OLIVER GOLDSMITH: She Stoops to Conquer
7. Assess Marlow and Hastings’ first encounter with Mr. Hardcastle.
8. Comment on Tony’s attitude to Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle.
Explanation
Question 7
(1) Relation to theme: The role of parents in the marriage of their children in the Middle/Upper-class society.
2. Character Identification. (i) Marlow is the son of Sir Charles Marlow, a dear friend of Mr. Hardcastle. He is a bashful young man in the company of ladies of his class. (ii) Hastings is a friend of young Marlow and Constance Neville. (iii) Mr. Hardcastle is a friend of Sir Charles Marlow, husband to Mrs. Hardcastle, father to Kate and step-father to Tony Lumpkin. He is old, jovial and easily deceived. He likes old things, stories and even an ald wife".
(3) The first encounter: (1) They arrive at the Hardcastle home, having been misled by Tony Lumpkin to believe it is an inn and Mr. Hardcastle the innkeeper. (ii) The purpose of their visit is for Marlow to woo Kate Hardcastle whom both Mr. Hardcastle and Sir Charles Marlow have recommended.
(4) The ensuing events: Rude behaviour exhibited by the two young men towards Mr. Hardcastle, e.g.; (i) Their impudent disregard of Mr. Hardcaslte's warm welcome. (ii) Their warding him off their discussions and making fun of him, even as he intrudes with his stories about his war exploits. (iii) Their ignoring his earnest attempts to please them after he has ordered his servants, Diggory and others, to know their place when his guests are at table. (iv) Their determined ordering of Mr. Hardcastle to do their bidding in all manner of things. such as choice of meal or wine.
(5) The revelation of character (i) Marlow's embarrassment as soon as he discovers his mistakes and deciding to leave immediately. (ii) Kate's ability to find out that Marlow is a suitable partner and pleading with her father to give him a chance.
(6) Significance of the encounter: (i) Plays out the title of the play "she stoops to conquer". (ii) Reveals also the problems of arranged marriages. (iii) Brings out the comic elements in the play.
Question 8:
(l) Relation to theme: The role of parents in the marriage of their children in the Middle/Upper-class society.
(2) Character identification: (i) Tony Lumpkin is the son of Mrs. Hardcastle, stepson of Mr. Hardcastle, brother of Kate Hardcastle and cousin of Constance Neville. He is an uneducated man and lover of fun and mischief. (ii) Mrs. Hardcastle is wife to Mr. Hardcastle, mother to Kate and Tony and aunt to Constance Neville. She loves fashion and is discontented with their style of living: she passes off as selfish and greedy.
(3) Attitude to Mr. and Mrs. Hardcastle: Mr. Hardcastie; (i) He plays pranks on him. (ii) He initiates the deception that misleads Marlow and Hastings to mistake their home as an inn, thereby fomenting the tensions that ensued between Mr. Hardcastle and his visitors. Mrs, Hardcastle: (iii) He sees her as rather spoiling him. (iv) Exploits her doting on him to get his own way. (v) Understands his mother's greed for Constance's jewel as the reason for getting him married to Constance and rejects that.
(4) Their reactions to his attitude: (i) Mr. Hardcastle reacts increasingly with sarcasm, "Nor ever will, I dare answer for him. Ay, vou have taught him finely" (ii) Mrs. Hardcastle responds with pampering and over-protectįveness, "where are you going my charmer? come, Mr. Hardcastle, you must allow the boy a little humour"
(5) Effects of his attitude on himself: (i) Projects him as rebellious and stubborn.(ii) Projects him as an independent-minded young man. (iii) Projects him as one who is capable of using mischief and deception to help others to achieve their aim, e.g., Kate and Marlow, Constance and Hastings relationships end in marriages.