Just 1 hour before the dinner, my sister told me that another man was arriving for dinner, Mr. Wilkins, Joe's brother. Minutes later, a not short, brown haired, young man accompanied by a gold decorated Horse Carriage with 4 servants and 4 stallions arrived at our door. He marched through the door as if I did not exist and asked loudly for his brother. Joe came out of the forge and immediately the two were in each others arms. After settling down for dinner, Mr. Wilkins finally acknowledged me.
"And who is this?" said Mr. Wilkins
"This is Pip, my brother in law" said Joe
"Mighty young to be your brother in law" said Mr. Wilkins
"Yes, my entire family died under mysterious circumstances, save for me and my brother" said Mrs. Joe
"Well how do you do young fellow? Have a lollipop" replied Mr. Wilkins
I found that Mr. Wilkins was just as nice as his brother Joe, but a whole lot wealthier. I asked him:
"How did you become a gentleman?"
"Don't you dare ask that question of Mr. Wilkins!" said Mrs. Joe
"Its alright Mrs. Joe, I'll tell Pip" said Mr. Wilkins
"I had always wanted to be a gentleman, ever since I was a child. One day, a strange man came to my house called Mr. Maggers and told me I had been sponsored by a benefactor and I was to travel to London at once. I was very excited and after saying goodbye to my family and friends I left. London was exciting and I quickly learned how to become a gentleman and started my own business. This is how I have become as successful as I am today." explained Mr. Wilkins
"I think you will make a wonderful apprentice to Joe." said Mr. Wilkins
I was extremely excited. This was exactly what I wanted to be, but I couldn't tell anyone because they assumed I was to be an apprentice to Joe.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Caricature - Jaggers has a Visitor
Mr. Jaggers was so kind as to invite me and my "gang" to supper at his place of residence once more later that week. I expected that he wished to talk some more to Drummle, in whom he had taken an unexpected fancy. We were just helping ourselves to a fresh, leafy salad, and the two of them were already immersed in deep conversation, when we heard some thunder and then a loud knock on the door. My gaurdian swore and bit the side of his finger with unusual vigour. Sitting at the table in deep suspence, I twisted my imagination into a thousand loops and tangles, wondering who would have the courage to show up at Jaggers' place so late at night.
Sitting in the dining hall, we could hear Jaggers stalk over to the door with a snarl and pull ferociously at the handle. Then the unexpected happened. We heard a high-pitched squeal of fear, a great thud, and then a strange man entered the room. He had a dull gleam in his eyes, that displayed a great distrust in whomever who was so unfortunate as to fall into his field of vision. All of a sudden, in a familiar flourish, he raised his hand and bit the side of his finger. Before we could so much as open our mouths in surprise, we heard some scrambling footsteps and Jaggers entered the room, deathly pale and noticably disturbed. Impossible. He had just fainted!
This unusual appearance of my guardian sent shivers down my spine. Who could this stranger be to intimidate one whom it seemed impossible to scare and who could make a prisoner at the bar tremble worse than he would should he be front of the devil himself?
The stranger turned around and looked at Jaggers, who shrank away in terror, rubbing his shoulders against the wall behind him. I imagined his customers backing off in his office and greasing up the wall there. The man spoke in a deep, lashing voice:
"Now my son, I hear you have been given a job to do. It seems you have been charged as the guardian of a certain boy who has acquired a great fortune."
Hearing this I could feel the blood drain from my face. Was this man, who claimed to be Jaggers' father, going to take away my money, my hopes of becoming a gentleman, of achieving anything in life? My rage overcame my fear and I spoke out:
"What do you want with me, sir? If it is your intention to take what is not meant to be yours, then pray leave us as I am sure we could do very well without your company."
The stranger let out a snarl but Jaggers was agile. He leapt across the room and grabbed me by the scurf of the neck, raising me from my chair, dragged me to the door, flinging me outside, and then locking it behind him. And so it came to be known from then on that the fearful lawyer Jaggers had come to lock his door each night and no one knew why.
