Tony simply has no shame. He is so superficial with all the girls and when it is time to live up to his problem which inevitability is that all the girls have discovered that he’s been taking advantage of each of them they all leave expect Milly. Milly- being the one he engaged at the beginning but his father thus suggested that he have Milly and the irony of it that before Tony was against his fathers wishes but now he levelled with the idea and sinking into his depth he takes the chance of being with Milly merely to fill the emptiness and feel like he has finished a winner.
Tony has no elements of love within his life. The writer identifies Tony’s decision to marry as none fixture. ‘Tony got fixed down to one in particular’ this clearly has no essence of love or passion the phrase is clearly a short, blunt statement giving no depth into the ideals of Tony’s upcoming marriage. Hardy clearly is stating the physical of a relationship. The element that gives the excitement, the ecstasy that makes people have a close encounter with each other. Maybe this is a form of love! But in the eyes of Tony is besotted with the woman’s beauty. It could be possible that Tony is merely in love with the idea of being liked. It is noticed that Tony is a ‘ladies man’ and within the village he’s quite the charmer. The ideals of this give an implication that he doesn’t understand love or doesn’t even know the elements of love. Maybe it could be that he is waiting for love but maybe this causes his ordeal towards the end. Could this be his fate?
The writer was preordained with fate and this gives the story a predicament of predictability. Could this be the writer’s way of expressing how the disaster is to emerge. The reader discovers early on that Tony will have some problems, he has walked into his own fate maybe and it could be his destiny that he doesn’t win. The assets of love certainly are not a prospect in his life and maybe he doesn’t have a sentimental personification as he seems to forget that he makes promises like ‘proposing to Milly’. It seems that he has no guilt, no sub-conscious that makes him want to stop all actions of hurting the girls but he has no shame and it is his self agenda that he is more focused on.
Could it be that he lies in order to receive the compliments back and to feed his ego? Maybe so as we see he lies to Milly telling her that she is prettier than Hannah, yet he believes the opposite.
Tony is prone to attention he needs to be lifted with the mood of the moment and needs his ‘fix’ to get his contentment. He plays with the girls emotions giving them what they want to hear and in return he will want them to adore him. Although he does this is he is superficial he doesn’t generate his words to give them meaning. They are not though out in which case they are lost in mind and in the atmosphere. Hence his memory loss and this would give him vulnerability as he doesn’t harm anyone to what he says.
Hardy portrays the females of the story in different lights. All women are besotted by Tony and all seek for his compliments yet it is not clear to whom Tony is more certain about. All three girls ‘ Milly, Unity and Hannah’ see Tony as their ‘heart throb’ and although they have no love for him they just want him to like them therefore they take due course to win his approval. It would seem that all the girls are jealous of one and other and their individual relationships placed with Tony. Maybe they are merely out to adjust their position and status in society by trying to win over Tony this would then give them a high amount of self dignity and contentment. Tony has made the ‘commitment’ to Milly giving her the promise that they would marry yet, he doesn’t love her. The writer expresses that Milly is ‘nice, light small tender little thing’ given these series of adjective ‘all explained to words of one syllable’ shows that Milly is shallow, there is no depth in her character which implies to the reader that she is not an important person in Tony’s life. Milly is easily lead it would be of some ideal that Milly would boast about her engagement to Tony as she is in competition with the other girls, yet she demeans herself by obeying Tony’s wish for her to hide under the tarpaulin. Maybe she feels that she could lose Tony as he is easy to please so if she was to disturb his plans of ‘making everyone happy’ then she would have no marriage to look forward too. Yet, she has won half the battle she has heard the words by Tony that he will marry her which he hasn’t said to any of the other girls- to her knowledge so is she weak as in terms of confrontation? She seems to have no bravado in terms of embracing his offer. Maybe it would seem that she is not comfortable with the arrangement.
