Discuss how understanding the relationship between Brenda and Tony Last Essays

Discuss how understanding the relationship between Brenda and Tony Last Essays Discuss how understanding the relationship between Brenda and Tony Last Essay Discuss how understanding the relationship between Brenda and Tony Last Essay Essay Topic: The Namesake It is clear from the start that Tony and Brendas relationship is doomed. Brenda, a former socialite, is completely and utterly bored with her monotonous relationship, and completely and utterly bored with her equally monotonous husband, and this is best conveyed in Waughs depiction of the couples breakfast routine. Waugh seems to have the ambition of emphasizing his skepticism for relationships, and does so by writing the sad tale of Tony and Brenda Last. Waugh creates a sense of monotony easily and skillfully. For example, Only four of the six churches were visible that morning. This is a perfect example of how boring Tonys character really is. One of his daily highlights is to see church spires out of Brendas window. Everyday. The author really wants to convey to the audience that here is a man who is very much stuck in his ways. He shows no desire for change and adventure, which is exactly what Brenda desires. When Tony responds to an invitation to a party with Not on her life! Brenda replies with, No, I guessed not. She is resigned to putting up with her dull life, and seems, at first at the very least, quite self-sacrificial and to be a considerate wife. However, it is also evident that she shows little affection for Tony. When he enters the bedroom in which they are taking their breakfast, she simply greets him with kiss, which is quite possibly the most dispassionate way of asking for a kiss ever. Brenda kisses by turning her lips away and rubbing against his cheek like a cat. It was a way she had. The author truly conveys a distinct lack of passion or genuine affection, Brenda acted out if habit, not out of self will. He also didnt receive a real kiss, showing their relationship was missing any fire, leading the reader to doubt Brendas true feelings for Tony. Waugh stresses the differences between Tony and Brenda with subtlety, she had insisted on a modern bed. Their relationship is presented in a very unsympathetic manner, and also as the stereo-type of an upper class relationship during the era, thus foreshadowing the end of the relationship. Forster has also shown the effects that being a member of the upper -class on his characters. Cecil endeavors to remove Lucy of the Honeychurch taint . Forster constantly forewarns the demise of Lucy and Cecils relationship, as does Waugh. Lucy has refused Cecils offer or marriage three times before he finally accepts, showing her severe reluctance. The engagement is a sham, a front for Lucys relationship with George, much like Brendas marriage covering her affair with John Beaver. Waugh seems to also hint at the destruction of the couples marriage simply by giving the couple different bedrooms, Morgan le Fay and Guinevere. This shows a strong sense of irony, as Guinevere herself was said to be adulterous, suggesting Brendas impending infidelity. Her treachery is indicated when being referred to as like a mermaid, a Nereid emerging from fathomless depths of clear water. Waugh also uses techniques such as describing Brenda and Tony as two separate people, rather than a couple. Furthermore, this seems to be a new concept in the Hetton manor, breaking family traditions, as Tonys parents were known to be inseperable in Guinevere. This emphasizes the differences between the couple, showing that the marriage was already loveless from the offset. Tonys ignorance of his wifes mounting boredom is how Waugh prevents him as the male naà ¯Ã‚ ¿Ã‚ ½f in the novel. Which highlights Waughs reference to Morgan Le Fay with the inability to see what is right before his own eyes. Waugh is particularly good at foreshadowing future events in his novel with possibly suggestive speech. Brenda says to Mr. Beaver at the end of his visit to Hetton next time you come with warns the reader of a future encounter between the pair. This is seems to hint at Brendas imminent adultery and her unfaithful nature. Waugh also uses his description of John Beaver as a means of foreshadowing the relationships demise. He presents Beaver in a highly derogatory light, as a man who is dull and spends his time scrounging off others. He got up late and sat near the telephone most of the day, hoping to be rung up shows that he would rather waste time than pay his own way. Simply the name is an ironic choice, as it doesnt suit his character. Beavers, by nature, are industrious and hard-working animals, and John Beaver is as far removed from his namesake as could be. Waugh shows that he has absolutely no prospects of employment. By portraying him in this way, Waugh depicts to the reader how desperate and lonely Brenda really is, as she will take up any company available. This is further expressed by how quickly she warms to Beaver. At the first hint of Beavers arrival, Brenda suggests