Ilana Tavshunsky
Sitting in the dining hall, we could hear Jaggers stalk over to the door with a snarl and pull ferociously at the handle. Then the unexpected happened. We heard a high-pitched squeal of fear, a great thud, and then a strange man entered the room. He had a dull gleam in his eyes, that displayed a great distrust in whomever who was so unfortunate as to fall into his field of vision. All of a sudden, in a familiar flourish, he raised his hand and bit the side of his finger. Before we could so much as open our mouths in surprise, we heard some scrambling footsteps and Jaggers entered the room, deathly pale and noticably disturbed. Impossible. He had just fainted!
This unusual appearance of my guardian sent shivers down my spine. Who could this stranger be to intimidate one whom it seemed impossible to scare and who could make a prisoner at the bar tremble worse than he would should he be front of the devil himself?
The stranger turned around and looked at Jaggers, who shrank away in terror, rubbing his shoulders against the wall behind him. I imagined his customers backing off in his office and greasing up the wall there. The man spoke in a deep, lashing voice:
"Now my son, I hear you have been given a job to do. It seems you have been charged as the guardian of a certain boy who has acquired a great fortune."
Hearing this I could feel the blood drain from my face. Was this man, who claimed to be Jaggers' father, going to take away my money, my hopes of becoming a gentleman, of achieving anything in life? My rage overcame my fear and I spoke out:
"What do you want with me, sir? If it is your intention to take what is not meant to be yours, then pray leave us as I am sure we could do very well without your company."
The stranger let out a snarl but Jaggers was agile. He leapt across the room and grabbed me by the scurf of the neck, raising me from my chair, dragged me to the door, flinging me outside, and then locking it behind him. And so it came to be known from then on that the fearful lawyer Jaggers had come to lock his door each night and no one knew why.
Ilana Tavshunsky
Friday, November 20, 2009
Caricature: The Drunkard
To the Jolly Bargemen, therefore, I [Pip] directed my steps. I had lifted my hand to the doorknob when the door opened of its own accord and out tumbled a figure in a tattered coat, nearly knocking me head over heels.
“Hallo there, young lad. A fine evening, no?” remarked a voice that slurred its words together so that they were barely comprehensible.
“Yes, Mudge,” I replied, glancing at the dismal grey sky above, for Mudge it was. I knew him by sight as well as anyone else in the village, though most thought themselves above speaking to him. It is true that Mrs. Joe would probably have dragged me home by the scruff of my neck had she known that I was speaking to Mudge, for he was not often sober and had not a penny to his name. His old grey hat was pulled low over his face, but even in the shadows I could tell his face looked as if he had scrubbed it with the ashes from Joe’s forge. Wild hair stuck out at every angle, and his scraggly beard was not well kept either. He was not a particularly tall man, and most people who saw him pretended not to see him at all. Indeed, he was almost a part of the town itself; it was not uncommon to see him tottering down the street in a weaving line clutching a bottle, and more often than not singing a tune so off-key it was unrecognizable.
Nevertheless, I often encountered him wandering about the streets and he always stopped to remark on the fine weather, regardless of what it was like. After taking a deep draught from his bottle, he spoke again.
“Well, seeing as we was in such an ‘urry to get to where we was going that we wasn't looking to see where we was going, p’raps we oughter be off. Good night to you, young sir.” And off he went, in a drunkenly weaving line and bawling some unidentifiable tune into the fine evening.
Jessica Zung
“Hallo there, young lad. A fine evening, no?” remarked a voice that slurred its words together so that they were barely comprehensible.
“Yes, Mudge,” I replied, glancing at the dismal grey sky above, for Mudge it was. I knew him by sight as well as anyone else in the village, though most thought themselves above speaking to him. It is true that Mrs. Joe would probably have dragged me home by the scruff of my neck had she known that I was speaking to Mudge, for he was not often sober and had not a penny to his name. His old grey hat was pulled low over his face, but even in the shadows I could tell his face looked as if he had scrubbed it with the ashes from Joe’s forge. Wild hair stuck out at every angle, and his scraggly beard was not well kept either. He was not a particularly tall man, and most people who saw him pretended not to see him at all. Indeed, he was almost a part of the town itself; it was not uncommon to see him tottering down the street in a weaving line clutching a bottle, and more often than not singing a tune so off-key it was unrecognizable.