Towards the end of the play we notice that Milly once again has given into Tony. She has no stand in her life; she doesn’t love him so why bother taking the risk of Tony making the same mistake twice. Maybe she believes that her pride will be left if she stays with him after all the other girls are losing out- they chose to leave Tony and seen him for what he was. So why is Milly so blind?
Unity Sallet is a flirt. She loves the attention and she also loves to flirt with Tony. She has high expectations of how she sees woman and refers Milly to being ‘easy’ as she explains to Tony that ‘Tisn’t girls that are so easily won at first that are the best’. But on the contrary she has no pride as she also she may have provoked Tony to look at her but then she also hides under the tarpaulin. Who’s the better woman now? Is she better than the others or just as equal? It would seem she is balanced with each of them as they all have weaknesses and all seem to have the same weakness – this being they listen to Tony.
Hannah Jolliver is also an attention seeker. When she notices Tony from the window she gives signals of flirting tossing her head a ‘little disdainful and smiled off hand’. Hannah knows that Tony wants her in his pretence and she is merely enticing him with her girlish charm. It would seem that Hannah is in control in the situation- due to the fact that she can hold on to her own confidence and she confronts Tony about Milly. She has an inkling that something is up with Tony as the pressures of having three girls on one wagon and knowing that something is definitely going to happen. His anticipation and reluctances to how he communicates with Hannah indicates to both Hannah and the reader that he is trouble-some. Hannah has already worked out that something is up as she is positive that she can hear something in the back of the cart – this being Unity and Milly. Hannah is in control at this point she has taken the ‘reins’ of the transport and also in the situation at Tony has fallen into. It would seem that the girls have been in control from the beginning, Tony is far too impetuous to take control if he did then he wouldn’t be in this mess. The girls have the undercurrent of the situation and it is Hannah who has been cleverly caricatured to be the interrogator. Once discovering that the other two are quarrelling under the tarpaulin she lets lose of her rage and the reins. This has been cleverly crafted by the writing in a metaphorical sense as she has not only let go of the reins of the horse but also the situation.
The girls are merely looking for marriage- to uphold their status maybe to prove that they are better than one another. All the girls are easily led and very gullible it seems that they never consider Tony’s words of wisdom. They liked being liked. The simplicity of their life-style is to impress; to impress Tony.
News of the Engagement by Arnold Bennett is a story about changing roles in relationships. The basis of this; is the relationship of parent and child. It is based upon the ideals of the perception of a child toward a parent. This being that a child only sees a parent as a parent nothing else. The child has an expectance of no change. The story is in the light of a mother and son relationship although they live apart they have a strong bond in the relationship. The son loves his mother and she is the light of his life- yet he expects his mother to orbit him. He knows that she cares enormously for him and he takes advantage of this. He is not selfish but though-less. He believes that his mother has no life and she would be upset by the news of his engagement- maybe he thinks she has no life. Yet, the twist of the story is cleverly structured as the mother also conveying a relationship and has the same apprehensions of what the son is to encounter by the news. Neither understands each other on this level of intimacy as it seems as if they both feel so dependant of each other. It would seem that they are both under stating each other and maybe being selfish towards their needs as people. Toward the end of the story the son realises the change and matures to the idea giving a softened edge to the story leaving with the moral of love being no conquer for age.
The title ‘News of engagement’ is the structure of the story. Early within the story to the perception of the reader it would seem that Philip the son was to give the news to his mother however his reluctance is high. Yet, the title becomes the ‘twist within the tale’- his mother’ news of her relationship with Mr. Nixon. Bennett cleverly gives a realistic view of the story as things are not what they seem.
