Problem in understanding the literal meaning
Reading Lamb's essay 'Poor Relations', I found some expressions of which the literary meaning, I haven't grasped. Please help me make out them. The part I'm having problem with is distinguished in italics & blue.
After stating how a poor relative might be to a family that has risen to its prosperity lately (P.S. the poor relative belongs to the same ancestry as the householer, therefore mortifying the latter before his guests of his present high status).
Lamb goes on telling: He (the poor kin) is known by his knock. Your (whom Lamb intends to address- in all probability the reader, rich and affluent) heart telleth you 'That is Mr----'. A rap between familiarity and respect; that demands, and at the same time, seems to despair of, entertainment. He entereth smiling and - embarrassed.
Then, he goes on telling how his presence, hesitant and obsequious behaviour shames the owner of the family and also puzzles the servants who are fearful of being too obsequious, or not civil enough to him.
Lamb goes on: The guests think 'they have seen him before.' Everyone speculateth upon his condition; and the most part take him to be- a tide waiter. He calleth you by your Christian name, to imply that his other is the same with your own. He is too familiar by half, yet you wish he had less diffidence. With half the familiarity he might pass for a casual dependent; with more boldness he would be in no danger of being taken for what he is. He is too humble for a friend, yet taketh on him more state that befits a client.
It's not that I haven't grasped them totally. Yet, I'm quite unsure about my understanding of these lines and in need of concretizing the ideas.
And also, I apologize for the tedious length of my enquiry.
Please help...
Top answer
Hi A poor relation is someone who deserves help, because they are part of your family, but is also an embarrassment, because they've not done as well as other people in the family Lamb uses various devices to say this. The poor relation knocks on the door, as if he belongs, but there's also something about his knock that says he doesn't belong; and so on Tide waiter is interesting - an official or labourer who worked at the sea or river shore, waiting for boats to come in. Maybe, someone whose role in life, over periods of time, has no purpose - they have to wait for the tide to change Dave
- Hi A poor relation is someone who deserves help, because they are part of your family, but is also an embarrassment, because they've not done as well as other people in the family Lamb uses various devices to say this.
- The poor relation knocks on the door, as if he belongs, but there's also something about his knock that says he doesn't belong; and so on Tide waiter is interesting - an official or labourer who worked at the sea or river shore, waiting for boats to come in.
- Maybe, someone whose role in life, over periods of time, has no purpose - they have to wait for the tide to change Dave
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Hi
A poor relation is someone who deserves help, because they are part of your family, but is also an embarrassment, because they've not done as well as other people in the family
Lamb uses various devices to say this. The poor relation knocks on the door, as if he belongs, but there's also something about his knock that says he doesn't belong; and so on
Tide waiter is intere
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