Nevertheless, I often encountered him wandering about the streets and he always stopped to remark on the fine weather, regardless of what it was like. After taking a deep draught from his bottle, he spoke again.
“Well, seeing as we was in such an ‘urry to get to where we was going that we wasn't looking to see where we was going, p’raps we oughter be off. Good night to you, young sir.” And off he went, in a drunkenly weaving line and bawling some unidentifiable tune into the fine evening.
Jessica Zung
Saturday, October 31, 2009
The Gentleman
Find a few dictionary definitions of Gentlemen
A man of good family, breeding, or social position.
A civilized, educated, sensitive or well-mannered man
A man (used as a polite term)
How do you think the word is used in popular culture? What do we mean these days when we say someone is a “Gentleman”?
In modern times, the word "gentleman" has come to signify a distinction of position, education, and manners, not blood. “Gentlemen" have "self-respect and intellectual refinement [and] unrestrained yet delicate manners". Treating others respectfully, neither taking advantage of others nor using force, signifies gentlemen. It is also used ironically, to be inoffensive (e.g. a reporter of a riot might report a "gentleman" trying to smash a window.)
How was a gentleman defined in Victorian England? What various definitions were offered?
"Gentleman", in Victorian English, was an ambiguous term, and no set of qualities existed. Aristocrats and such were “gentlemen”, but there was also a moral aspect. Though the Latin root (gens) suggests that a notable family is key, lower-class men strove for recognition through wealth and influence. It was later established that an education at an elite school qualified a "gentleman".
What are the main characteristics associated with Gentlemen in Victorian England?
The gentleman belonged to the upper/upper-middle class in Victorian society. Attending parties and knowing what people of your class were doing was extremely important.
Etiquette was essential, and erring meant disgrace. Gentlemen must know when it was polite to smoke or drink sherry with ladies around. Improper etiquette could cause gossip.
References
Cody, David. "The Gentleman." Victorian Web. 2 June 2004. http://www.victorianweb.org/history/gentleman.html.
"Gentleman." Dictionary.com. 2009.
Tudor, Rose. “Victorian Society.” 2009. http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/victorian-society.asp
Questions
1. Define “gentleman” as it is generally understood today.
2. How has the meaning of “gentleman” changed since Victorian England?
3. Name a vital part of Victorian gentlemanliness.
A man of good family, breeding, or social position.
A civilized, educated, sensitive or well-mannered man
A man (used as a polite term)
How do you think the word is used in popular culture? What do we mean these days when we say someone is a “Gentleman”?
In modern times, the word "gentleman" has come to signify a distinction of position, education, and manners, not blood. “Gentlemen" have "self-respect and intellectual refinement [and] unrestrained yet delicate manners". Treating others respectfully, neither taking advantage of others nor using force, signifies gentlemen. It is also used ironically, to be inoffensive (e.g. a reporter of a riot might report a "gentleman" trying to smash a window.)
How was a gentleman defined in Victorian England? What various definitions were offered?
"Gentleman", in Victorian English, was an ambiguous term, and no set of qualities existed. Aristocrats and such were “gentlemen”, but there was also a moral aspect. Though the Latin root (gens) suggests that a notable family is key, lower-class men strove for recognition through wealth and influence. It was later established that an education at an elite school qualified a "gentleman".
What are the main characteristics associated with Gentlemen in Victorian England?
The gentleman belonged to the upper/upper-middle class in Victorian society. Attending parties and knowing what people of your class were doing was extremely important.
Etiquette was essential, and erring meant disgrace. Gentlemen must know when it was polite to smoke or drink sherry with ladies around. Improper etiquette could cause gossip.
References
Cody, David. "The Gentleman." Victorian Web. 2 June 2004. http://www.victorianweb.org/history/gentleman.html.
"Gentleman." Dictionary.com. 2009.
Tudor, Rose. “Victorian Society.” 2009. http://www.aboutbritain.com/articles/victorian-society.asp
Questions
1. Define “gentleman” as it is generally understood today.
2. How has the meaning of “gentleman” changed since Victorian England?
3. Name a vital part of Victorian gentlemanliness.
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