that he can go into Galahad, no one who sleeps there ever comes again. However, she soon changes her mind, Next time you co me again you must have a better room I daresay you wont ever come again, people so seldom do. She is charmed, somehow, after spending only a day with him, and is eager to spend more time in his company. This further serves to highlight Tonys naivety and his misguided trust in his wife, which he does throughout the novel. Waugh also hints at Tonys naivety continuously throughout the novel. Tony states that Brenda was heroic with Beaver, to which she replies that she was coping with it, and she enjoyed his company, hinting at their growing intimacy. Waugh begins to refer to Brenda and Beaver as they showing that they are now a couple. The fact that Tony notices none of this further alludes to his naivety. When Brenda sends a telegram to Tony, she finishes with love to you both, which is ironic considering that she is seeing another man behind Tonys back, therefore leading Tony into a false sense of security about his marriage. As the novel progresses, Evelyn Waugh unveils more and more of Brendas true character. The unsavory nature of Beavers character is enhanced throughout the book by dark imagery. His room is gloomy and cluttered and he emerged from the shadows below. It is clear that this is not a character the audience should support. Forster uses similar techniques in his novel to describe Cecil. Forster, unlike Waugh uses physical descriptions his characters rather than use of dialogue. Cecil was medieval, like a gothic statue. Cecil snored on in his darkened room. These are stark contrasts to Forsters description of George, Lucys other love interest. The view was golden, enveloped by light and beauty. George is presented as bright and colorful, and seems to make Lucy come alive, and Forster portrays George accordingly. Waugh also alludes to Brendas infidelity many times throughout the novel. When asked about her doings in London by her husband, Brenda replies that she has been behaving rather badly to tell the truth, and also outright telling Tony that she has been carrying on madly with young men. This shows Tonys lack of understanding, as he sees Brendas confession as a sarcastic comment. It also conveys both Tonys loyalty and his naivety, as he perceives her character as one who would not have such affairs. His trust makes him see his wifes affair as a poor taste joke. Brenda lets out that she doesnt really deserve Tonys kindness, admitting that she has been carrying on anyhow for the week. Waugh makes Brenda make a mockery out of Tony, toying with his emotion. This shows the reader how easily manipulated Tony is, whilst at the same time showing Brendas true nature. She is clever at using her husbands feelings in her favor, making him feel bad when she is in the wrong. This is emphasized when Tony arrives to visit Brenda in London. She makes him feel guilty for arriving unannounced, and claims she is too busy to see him. Im going out darling, you shouldve rung ahead. Tony is so blinded by naivety that he cannot see how strange this behavior is. However, despite not being able to see that his wife is cheating on him, Tony is intuitive to the fact that he is being pushed out of his wifes life. They call me old boy. I know they laugh at me. Waugh creates characters that do not evolve as the novel progresses, allowing you to sympathize with and admire Tony. He is named Tony Last as he is the last in a dying breed of true English gentlemen, and Waugh wants to convey his disgust in the new middle classs abandonment of traditional morals, using satire to portray his sadness at the emergence of a new flapper girl culture. Forster, conversely, uses rounded characters who mature and adapt as A room with a View unfolds. Whereas Waugh wants to show how he doesnt want culture and society, and even people to change, Forster has a more accepting view of this. A room with a view is also lacking in Waughs cynical satire, taking a more romantic view on relationships. Lucy, the central character, eventually ends up with George, her true love, proving that love can overcome many obstacles. However, in a Handful of dust the protagonist is left in the Amazon jungle. It is apparent from the offset that Brenda and Tonys relationship is doomed in the novel A handful of Dust. Waugh makes their differences clear throughout the novel, also making clear his distaste at the relationships within the English Upper-class. Brendas further progression into a relationship with Jock Grant-Menzies, whilst Lucy remains with George, further emphasizes Waugh and Forsters different views, with Waughs satirical sadness contrasting with Forsters acceptance and romanticism. Despite Lucy and Cecils relationship being doomed, she did not act as unscrupulously with George as Brenda with Beaver, and this is the key point of comparison between the two novels. A Room with a View is a tale of love, hope and morality. A handful of Dust is an account of the authors sadness as the demise of conventions in adapting upper-class society.