1) What do you
think about the chauvinism in the early scenes of this play? (Look it up:
“chauvinism” doesn’t originally or primarily mean sexism.) For example, examine
what Doricourt has to say about the English, French, and Italians in 1.3.16-55,
or what he says a moment later about English, French, and Italian ladies.
or
2) Examine
Lady Frances’s choice at the end of 2.1. What does she decide? How is her
choice presented to her by Mrs. Racket and Miss Ogle? By Sir George? What about
the perspective of Lady Frances herself?
or
3) Letitia’s manner of speaking at 3.1.90-160 makes for a key scene
in the play, and in her “belle’s stratagem.” First say what she’s doing, and
then look at an example or two of her speech style in this moment. Does she get
her intended reaction? How do we know?
or
4) Discuss another part of today’s reading that
seems to be in need of exploration, elucidation, or comment.
Letitia tries to disguise her intellect and refinement by prattling to Doricourt about men and nonsense in a scatterbrained, almost coarse fashion. She peppers her speech with interjections like "Oh, Lud!" and "Laws!", presumably to make herself seem flighty and somewhat lower-class. When she does this, she reminds me a lot of Lydia Bennet from Pride and Prejudice, who interjected "lord" every three words or so. Letitia also makes sure to seem shockingly forward and foolish at the same time by referring to her new fiancé as her sweetheart and "assuming" that he'll like her better now that she's "opened up".
ReplyDeleteHer ruse is accepted by her audience to different degrees, based on how well they know the real Letitia. Mrs. Rack, who is in on the plot, just thinks the whole thing is funny and plays along, wondering how faithful Doricourt will be to his ridiculous bride. Hardy, who of course knows Letitia's real character, deduces at once that she's trying something and endeavors to convince Doricourt of her intelligence. Doricourt himself, who doesn't know Letitia at all, falls for the trick completely. He goes as far as to tell Mrs. Rack that her unflattering description of Letitia is only "a watercolor" in comparison to the vulgarity and stupidity of the original.
Ironically, it's Letitia's ability to think on her feet and her understanding of human nature that enable her to fool Doricourt into thinking that she's a complete idiot. Her plan itself, though, is based on a really big misunderstanding of human nature: that making a man hate you will ultimately ensure his love. As clever as Letitia proves herself to be otherwise, I can't get over her real stupidity in this one (very important) area.
I was a bit surprised to see patriotism displayed toward women specifically. Then again, equating women with servants, not necessarily such a far stretch.
ReplyDeleteIt’s also not so much that Doricourt is not chauvinistic, only that he is in the matter of women. He seems content to let England sit higher than the Continent because if its pursuits--oddly placing liberal arts, politics and war above all of the beautiful things he seems to enjoy. Favourable women are the only thing which England can’t produce… perhaps because they are meant to stay out of politics and the like, and instead focus more on “frivolities”?
A bit on name meanings, because some of them are new while others are old card/stock names. I wasn’t expecting a name like Letitia to come up; it turns out that it’s Latin for “happiness,” in a language which is refined/wise and it means that she theoretically wants to achieve. I’m pretty sure that “dor” refers to a bug in the Old English and “pain” in Latin-- he’s… rather detestable but annoying in that small way like a fly bothers you? And he causes pain by courting/flirting? Saville is literally “Saxon-village” so huzzah for patriots. Francis is another place-name, for France, and I presume that she evolves into the French-type of girl who Doricourt loves and Sir George hates. And I remember there being an Miss/Mrs Ogle in “School for Scandal,” and I’d thought that they had made up the name as another quip in a line of ridiculous quips, but perhaps it’s a common name in the period for “scheming-lady-friend-who-knows-the-Town.” Although we’ve mostly read comedies, I don’t know if we’ve come across that many stock-types, but more of central characters discussing off-stage stocks and stock plots/subplots.
It seems that Doricourt is very patriotic and while comparing England to France, Germany and Italy, he praises the English highly for their setting their priorities straight, for being opinionated and making conscious decisions. While comparing the English to the French, he points out that the French are merely good listeners, or in his words, "obedient". They make good servants since they listen to everything their Master asks of them, but they don't have a mind of their own. In other words, the Englishman is good for much more than brushing his Master's horse. The Frenchman- for his obedience- is fit for that job. Doricourt chooses England to be the most intelligent and productive of any country around, and makes it quite obvious in the play. His opinions almost sound a tad arrogant, although he seems to simply be portraying pride for England.
ReplyDeleteI think something really interesting in this play is its (to me) similarity to school for scandal. At the beginning of the play, act I scene I, the characters are sitting around gossiping about divorces politics etc, and it is very evocative of the opening scene in school for scandal. In addition, the second plot of the play is also super similar. There are newly married characters, and the wife is acting in a way the husband doesn't like. I wonder if they were playing off of eachothet or linked in any way: it's funny because cowley took her title from someone else, and perhaps was inspired by school for scandal?
ReplyDelete