends up enlightening and loosening each of them up. Freddy's offering also opens up a discussion about the differences of the two genders between George and Mr. Beebe. Freddy mentions that he's growing tired of talking about such serious things, but it does not stop the men from bathing and becoming friends.
ReplyDelete