Appearance
Excerpt
Excerpt from The Wouldbegoods: Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure Seekers, by E. Nesbit
All would even then have been well, but Denny, at the last, shrank from
meeting the pig face to face in a manly way. He let the pig pass him,
and the next moment, with a squeak that said ‘There now!’ as plain as
words, the pig bolted into a French window. The pursuers halted not.
This was no time for trivial ceremony. In another moment the pig was a
captive. Alice and Oswald had their arms round him under the ruins of a
table that had had teacups on it, and around the hunters and their prey
stood the startled members of a parish society for making clothes for
the poor heathen, that that pig had led us into the very midst of. They
were reading a missionary report or something when we ran our quarry
to earth under their table. Even as he crossed the threshold I heard
something about ‘black brothers being already white to the harvest’. All
the ladies had been sewing flannel things for the poor blacks while the
curate read aloud to them. You think they screamed when they saw the Pig
and Us? You are right.
On the whole, I cannot say that the missionary people behaved badly.
Oswald explained that it was entirely the pig’s doing, and asked pardon
quite properly for any alarm the ladies had felt; and Alice said how
sorry we were but really it was NOT our fault this time. The curate
looked a bit nasty, but the presence of ladies made him keep his hot
blood to himself.
When we had explained, we said, ‘Might we go?’ The curate said, ‘The
sooner the better.’ But the Lady of the House asked for our names and
addresses, and said she should write to our Father. (She did, and we
heard of it too.) They did not do anything to us, as Oswald at one time
believed to be the curate’s idea. They let us go.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from The Wouldbegoods by E. Nesbit
Context of the Source
The Wouldbegoods: Being the Further Adventures of the Treasure Seekers (1899) is a children’s novel by Edith Nesbit, a pioneering author of early 20th-century British children’s literature. It is the second book in a trilogy (following The Treasure Seekers and preceding The New Treasure Seekers) that follows the mischievous but well-meaning Bastable children—Oswald, Dora, Alice, Noel, Dick, and H.O.—as they attempt to "be good" (or "wouldbegoods") to improve their family’s fortunes. Their efforts, however, often lead to chaotic and humorous misadventures.
Nesbit’s works are known for their witty narration, realistic child perspectives, and social satire, blending adventure with sharp observations of Edwardian society. This excerpt exemplifies her style: a comic chase scene that spirals into an awkward confrontation with a group of pious, middle-class ladies, highlighting the gap between adult expectations and childish impulsivity.
Themes in the Excerpt
Childhood vs. Adult Expectations
- The children’s unfiltered energy and lack of foresight contrast sharply with the ordered, moralistic world of the missionary ladies. While the adults are engaged in a serious, charitable act (sewing for "poor heathens"), the children disrupt their meeting with a pig, symbolizing the clash between youthful spontaneity and adult decorum.
- The curate’s suppressed anger ("looked a bit nasty") and the lady’s threat to write to their father reinforce the adult world’s authority, which the children must navigate (or evade).
Hypocrisy and Social Pretension
- The missionary society is portrayed with gentle satire. Their charitable work (sewing for "black brothers") is undercut by their horrified reaction to the pig, suggesting their moral superiority is performative. The phrase "black brothers being already white to the harvest" (a reference to missionary rhetoric about converting non-Christians) is ironically juxtaposed with their screaming at a mere pig, exposing their fragile composure.
- The children, though disruptive, are honest ("it was NOT our fault this time"), while the adults judge first and ask questions later.
Chaos and Control
- The pig’s escape into the meeting is a catalyst for disorder, turning a sedate gathering into pandemonium. The children’s pursuit is frantic and physical (grabbing the pig, overturning a table), while the adults react with shock and disapproval, representing the struggle between instinct and restraint.
Class and Social Norms
- The Lady of the House’s decision to report the children to their father reflects Victorian/Edwardian disciplinary norms, where misbehavior was met with parental punishment. The children’s fear of consequences ("we heard of it too") underscores the power dynamics between children and adults in that era.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Features
First-Person Narration (Oswald’s Voice)
- The story is told from Oswald’s perspective, giving it a conversational, childlike tone. His defensive yet humorous narration ("it was NOT our fault this time") makes the reader sympathize with the children despite their mischief.
