0
Anonymous Posted 11 years ago
Vocabulary
Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow
Hello. I'm reading 'Tomorrow and Tomorrow and Tomorrow', Kurt Vonnegut. It's a science fiction novel, covering dystopia. And there are some parts I cannot figure out what the meaning is.
The context is like this;
"Em-" called lou through the partition, "you got a washbasin all your own too?"
"Sure. Washbasin, bed, light-the works. Ha! And we thought Gramp's room was something. How long's this been going on?" She held out her hand. "For the first time in forty years, hon, I haven't got the shakes. (…) And the first one who lets on to anybody outside how good jail is ain't never getting back in!
(I guess the general situation is, because Em and Lou have lived in so bad environment that they feel jail is good.)
And the sentences in problem are;
'How long's this been going on?'
'I haven't got the shakes.'
'And the first one who lets on to anybody outside how good jail is ain't' never getting back in! (the speaker is in jail now and it's hard to understand why anyone who knows how good jail is will not come back to jail again.)
Could you paraphrase or explain what they are saying?
Thank you.
The context is like this;
"Em-" called lou through the partition, "you got a washbasin all your own too?"
"Sure. Washbasin, bed, light-the works. Ha! And we thought Gramp's room was something. How long's this been going on?" She held out her hand. "For the first time in forty years, hon, I haven't got the shakes. (…) And the first one who lets on to anybody outside how good jail is ain't never getting back in!
(I guess the general situation is, because Em and Lou have lived in so bad environment that they feel jail is good.)
And the sentences in problem are;
'How long's this been going on?'
'I haven't got the shakes.'
'And the first one who lets on to anybody outside how good jail is ain't' never getting back in! (the speaker is in jail now and it's hard to understand why anyone who knows how good jail is will not come back to jail again.)
Could you paraphrase or explain what they are saying?
Thank you.
Top answer
The shakes are involuntary and uncontrollable trembling due to neurological dysfunction. Often times, this is a symptom of alcohol abuse, in which case it's called delirium tremens or the DTs, but aren't Em and Lou very old? The warning isn't given by the inmates; it's given by the jailer.
- The shakes are involuntary and uncontrollable trembling due to neurological dysfunction.
- Often times, this is a symptom of alcohol abuse, in which case it's called delirium tremens or the DTs, but aren't Em and Lou very old?
- The warning isn't given by the inmates; it's given by the jailer.
- Ordinarily, jailers threaten inmates with additional jail time, but here the threat is to curtain it.
- It's part of the ironic contrast.
Get the Weekly English Kit 📬
New words, one handy idiom, and a 2-minute quiz — delivered to your inbox to keep your streak alive.
1 Answers
0
The shakes are involuntary and uncontrollable trembling due to neurological dysfunction. Often times, this is a symptom of alcohol abuse, in which case it's called delirium tremens or the DTs, but aren't Em and Lou very old? The warning isn't given by the inmates; it's given by the jailer. Ordinarily, jailers threaten inmates with additional jail time, but here the threat is to curtain i
0
Related Questions