Synthesized answer
The anecdote about the Moscow lady reveals Prince Hippolyte's character in several ways. He tells the story in broken Russian, highlighting his foreignness [1]. He appears eager for attention, "emphatically and eagerly did he demand their attention to his story" [1]. His narration is difficult, with him pausing to collect his thoughts, and he laughs long before his audience, which is noted as having an "unfavorable" effect [1]. His inability to contain himself during the telling of the anecdote suggests a lack of self-control and perhaps a poor understanding of social cues [1].
The anecdote also shows that Prince Hippolyte's speech can be difficult to interpret; "his hearers could not be sure whether what he said was very witty or very stupid" [3]. His physical appearance is described as "dulled by imbecility and a constant expression of sullen self-confidence," with a "vacant, wearied grimace" [2]. He speaks with "self-confidence" even when his meaning is unclear [3]. Furthermore, he is described as being clumsy, as seen when he stumbles while wearing his cloak [4]. The passages indicate he is considered a "quiet fool" by his father, in contrast to his brother Anatole, who is an…
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From the book
nce Hippolyte began to tell his story in such Russian as a Frenchman would speak after spending about a year in Russia. Everyone waited, so emphatically and eagerly did he demand their attention to his story. “There is in Moscow a lady, une dame, and she is very stingy. She must have two footmen behind her carriage, and very big ones. That was her taste. And she had a lady’s maid, also big. She said....” Here Prince Hippolyte paused, evidently collecting his ideas with difficulty. “She said.... Oh yes! She said, ‘Girl,’ to the maid, ‘put on a livery, get up behind the carriage, and…
y arranged herself in her seat. “Now I am all right,” she said, and asking the vicomte to begin, she took up her work. Prince Hippolyte, having brought the workbag, joined the circle and moving a chair close to hers seated himself beside her. Le charmant Hippolyte was surprising by his extraordinary resemblance to his beautiful sister, but yet more by the fact that in spite of this resemblance he was exceedingly ugly. His features were like his sister’s, but while in her case everything was lit up by a joyous, self-satisfied, youthful, and constant smile of animation, and by…
nstrument he could not begin to speak. “Why no, my dear fellow,” said the astonished narrator, shrugging his shoulders. “Because I hate ghost stories,” said Prince Hippolyte in a tone which showed that he only understood the meaning of his words after he had uttered them. He spoke with such self-confidence that his hearers could not be sure whether what he said was very witty or very stupid. He was dressed in a dark-green dress coat, knee breeches of the color of cuisse de nymphe effrayée, as he called it, shoes, and silk stockings. The vicomte told his tale very neatly. It was an…
it not? Delightful!” “They say the ball will be very good,” replied the princess, drawing up her downy little lip. “All the pretty women in society will be there.” “Not all, for you will not be there; not all,” said Prince Hippolyte smiling joyfully; and snatching the shawl from the footman, whom he even pushed aside, he began wrapping it round the princess. Either from awkwardness or intentionally (no one could have said which) after the shawl had been adjusted he kept his arm around her for a long time, as though embracing her. Still smiling, she gracefully moved away, turning…
ys of life are distributed. Why has fate given you two such splendid children? I don’t speak of Anatole, your youngest. I don’t like him,” she added in a tone admitting of no rejoinder and raising her eyebrows. “Two such charming children. And really you appreciate them less than anyone, and so you don’t deserve to have them.” And she smiled her ecstatic smile. “I can’t help it,” said the prince. “Lavater would have said I lack the bump of paternity.” “Don’t joke; I mean to have a serious talk with you. Do you know I am dissatisfied with your younger son? Between ourselves” (and…