23 (i) : Sergius had just prior to this quotation, said some very hurtful things to Louka. He had called her "an abominable clod of common clay, with the soul of a servant". This remark had deeply offended Louka. Sergius had also gripped Louka tightly above her elbows with both his hands after she had told him that Raina would marry the enemy soldier whom she had given refuge if he ever came back. She had also told him that he knew that the love Sergius and Raina expressed to each other was false.He had coninued holdaing her tightly and hurting her in spite of her struggling to be set free.
(ii) : Louka means to say that a sophisticated lady might accept a show of gentlemanly behaviour such as Sergius has just acted - removing his shako in respect to her, and with "profound humility" in his voice expressing his regret at his ungentlemanly behaviour and requesting her forgiveness.
Louka is cleverly using the same taunt that Sergius had used to her when he stressed her position as a servant in the conversation which preceded this extract to try and draw from him a more tangible expression of sorrow than mere words. She would need a demonstration in action of his true repentance.
(iii) : By offering Louka money Sergius shows that he is so engrossed in himself that he is still quite blind to Louka's genuine love and affection for him. His giving money also shows that he doesn't really understand that he no money can be a sufficient price for physically abusing a woman.
(iv) : Louka refuses the money because she was offended that anyone, much less Sergius, whom she loves, would think that money be a token of regret for ungentlemanly behaviour. Louka also wished that Sergius show her a token of his affection and that she meant more to him as a person - which would be more valuable to her than money.
In not accepting the money Louka shows a certain nobility in her character - that she cannot be cheaply bribed. It shows that she has true sense of self worth and dignity.
(v) : Later in the play, Sergius notices that Louka has rolled up her left sleeve to her shoulder and fixed it with a broach and a bracelet covers the part of the arm which had been bruised by Sergius. Segius turns up the bracelet and sees the bruise and asks if he could "cure it" and tries to take he in his arms, but Louka proudly refuses him.
However, towards the end of the play, Sergius does, on bended knee, ask Louka to forgive him. Louka does accept his forgiveness and she offers him her hand which he kisses.
(ii) : Louka means to say that a sophisticated lady might accept a show of gentlemanly behaviour such as Sergius has just acted - removing his shako in respect to her, and with "profound humility" in his voice expressing his regret at his ungentlemanly behaviour and requesting her forgiveness.
Louka is cleverly using the same taunt that Sergius had used to her when he stressed her position as a servant in the conversation which preceded this extract to try and draw from him a more tangible expression of sorrow than mere words. She would need a demonstration in action of his true repentance.
(iii) : By offering Louka money Sergius shows that he is so engrossed in himself that he is still quite blind to Louka's genuine love and affection for him. His giving money also shows that he doesn't really understand that he no money can be a sufficient price for physically abusing a woman.
(iv) : Louka refuses the money because she was offended that anyone, much less Sergius, whom she loves, would think that money be a token of regret for ungentlemanly behaviour. Louka also wished that Sergius show her a token of his affection and that she meant more to him as a person - which would be more valuable to her than money.
In not accepting the money Louka shows a certain nobility in her character - that she cannot be cheaply bribed. It shows that she has true sense of self worth and dignity.
(v) : Later in the play, Sergius notices that Louka has rolled up her left sleeve to her shoulder and fixed it with a broach and a bracelet covers the part of the arm which had been bruised by Sergius. Segius turns up the bracelet and sees the bruise and asks if he could "cure it" and tries to take he in his arms, but Louka proudly refuses him.
However, towards the end of the play, Sergius does, on bended knee, ask Louka to forgive him. Louka does accept his forgiveness and she offers him her hand which he kisses.
No comments:
Post a Comment