Bashyboy Posted 12 years ago
Grammar
The Way Of All Flesh
Hello everyone,
"George Pontifex might have been brought up as a carpenter and succeeded in no other way than as succeeding his father as one of the minor magnates of Paleham, and yet have been a more truly successful man than he actually was—for I take it there is not much more solid success in this world than what fell to the lot of old Mr and Mrs Pontifex;"
This comes from the second chapter of "The Way Of All Flesh" by Samuel Butler.
From the preceding sentences, it is clear that George Pontifex is highly prized by his mother, who will do anything, even fight against fortune, to
insure that her son achieves great things in life. But I am having a little difficulty understanding this present sentence. Is the sentence trying to say
that any success cannot be solely imputed to George, for if he were to achieve things by his own merits he would not amount to anything more than just succeeding his father?
"George Pontifex might have been brought up as a carpenter and succeeded in no other way than as succeeding his father as one of the minor magnates of Paleham, and yet have been a more truly successful man than he actually was—for I take it there is not much more solid success in this world than what fell to the lot of old Mr and Mrs Pontifex;"
This comes from the second chapter of "The Way Of All Flesh" by Samuel Butler.
From the preceding sentences, it is clear that George Pontifex is highly prized by his mother, who will do anything, even fight against fortune, to
insure that her son achieves great things in life. But I am having a little difficulty understanding this present sentence. Is the sentence trying to say
that any success cannot be solely imputed to George, for if he were to achieve things by his own merits he would not amount to anything more than just succeeding his father?
Top answer
Victorian writers specialized in circumlocution - the writing of impossibly long, intricate and convoluted sentences. " If George only managed to follow his father in business, he might have been considered as being more successful than he was in fact.
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Victorian writers specialized in circumlocution - the writing of impossibly long, intricate and convoluted sentences.
George's father and mother were a "solid success."
If George only managed to follow his father in business, he might have been considered as being more successful than he was in fact.
George's father and mother were a "solid success."
If George only managed to follow his father in business, he might have been considered as being more successful than he was in fact.
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So, would I be correct in saying that your interpretation is nearly the same as mine?
By the way, I find the circumlocution lovely--especially when I understand it!
By the way, I find the circumlocution lovely--especially when I understand it!
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I don't think it's saying anything about George's merits or personal achievements independent of his parents.
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