• chapter list

[7-9]   [13-15]

Chapter 10
Mrs. Proudie's Reception--Commenced

Factotum
An English word which is made up of two Latin words: fac, which is an imperative meaning 'make' or 'do' and totum which means 'everything.'  Thus, it has come to refer to a person who does everything for someone else, almost like a servant or an employee. In this case it refers to Mr. Slope, the Bishop's chaplain, who does all of Bishop Proudie's work for him, and is basically his do-everything employee. It is cited by the OED as being used in 1566.  [MD]

Cupid in mosaic
This is a description of Cupid's picture in mosaic form, which appears on one of Madeline Stanhope's pieces of jewelry. Madeline is extremely flirtatious with men, and thus her having the god of love on one of her feminine decorations symbolizes her own interests. Madeline is kind of like Cupid herself, because she attracts men to fall in love with her, but without the traditional bow and arrow of the god of love.
http://www.bartleby.com/181/111.html  [MD]

Chapter 11
Mrs. Proudie's Reception--Concluded

Wrath of Juno and the passions of celestial minds
"We know what was the wrath of Juno when her beauty was despised.  We know to what storms of passion even celestial minds can yield," says Trollope about Ms. Proudie when Ethelbert tore her dress.  The first part of the quotation is a reference to the judgment of Paris.  It is continued when Trollope says "As Juno may have looked at Paris on Mount Ida, so did Mrs. Proudie look on Ethelbert Stanhope when he pushed the leg of the sofa into her lace train."  The Judgement of Paris is the event that started the Trojan War.  When Paris, a young Trojan prince, is asked by Juno, Venus, and Minerva to judge which is the most beautiful, he chooses Venus.  Venus gives him Helen as a prize, and Paris seizes her from her husband.  This event sparks the Trojan War, but it is Juno who most vehemently asserts that Troy should be destroyed.  The second half of the quotation is reminiscent of Aeneid 1.11 where Vergil (in reference to Juno) writes tantaene animis caelestibus irae or "are there such great feelings of anger in celestial minds?"  Mrs. Proudie is being compared to a raging Juno.  Invoking the image of this goddess and applying it to Mrs. Proudie achieves comic effect.  It also effectively conjures an image of Mrs. Proudie who is probably glaring at Ethelbert as though he were her inferior.  Bertie is then shown kneeling and Trollope says it were as though "he were imploring pardon from a goddess."  The use of Juno to describe Mrs. Proudie's reaction is useful in that it makes light of the scene, helps the reader visualize the scene, and increases the overall tension of the scene.
Cassell's Dictionary of Classical Mythology  [TH]

The blood of Tiberius and the last of the Neros
Tiberius was the second emperor of Rome.  He inherited his position from his uncle Augustus Caesar.  Tiberius was the step-son of Augustus, the founder of the Julio-Claudian dynasty.  Nero was another Julio-Claudian emperor.  He was accused of setting fire to Rome and persecuting Christians afterwards.  He was also the last emperor in Augustus' line.  When Madeline claims her child has the blood of Tiberius she is suggesting that he is descended from the imperial family of ancient Rome and thus a successor to Caesar.  It is unlikely that she can actually trace her child's descent to Tiberius.   Madeline was in this case probably not referring to the truth of the matter but in keeping with her character she uses Tiberius to add to her over-the-top presentation of herself.  Her classical references reinforce the impression that most of her words and behaviors are only a grandiose façade. 
Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia 2006  [TH]

A Nero and yet a Christian
The signora says to the bishop, "But you might speak to her; you might let her hear from your consecrated lips, that she is not a castaway because she is a Roman; that she may be a Nero and yet a Christian; that she may owe her black locks and dark cheeks to the blood of the pagan Caesars, and yet herself be a child of grace."  In the midst of Mrs. Proudie's reception the signora speaks to the bishop about the confirmation of her daughter.  The Bishop responds that at seven years old her daughter is much too young.  Madeline then issues the above speech in an attempt to persuade him that he should confirm her daughter or else at least speak to her.  By relating her daughter's supposed blood tie with Nero to the question of whether she can be a Christian, Madame Neroni is likely alluding to Nero's persecution of the Christians.  The Julio-Claudian line was a "pagan" line and so having identified herself with this symbol she is now attempting to emphasize her Christian piety in front of the Bishop.  Also, she may be thinking to end the conversation on a positive note seeing that her initial request far exceeded the range of what the bishop would be willing to grant.  The reference adds even more to her over-the-top image when she asks the Bishop to confirm her daughter at such a young age.  The question allows her to dwell upon and make a show of her daughter's exotic origins.
Encarta Electronic Encyclopedia 2006  [TH]

Mother of the last of the Neros
As the bishop leaves the side of Madame Neroni Trollope refers to her as the "mother of the last of the Neros."  This is a continuation of the preceding reference to Tiberius.  When Trollope refers to the Neros he means the entire imperial family.  See the above reference for more information about Nero.  [TH]

Fortiter in re…suaviter in modo
The Latin phrases fortiter in re and suaviter in modo are normally found together.  But in a clever tactic Trollope chooses to separate them.  Dr. Proudie's strategy in Barchester is to let Mr. Sloper be the one who is fortiter in re, (Latin for "strongly in action") and he would be the one who is suaviter in modo, ("agreeably in manner").  Taken together the phrases could be interpreted as meaning that one should be strong in action and agreeable in manner at the same time.  It means that one should not be excessively one or the other but the two should temper one another.  In this case, though, one character is taking on one aspect and the other is taking on the second.  Dr. Proudie intends to let Mr. Slope take on himself the burden of attack and dislike but when coupled with the Bishop's gentle demeanor the two make for an excellent power couple.  While Mr. Slope may be disliked many will find it harder to show any disrespect to the Bishop.
http://www.bartleby.com/81/16013.html  [TH]

Omnium gatherum
This pseudo-Latin phrase means "gathering of all things."  Omnium is the genitive plural form of omnis, "every, all."  Gatherum is only a Latin sounding version of the word gather.  The phrase suggests a gathering of all sorts.  The bishop refers to the reception as an omnium gatherum.  With the mix of clergy, aristocracy, and such diverse personalities as Ethelbert and the Signora, it seems an apt description.  One must wonder if there is a double edge to the phrase.  Perhaps he means to indicate that the company is not entirely of the exact sort he would have preferred. 
OED  [TH]

Chapter 12
Slope versus Harding

Mr. Harding is opposed to the contra-assumption of grandeur
Mr. Harding here is annoyed with "the air of superiority which [Mr. Slope] assumed," but is too meek to respond to this by acting in a similar fashion (which, as we see, is often the archdeacon's line of defense).  Trollope infuses a bit of classicism here when he describes the position that Mr. Harding cannot take as a "contra-assumption," using the Latin word where the Anglicized version "counter" would have been just as useful.  [JC]

Casting away useless rubbish of past centuries
By his use of the word "centuries" here, Mr. Slope implies that he is getting rid of what he sees as the "rubbish" of the classical past as well as the more recent English past.  Mr. Slope makes the point that this is going on all around the country.  When one considers how Trollope keeps recycling the stuff of past centuries, it is clear that he's certainly not in favor of casting it away as Mr. Slope does.  It is also worth questioning whether the disregard that Mr. Slope has for the past is a way of marking him as a villain.  Because Trollope uses classics as a way of connecting with the audience in a meaningful way, does Trollope condemn Mr. Slope by putting him in opposition to this connecting device?  [JC]

[7-9]   [13-15]

• home

• chapter list