Synthesized answer
The passages do not provide a publication date or explicitly reference mid-19th-century societal expectations or anxieties. However, Mr. Crusty’s specific complaints reflect concerns about domestic order, dependency, and social judgment that align with that era’s norms. His frustration with Sophy’s distraction—"her head is full of some body else" [3] and "that Dick Driver takes up too much of her time" [5]—shows anxiety about a servant’s divided loyalty, which threatens his household management and care. His own "miserable mistake" of not marrying at twenty-five [1] highlights a fear of isolation and regret over failing to secure a wife, a common societal expectation for men to establish a family.
Mr. Crusty also worries about public opinion regarding a potential late marriage to Mrs. Lovely, fearing that "the outcry of all the Mr. and Mrs. Grundys of our town" would call him a fool for marrying a younger widow [4]. This reflects mid-19th-century anxieties about age-appropriate matches and social ridicule. The passages do not directly address broader societal anxieties like industrialization or class mobility, but they do show personal fears tied to domestic dependency, marital…
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From the book
must marry her off; I see that clearly. The bell rings. Sophy enters and says: Mrs. Simpkins has called over to see Mr. Crusty. What shall I say, Sir? Mr. Crusty . Tell her I am lying down before the fire, in great misery, and can't see her; and when she goes out, bolt the door. Thank her for the duck you eat for me, you minx. Sophy goes out and says, aside: Mad still! Mr. Crusty , [ solus. ] Was ever such a wretched man as I? Left by my nieces for their new-found homes and husbands, I sit here for hours alone, with no body to care for me but this gal, who comes between me and all the nice…
Sophy . If you want to get rid of me, Mr. Crusty, I am only too happy that Dick is ready to take me off your hands. Mr. Crusty . You baggage! You know I marry you to Dick, that I may be better attended to when you shall have no one to look out for who does not reside under my roof with you. Go! and be happy. I will see that all things are ready for the tieing of the knot, by the time you shall return. [ Exeunt Dick and Sophy . Mr. Crusty , [ solus. ] I think I shall be happier to know Dick and Sophy are married, and, too, I believe it is the best way to secure my own happiness. I shall enjoy,…
because her head is full of some body else. Sophy! Sophy! What can have become of the gal? [ Looks out at window. ] Ah! there she is, standing on the doorstep, bare-headed, looking up and down for that harum-scarum lover of hers. [ Raps on the window. ] Enter Sophy , who makes ready to set the table. Why is my dinner delayed! I have been waiting for two hours for my dinner. What am I to have? Sophy . You are to have no dinner; the doctor said you must diet yourself upon tea and toast. Mr. C. The doctor be hanged! I won't starve to please him. Bring me up that cold turkey and canvas-back duck;…
ave time to make all suitable preparations for such an event. I must first lay aside my weeds. Mr. Crusty . Not an hour! In matters of this sort, especially, there 's danger in delay. Do n't you reflect that your "dear five hundred fashionable friends" will all do their best to put me out of your head. They will tell you, and tell you truly, I am too old for you. They will count every gray hair in my head, and tell you the exact number. Mrs. Lovely . If all the world were to unite, it would not move me. No, never! Mr. Crusty . Ah! well. It may be true of a woman; but, I fear, if the outcry…
Nothing for me! Where's the turkey roasted yesterday! Where's that canvas-back duck the widow Simpkins sent over to me? I hate to receive her gifts, but for this time I will thank her heartily. Go! bring up my dinner. Do n't delay a moment. [ putting his hand on her shoulder, and hurrying her toward the door. ] Sophy stops at the door, and, turning round, says: ] You can't have the turkey, nor the duck. You must diet for tonight, any how. Mr. Crusty . I will have it! Sophy . You can't have it! Mr. Crusty . Who says 'can't' to me? Sophy , [ with a low curtsey ,] I say it; and for sufficient…
More questions about this book
- Explain Mr. Crusty's complex emotional state and worldview by detailing how his political cynicism connects with his personal regrets and self-pity in his opening monologue.
- Given that this piece is titled "A Charade," how might this theatrical form influence the exaggerated portrayal of Mr. Crusty's character and the dramatic conflict presented?
- How does Mr. Crusty's transition from lamenting the state of "virtuous politics" to his personal grievances about lost love and domestic neglect reveal a broader underlying theme of disappointment in his life?
- Analyze the power dynamics between Mr. Crusty and Sophy based on their brief dialogue. What does Sophy's response imply about her position or agency within the household?