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Zuotengdazuo Posted 7 years ago
Grammar

What does the underlined part mean?

I did not see Strickland for several weeks. I was disgusted with him, and if I had had an opportunity should have been glad to tell him so, but I saw no object in seeking him out for the purpose. I am a little shy of any assumption of moral indignation. There is always in it an element of self-satisfaction which makes it awkward to anyone who has a sense of humour. It requires a very lively passion to steel me to my own ridicule. There was a sardonic sincerity in Strickland which made me sensitive to anything that might suggest a pose.

Excerpt from The Moon and SixpenceW Somerset Maugham

Hi. What do the undelined sentences mean? Thank you.

  

Top answer

This is a complicated text, and just singling out a single sentence and explaining it is difficult without reference to the entire passage. In the text, the speaker is saying he was disgusted with Strickland, and, had he met up with him by chance, he would have told him so, in no uncertain terms. However, he had not seen Strickland in a while, and had no desire to seek him out and tell him of his disgust.

  • This is a complicated text, and just singling out a single sentence and explaining it is difficult without reference to the entire passage.
  • In the text, the speaker is saying he was disgusted with Strickland, and, had he met up with him by chance, he would have told him so, in no uncertain terms.
  • However, he had not seen Strickland in a while, and had no desire to seek him out and tell him of his disgust.
  • The reason for this was that the speaker is hesitant to assume a stance of moral indignation, which he would have to do if he confronted Strickland.
  • assumption of moral indignation.
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1 Answers
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This is a complicated text, and just singling out a single sentence and explaining it is difficult without reference to the entire passage. In the text, the speaker is saying he was disgusted with Strickland, and, had he met up with him by chance, he would have told him so, in no uncertain terms. However, he had not seen Strickland in a while, and had no desire to seek him out and tell him o

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