Throne Quote by Charles Dickens
““Southcott had recently attained her five-and-twentieth blessed birthday, of whom a prophetic private in the Life Guards had heralded the sublime appearance by announcing that arrangements were made for the swallowing””
About This Quote
Source Novel: Little Dorrit, Charles Dickens, 1855
A character’s age is highlighted with a prophetic, absurd twist, mocking social pretensions.
In simple terms: Age is exaggerated for comic effect.
Question absurdity in social rituals.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- Literary analysis
- class critique
- humor writing
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does exaggeration reveal social foibles?
- What does the “swallowing” metaphor suggest?
The humor relies on cultural knowledge of the era.