The introduction of the story states that Philips was to arrive at the station only to find his mother not waiting at his arrival. This is insignificant to the element of the story however, it simples outlines a base for the reader. The statement clearly shows that the relationship between the two is important. Their relationship is very close although they don’t live together letter were sent between each other ‘every week’. He and his mother have sediments of closeness about them and they share everything together. Philip cannot seem to tell his mother about his engagement. He sub- consciously thinks that his mother has no life and he couldn’t tell her the news as it would shatter her. Maybe he is being sensitive to her needs considering the death of his father yet he has no faith in her. He clearly is happy about him and Agnes yet he feels that he cannot break the news to her in a letter. Philip clearly loves Agnes the excitement in his wording expresses to the reader that he is overwhelmed with her. Like a school boy his language is evoked on colloquialisms and passion ‘I am mad on her’ and ‘I feel certain she likes me’. His actions are emphasised like a little boy and the experience of the first partner. His may be apprehensive about his mother meeting his fiancée as she may dislike Agnes or even disapprove. The problem of not writing the words in the letter could merely be that he is shy about his new commitment maybe because he could possibly get the impression that his mother would see this as an impetuous move. This also indicates to the reader that he does not have any understanding in the older generation as he sees that his mother would not understand- she is old. The stereotype of old people is usually that they are ‘past’ the ideas of sex, love and passion so therefore they disapprove.
His reluctance to tell his mother is due to his sensitivity towards her. He considers the possible that he is her only objective in life ‘I was all that my mother had’. This could be seen as thoughtful yet though-less he does not understand his mother and how she could be independent yet he bares the burden of his fathers death on him and how he is her needy. The writer is cleverly trying to suggest that the meeting of the two people could be awkward. He is creating an atmosphere of tension for the reader.
Philip sees his mother as a small plump lady ‘my little plump mother’ a person who
‘whitens her front step’ and she lives in a ‘little house’. This falls into a stereotype of a mother. The ideals of this being that she is loving, caring a lady of priority. A person who takes charge of life, a person that is proud. A mother usually has an essence of surprise within her life she is expected to deliver being the child barrier. Ironically, this could be a hint of what to expect within the story however we simple know that Philip loves his mother. We see that Philip is paranoid about his engagement to Agnes. He is preoccupied with this and from his mothers is also trouble-some giving him the impression that she knows and his hiding the truth. This is quite a self centred apprehension yet he has no immediate reason to think otherwise. Philip provokes an expectance hoping that it would be Agnes who will be joining them for supper. To his surprise it was Mr Nixon, a sense of relief would be expected of Philip yet wouldn’t he be wondered why Mr Nixon was round. From Philips previous knowledge Mr Nixon handled money and was a close friend of the family he had been there for his mother in the time of need- his father’s death. To his knowledge he was no more of a friend although there has been several hints to what he was about to hear. Mr Nixon had been to supper many times in the past ‘nut never on the first night’. Has Philip suspected that something important was on the agenda? Maybe it could be a money problem to what would Philip have to think otherwise. He has his idea that his mother is lonely, solitude to her own. He would expect her to only look to him in time of need.
Philip is self-centred but not selfish. He listens to reason when Mr Nixon when he explains to him that he has asked his mother to marry him and she has agreed. Evidentially he is shocked by the news and couldn’t understand why. He had seen Nixon as an ‘uncle’ which is common within close bonds of outer family friends who are seen as in breeds. Philip has no been bewildered by what he is hearing but the narrator hasn’t only stunned him but the reader. This is the twist in the tale Philip has been so conveyed with his problem that he hasn’t realised that his mother has a life, like him. She has fallen in love and both did not have the bravery to confront each other. Toward the end Philip realises the centre of his obsession ‘I laughed. I could not help it’. He has realised who he is. Mr Nixon expresses his love for Philips mother and places her upon a pedestal ‘she is desirable’ he emphasis how he sees her as his one and only true love.
