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Excerpt
Excerpt from Malbone: An Oldport Romance, by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Yet she did not find him always equally tedious. Their drives had some
variety. For instance, he sometimes gave her some lovely present before
they set forth, and she could feel that, if his lips did not yield
diamonds and rubies, his pockets did. Sometimes he conversed about
money and investments, which she rather liked; this was his strong and
commanding point; he explained things quite clearly, and they found,
with mutual surprise, that she also had a shrewd little brain for
those matters, if she would but take the trouble to think about them.
Sometimes he insisted on being tender, and even this was not so bad as
she expected, at least for a few minutes at a time; she rather enjoyed
having her hand pressed so seriously, and his studied phrases amused
her. It was only when he wished the conversation to be brilliant and
intellectual, that he became intolerable; then she must entertain him,
must get up little repartees, must tell him lively anecdotes, which he
swallowed as a dog bolts a morsel, being at once ready for the next. He
never made a comment, of course, but at the height of his enjoyment he
gave a quick, short, stupid laugh, that so jarred upon her ears, she
would have liked to be struck deaf rather than hear it again.
At these times she thought of Malbone, how gifted he was, how
inexhaustible, how agreeable, with a faculty for happiness that would
have been almost provoking had it not been contagious. Then she looked
from her airy perch and smiled at him at the club-window, where he stood
in the most negligent of attitudes, and with every faculty strained in
observation. A moment and she was gone.
Then all was gone, and a mob of queens might have blocked the way,
without his caring to discuss their genealogies, even with old General
Le Breton, who had spent his best (or his worst) years abroad, and was
supposed to have been confidential adviser to most of the crowned heads
of Europe.
Explanation
Detailed Explanation of the Excerpt from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson
Context of the Work
Malbone: An Oldport Romance (1869) is a novel by Thomas Wentworth Higginson, a 19th-century American writer, abolitionist, and social reformer. The novel is set in Newport, Rhode Island, a fashionable resort town known for its wealthy elite, social climbing, and genteel society. The story revolves around Malbone, a charming but enigmatic young man, and his interactions with the high-society women who admire him.
This excerpt focuses on an unnamed female character (likely Catharine Hubbell, one of the novel’s central figures) and her contrasting perceptions of two men: a wealthy but dull suitor (implied to be Mr. Smith, a businessman) and the effortlessly charismatic Malbone. The passage explores themes of social performance, gender dynamics, materialism, and the allure of intellectual and emotional vitality in a society obsessed with wealth and appearances.
Themes in the Excerpt
Materialism vs. Intellectual/Emotional Fulfillment
- The woman finds her wealthy suitor tolerable when he offers gifts or discusses finance—his wealth compensates for his lack of wit. His "pockets" may not yield poetic words, but they provide "diamonds and rubies," symbolizing how material comfort can mask personal deficiencies in a transactional relationship.
- However, when he attempts intellectual or emotional depth, he fails spectacularly, revealing his shallow, consumptive nature (he "swallows" her stories like a dog, demanding more without engagement).
Performance and Social Expectations
- The woman is forced to perform—to entertain, to be witty, to feed his ego—while he contributes nothing. This reflects the gendered expectations of 19th-century courtship, where women were expected to be charming and accommodating, even when men were dull or demanding.
- His "quick, short, stupid laugh" is a grotesque detail, emphasizing his lack of genuine engagement—he consumes her words like a product, not a person.
The Allure of Malbone: Effortless Charm vs. Forced Effort
- The contrast with Malbone is stark. While the suitor is laborious and uninspired, Malbone is "gifted," "inexhaustible," and "contagious" in his joy. His charm is natural, not performative.
- The woman’s fleeting glance at Malbone—his "negligent attitude" and intense observation—suggests a romantic ideal: a man who is engaged with the world, not just consuming it.
- The line "A moment and she was gone" implies transience and longing—their connection is brief but electric, unlike the suitor’s draining presence.
Social Satire: The Hollow Elite
- The final lines mock high society’s obsession with trivialities (e.g., discussing the genealogies of queens). Even General Le Breton, a man who claims to have advised European royalty, is reduced to a ridiculous figure—his "best (or worst) years" spent in superficial prestige.
- The suitor’s indifference to such conversations suggests that even the elite’s pretensions are boring—wealth does not guarantee depth.
Literary Devices & Stylistic Choices
Juxtaposition & Contrast
- The suitor vs. Malbone:
- The suitor is mechanical, demanding, and shallow ("swallowed as a dog bolts a morsel").
- Malbone is organic, effortless, and vibrant ("contagious" happiness).
- The woman’s shifting reactions:
- She tolerates the suitor when he is useful (gifts, finance talk).
- She despises him when he demands intellectual performance.
- She yearns for Malbone’s authentic engagement.
- The suitor vs. Malbone:
Sensory & Emotional Imagery
- "His lips did not yield diamonds and rubies, his pockets did" → Metaphor for how wealth substitutes for personality.
- "His quick, short, stupid laugh" → Auditory imagery that physically repels her (she’d rather be "struck deaf").
- "Airy perch" → Suggests the woman’s elevated social position, but also her detachment from the suitor’s world.
Irony & Satire
- The suitor’s "studied phrases" are meant to be romantic but come off as ridiculous—highlighting the artifice of courtship.
- The General’s supposed importance is undercut by the absurdity of his expertise (royal genealogies), mocking aristocratic pretensions.
Symbolism
- Diamonds & Rubies → Material wealth as a poor substitute for genuine connection.
- Malbone at the club-window → Represents freedom, observation, and intellectual curiosity, in contrast to the suitor’s consumptive dullness.
Significance of the Passage
Critique of Gilded Age Values
- Higginson critiques a society where wealth and status are prioritized over intellect and emotion. The suitor’s financial acumen is his only redeeming quality, while Malbone’s charm is priceless but intangible.
Female Agency & Constraints
- The woman is trapped in a performative role—she must entertain the suitor to maintain social standing. Her brief, wordless exchange with Malbone suggests a desire for autonomy and genuine connection, but society limits her choices.
The Idealized Romantic Figure
- Malbone embodies the Byronic hero—mysterious, observant, and effortlessly charming. His fleeting presence makes him more desirable, contrasting with the suitor’s oppressive permanence.
The Cost of Social Performance
- The woman’s exhaustion with the suitor reflects the emotional labor expected of women in high society. Her preference for Malbone is not just romantic but a rejection of hollow social rituals.
Conclusion: Why This Passage Matters
This excerpt captures the tension between material security and emotional fulfillment in a highly stratified society. The woman’s internal conflict—between practicality (the suitor) and passion (Malbone)—mirrors broader 19th-century anxieties about marriage, class, and authenticity.
Higginson’s sharp satire exposes the absurdity of elite social customs, while his lyrical descriptions of Malbone offer a romantic escape. The passage remains relevant as a critique of transactional relationships and the search for meaning beyond wealth and status.
Would you like a deeper dive into any particular aspect, such as the historical context of Newport society or Higginson’s broader literary style?