changeling sitution

Question

It is the age of the changeling, when the daughter of a farmer can
propel herself from the assembly line to the boardroom so fast that she never has time to shed the manners and anxieties of the village.

I don't think "changeling" is fit here. Why does the writer use this word to describe the poster condition? Shouldn't it be "changing"?

GPY · Accepted Answer

I agree; "changeling" seems to be the wrong word. I feel that it probably is an intentional use of the word rather than a typo though. Either the author has misunderstood it or he/she knows a meaning that I don't.

"age of (the) changing" wouldn't work, but "age of change" would make sense.

CalifJim · Answer

rpsh"changeling" ... Why does the writer use this word ...?

changeling : a child secretly exchanged for another in infancy

The author describes a case where it almost seems that the farmer's daughter and the woman in the boardroom can't possibly be the same person, even though they are the same person. In this way, she is (vaguely, oddly, in some respects) like a changeling. Once she has succeeded to such a high degree in life, it's hard to believe that the farmers could be her parents.

CJ

GPY · Answer

I think I'm missing the "almost seems" implication. For me, describing someone as being actually not the daughter of a farmer defeats the entire point of the example, which is, as far as I can tell, that an actual farmer's daughter can do those things.

Rpsh · Answer

Eh...... Because what is in your impression is an American farmer's daughter.

Rpsh · Answer

Got it. Thank you so much. It seems that the context has beyong my mind...

changeling sitution

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