The division of love within this story is displayed in three ways. - The love between Philip and his mother. Philip and Agnes; Mr Nixon and his mother. Each is portrayed in different types of ways. The love between Philip and is mother is permanent. There is no way of destroying the love- when connected with a person for so long a person becomes conditioned into loving someone. This is a love that is of no combustion but it is stagnant but still reflects effectively. The love between the partners; ‘Philip and Agnes’
‘The mother and Mr Nixon’. This kind of love is portrayed in a different sense. We don’t hear much expression about the love between these people. However, it is human nature to adapt to a person by the means of love. The love in a relationship is something of excitement although love is not clearly understood we can understand how a person would feel to be in this situation. The ideal of this love is that a two people connect and it’s on a level of intimacy that is indescribable. They are besotted with each other and the moment they see each other they know that they are right for each other. It would seem as if it would be fate that brings two people together to form a love that is like an additive. The love between two people who have found love or have bonded to build on love is something quite amazing. It fills the emptiness within the life – contentment is set. The affects of a love in this sense is that people are more intimate both mentally and physically. It would be inappropriate to say that love is formal based upon sex however that is an adaptation to a form of love. Clearly the couples are serious about their choices and have the realisation of love.
In comparing the two stories, it has implicated several differences that are quite the opposites in terms of the styles, morals and meanings. The stories both are narrative of forms of relationships- this is clear to the reader. However, the relationships are some what different. In ‘the arch deceiver’ we see that Tony Kytes is a devious character. He is no deceiver yet he has made his status in the village and aims to please the girls of the village. With his ‘short term memory’ we see that he can clearly form different formalities with each of the girls. He is amoral which gives him the prerogative to feed off compliments from each girl but to also give them out. He is a man of no principles which leaves him to have a very shallow out look on life. He doesn’t love anyone and merely understands love let alone appreciate it. Whereas, we see in ‘news of the engagement’ that Philip is quite the opposite. Philip is assertive; he understands what he wants and knows how to get it. When deciding on what to do in a situation he takes think to think about his actions although he has very little knowledge of his mother’s life he still is sensitive to her needs. He is self centred in the sense that he only thinks of him and Agnes- yet this is his asset. He is in love unlike Tony he knows how to responded and to respect a woman long enough to form a relationship. Philip is undoubtedly very committed to Agnes and he has a huge amount of dignity whereas Tony has nothing- he is bland. Some could see how Tony is the proactive male in this situation and he is better as the question begs to differ; is Tony more attractive? It would seem that Tony is a ‘ladies man’ a person who is a light- a source of attraction whereas Philip could be seen as dull- unwanted. Yet, Philip has the upper hand he is consistently the thinking about life. As we see toward the end of the story he lets his mother have her moment of glory. But would Tony be so considerate? It would most definitely seem that Tony would take his ideals to his advantage he is in this life for himself. Put on a scale who would weight the heaviest? Would it be that heavy means superiority or superficiality? I terms of superiority Philip would challenge Tony and gain the way he is a man of prospects. Whereas Tony is weak, needless to the human race someone who would or could be seen as a jester to life!
We also see a comparison of women within the stories. The women of the ‘arch deceiver’ are superficial but the superficial inking is not like the one of Tony they need to aim for it. It is not just within one but all. Maybe it is a survival tactic or simple a hunter’s ritual; receive men at all costs. They have no depth which leads then to fall for Tony’s suggestions. A woman would be seen as a ornament of decorum these girls like this. They are giving the perception that they are ‘cheap’ worthless to a cause. There flirting tactics are means of competition there not looking for love but marriage and status. However, the mother in ‘news of the engagement’ differs. She is a woman of pride she is a modern woman- she is not just a mother but a teacher. A teacher to life. She has motivation and aspires for her dreams. We see no harmonic impulses within the woman of ‘the arch deceiver’. She has a purpose this is something that the girls lack. She is given a purpose to nurture- without any expectance of return. She is content with her life she has a settle relationship with her son and a relationship of love. This gives her a balance in life. Her dream!
Her relationship with her son differs from the relationship Tony has with his father.
Tony disobeys his father- his natural instinct to rebel against his fathers wishes. There is no connection of communication or a bond that is explanatory to their roles as ‘father and son’. However, Philip and his mother are close they know how to connect although they think alike they seem to have problems with how they perceive each other- strangers to the outer world! In due course they love each other both are compliant with one and another and have a steady bond.