- His direct address to the reader ("You think they screamed when they saw the Pig and Us? You are right.") creates intimacy and comedic effect.
Irony & Satire
- Situational Irony: The missionary ladies, who preach about helping the "poor heathens," are terrified by a pig, exposing their lack of real-world resilience.
- Verbal Irony: Oswald’s polite but insincere apology ("asked pardon quite properly") contrasts with the actual chaos they caused.
Humor & Exaggeration
- The pig’s dramatic entrance ("a squeak that said ‘There now!’ as plain as words") personifies the animal, making the scene more absurd.
- The overturned table with teacups adds slapstick comedy, reinforcing the physical disruption of the children’s intrusion.
- The curate’s suppressed rage ("kept his hot blood to himself") is funny because it’s unrealistic—adults in Nesbit’s world often struggle to maintain composure around children.
Imagery & Sensory Details
- Visual: The pig bolting through a French window, the ladies sewing flannel, the overturned table—all create a vivid, chaotic scene.
- Auditory: The pig’s squeak, the ladies’ screams, the curate’s reading aloud—these sounds heighten the tension and humor.
Foreshadowing & Consequences
- The Lady’s threat to write to their father foreshadows future punishment, a common trope in children’s literature where adult authority looms large.
- The phrase "we heard of it too" suggests that the children faced repercussions, though Nesbit leaves it comically vague.
Significance of the Passage
Childhood Rebellion & Moral Ambiguity
- The children don’t mean harm, but their actions disrupt adult spaces, raising questions about who is really at fault. Nesbit challenges the idea that children are simply "naughty"—instead, they are curious and unfiltered, while adults are rigid and hypocritical.
Social Critique of Edwardian England
- The missionary society represents middle-class philanthropy, which Nesbit gently mocks. Their charity is abstract (sewing for distant "heathens") but collapses in the face of real disorder (a pig in their parlor).
- The curate’s suppressed anger reflects Victorian repression, where emotions must be controlled, especially in front of ladies.
Nesbit’s Influence on Children’s Literature
- Nesbit broke from the moralistic tone of earlier children’s books (like those by Maria Edgeworth) by embracing realism and humor. Her child narrators were flawed but relatable, paving the way for later authors like C.S. Lewis and J.K. Rowling.
- This scene exemplifies her ability to blend adventure with social observation, making her stories both entertaining and thought-provoking.
Line-by-Line Breakdown (Key Moments)
"Denny… shrank from meeting the pig face to face in a manly way."
- Irony: Denny’s failure to be "manly" (a Victorian ideal) leads to the pig’s escape, setting off the chaos.
- Foreshadowing: His cowardice contrasts with the children’s boldness, showing that adult expectations are unrealistic.
"a squeak that said ‘There now!’ as plain as words"
- Personification & Humor: The pig seems to taunt them, making the chase more dramatic and funny.
"This was no time for trivial ceremony."
- Understatement: The children don’t hesitate—their single-minded pursuit contrasts with the ladies’ shocked stillness.
"black brothers being already white to the harvest"
- Satirical Reference: A missionary phrase (likely from hymns or sermons) about converting non-Christians, ironically interrupted by a pig.
"You think they screamed when they saw the Pig and Us? You are right."
- Direct Address & Comedy: Oswald engages the reader, making the scene more interactive and humorous.
"The curate looked a bit nasty, but the presence of ladies made him keep his hot blood to himself."
- Social Commentary: The curate’s restraint shows Victorian gender norms—men couldn’t show anger in front of women.
"She did, and we heard of it too."
- Ominous Understatement: The consequences are implied but not detailed, leaving the reader to imagine the children’s punishment.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt is a microcosm of Nesbit’s genius—it’s funny, chaotic, and sharply observant of childhood and adult hypocrisy. The pig chase is more than just a comic set piece; it exposes the absurdity of adult pretensions and the inevitable clash between youthful energy and societal rules.
Nesbit doesn’t moralize—instead, she lets the children’s perspective shine, making the reader root for them even as they cause mayhem. The scene also critiques Edwardian social norms, particularly the performative charity of the middle class and the strict discipline imposed on children.
Ultimately, The Wouldbegoods (and this passage in particular) celebrates the unpredictability of childhood while gently mocking the adult world’s inability to handle it—a theme that remains relatable and hilarious over a century later.