1. Petkoff (with conviction) That comes from washing your neck every day............its not natural
(a) : Where and at what moment in the plot are Catherine and Paul having this conversation ? (2)
Paul Petkoff has returned unexpectedly to the Petkoff home fairly early on the morning of the 6th of March 1886 (at the commencement of Act 2), a little more than three months after Catherine and Raina had got the news of the defeat of the Serbs at the battle at Slivnitza. He had come just after his wife and daughter had had their breakfast. Catherine had had to hurry, having made only a "very perfunctory toilet" and joined her husband. During their conversation, Paul had been trying to placate his wife who was upset that he had a part of play in making a peace treaty with the Serbians. To try and change the conversation Paul had asked Catherine how she had been in his absence.
(b) : What is Paul referring to when he says ""That comes" ? (1)
When he says "That comes", Paul is referring to Catherine's complaint that she has been suffering from her "usual sore throats".
(c) : What proof does Paul give to prove that "all this washing can't be good" ? What justification does he provide for not following Catherine's example ? (2)
To prove that "all this washing can't be good" Paul gives Catherine the example of his father, whom he said, never had a bath in his life and lived to be ninety-eight and the healthiest man in Bulgaria.
Paul justifies his not following Catherine's example by stating that he does not believe in "going too far with all these modern customs". He says that he does not mind having a good wash once a week to keep up his position. He protests that washing daily was taking the practice of washing too far.
(d) : What other "modern customs" has Catherine introduced ? Why has she done so ? (1)
The other one of the "modern customs" which Catherine has introduced is having an electric bell placed in their library.
She has had the electric bell installed as she has learnt during Paul's absence that "Civilised people never shout for their servants". She also explains that it is so easy to get in contact with Nicola whenever they want something - one has only to "touch a button" and "something tinkles in the kitchen" and "then Nicola comes up".
(e) : What suggestion does Paul give to Catherine regarding being more civilised ? (1)
The suggestion which Paul gives Catherine regarding being more civilised is that because "Civilised people don't hang out their washing to dry where visitors can see it", she had better put the clothes which had been spread on the bushes around the garden put up for drying in some other more private place.
(f) : What is Catherine's reaction to Paul's suggestion ? (1)
Catherine does not take Paul's suggestion. She feels that the suggestion is "absurd". She says that she doesn't believe that really refined people notice such things."
(g) : What does this exchange tell you about the personalities of Paul and Catherine ? (2)
This exchange tells me that both Paul and Catherine are really not "refined" enough to be taken as persons to that higher class of people to which they aspire to belong.
Paul's standard of hygiene leaves much to be desired. While he knows that he it is expected of him to wash daily he only does so once a week !
Catherine's finesse is only partial. She is not humble enough to accept the reasonable suggestion of Paul regarding putting out the washed clothes for drying in a place where they are in their guests view.
(a) : Where and at what moment in the plot are Catherine and Paul having this conversation ? (2)
Paul Petkoff has returned unexpectedly to the Petkoff home fairly early on the morning of the 6th of March 1886 (at the commencement of Act 2), a little more than three months after Catherine and Raina had got the news of the defeat of the Serbs at the battle at Slivnitza. He had come just after his wife and daughter had had their breakfast. Catherine had had to hurry, having made only a "very perfunctory toilet" and joined her husband. During their conversation, Paul had been trying to placate his wife who was upset that he had a part of play in making a peace treaty with the Serbians. To try and change the conversation Paul had asked Catherine how she had been in his absence.
(b) : What is Paul referring to when he says ""That comes" ? (1)
When he says "That comes", Paul is referring to Catherine's complaint that she has been suffering from her "usual sore throats".
(c) : What proof does Paul give to prove that "all this washing can't be good" ? What justification does he provide for not following Catherine's example ? (2)
To prove that "all this washing can't be good" Paul gives Catherine the example of his father, whom he said, never had a bath in his life and lived to be ninety-eight and the healthiest man in Bulgaria.
Paul justifies his not following Catherine's example by stating that he does not believe in "going too far with all these modern customs". He says that he does not mind having a good wash once a week to keep up his position. He protests that washing daily was taking the practice of washing too far.
(d) : What other "modern customs" has Catherine introduced ? Why has she done so ? (1)
The other one of the "modern customs" which Catherine has introduced is having an electric bell placed in their library.
She has had the electric bell installed as she has learnt during Paul's absence that "Civilised people never shout for their servants". She also explains that it is so easy to get in contact with Nicola whenever they want something - one has only to "touch a button" and "something tinkles in the kitchen" and "then Nicola comes up".
(e) : What suggestion does Paul give to Catherine regarding being more civilised ? (1)
The suggestion which Paul gives Catherine regarding being more civilised is that because "Civilised people don't hang out their washing to dry where visitors can see it", she had better put the clothes which had been spread on the bushes around the garden put up for drying in some other more private place.
(f) : What is Catherine's reaction to Paul's suggestion ? (1)
Catherine does not take Paul's suggestion. She feels that the suggestion is "absurd". She says that she doesn't believe that really refined people notice such things."
(g) : What does this exchange tell you about the personalities of Paul and Catherine ? (2)
This exchange tells me that both Paul and Catherine are really not "refined" enough to be taken as persons to that higher class of people to which they aspire to belong.
Paul's standard of hygiene leaves much to be desired. While he knows that he it is expected of him to wash daily he only does so once a week !
Catherine's finesse is only partial. She is not humble enough to accept the reasonable suggestion of Paul regarding putting out the washed clothes for drying in a place where they are in their guests view.
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