The writers have very different styles in how they express and plot their stories. Thomas Hardy was in love with Wessex. Hence the story has a country feel. The rural setting is expressed both in dialect and in the narrative of the story. This cleverly sets a reality. Hardy often hints to the scenery a pastoral feel. The description the country gives warmness to the story and also relaxes the reader, of the suggestion of the peaceful county life ‘trees and beasts and birds and insects’ and the input of a ‘ploughman at work in the field’. The story is predicable like the ideal of the country side. Tony’s fate is a wake up call and gives an element of realness but also comic issue. The image of the horse going off on its own leaving the girls tumbling out of the cart gives the sense of comedy as if it was planned as a stage production. However, news of the engagement is cleverly crafted to give a sense of morality- this is realistic. As if it was a real life situation. Arnold Bennett gives a more focused style this gives intimacy to the story. He expresses on a softer tone, yet clearly stating the ideas. His cleverly tricks both the reader and Philip as both expect the story to be based upon Philips engagement.
The narrative in the arch deceiver is observed as village gossip. The narrator tells the story as if you were new to the village and there was an outrage into Tony’s antic. The other shows a deeper meaning. It is like a family feeling. The narrative is something that is shared within you on a more advanced level. The narrator expresses everything on good terms and his content with the mother, this proving his is not self centred and that evidentially he really loves her. The motive could be to teach and to learn from experiences the gripping moral at the end of the story leaves the reader feeling positive about the situation and about life on a whole. ‘We live and learn’.
Each story has a different affect within the moral. The ‘arch deceiver’ simply portrays a situation that is unreal. Yet, it gives the implication that people causes problems and suffer the consequences. Maybe the unreal or over the top story line connects with the reader on a level where they can understand the situation.
The ‘news of the engagement’ has a different moral ‘Love is prominent to all ages.’ This gives the idea that everyone has a chance. We expect people to fall in love in the early adulthood and prior to theses are seen as an impetuous or inconsiderate to how we run our lives. Yet, a person in later years are seen as ‘past it’ too old to find love.
In preference to the stories both highlight very different ideal which would capture difference audiences. Tony Kytes the arch deceiver is an amusing story. The irony of the stories is that the Tony is no deceiver at all and provokes his own fate or destiny. The idea that Tony is overwhelmed by the attention of the girls yet leaves him with almost nothing or indeed he should have walked away a broken man. But on the contrary Tony still has Milly. In modern day society a person would merely see Tony’s attitude as ‘boyish antics’. The idea of a man exploring all areas of life could be seen as developing a new and mature way of thinking. He is active when the attention is delivered which is like a boy with a toy. We see how he is amused by the girls and loves to charm. To the reader it could also propose a man with no respect a person who has no consideration for him or his actions. The formalities of the story are fictional. As if it could be a television programme in the genre of light comedy. The story on a whole seems very over rated by Tony’s antics and the humour given in several areas could give the implication of a dramatised performance. For instance the imagery of the three girls tumbling out of the cart and then quarrelling and fighting between them would give a great sense of humour to the audience. It would seem if the story was formed to a production of a play or film. Tony would be ironic and most likely sarcastic, we see his character seems quite simple yet we could imagine his facial expressions.
News of the engagement is much more realistic. It would seem as if it was a real life situation and could be approachable to everyone in whatever form of situation. The idea of two people who are close together in many forms yet cannot share problems ‘new change’ as they believe they are so dependant of each other. The story seems more affable to connect with it is not intimidating by the ideas, meanings and morals. The story gives a sense of harmony an essence of love and warmth. The audience could appeal to a wide range of people. The ideas of mother and son relationship could indeed grip the attention of woman and maybe learn from this whereas it could apply to children or people of a developing age. The hidden meanings within the story seem to leap out at the reader and the jaw- dropping change in the story gives that sense of excitement in the reader. ‘We live and learn’ is an excellent finish with leaves the reader with something to walk away with. Like a pearl that they can roll between the fingers something that they can look at from different angles and see the beauty from each way.