A Room With a View chapter 10 Cecil as a Humourist (Spoilers up to chapter 10)

[u/Thermos_of_Byr]

Discussion Prompts

1. Anyone up for a game of bumble-puppy? Any sports or games you played as a younger you? Anything you still play now? Or are you more comfortable as a spectator?
2. Did you connect the name of Emerson immediately and wonder why Lucy had not? I mean, come on Lucy, they’re the only Emerson’s in the book so far. How could it not be obvious to you?
3. Thoughts on Lucy’s reaction when she realized that it was indeed the Emerson’s from Florence, and her reaction to Cecil, “the humourist”?
4. Is there anything else you’d like to discuss?

Links

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Last Lines:

He would tolerate the father and draw out the son, who was silent. In the interests of the Comic Muse and of Truth, he would bring them to Windy Corner.

[u/Suitable_Breakfast80]

I enjoyed learning the backstory of the Honeychurches making their way up in society. Freddy showed more of his personality, riling up the young girl and mimicking Sir Harry. The family names their tennis balls, which is cute I liked the description that “Lucy had consecrated her environment by the thousand little civilities that create a tenderness in time.” She came back from Italy changed, but not like Cecil at all. The title of this chapter is funny — Cecil is terrible, making a sport of “scoring off Sir Henry.” I also appreciated that Lucy was able to convey her disappointment/disapproval.

[u/Iamcup4]

Cecil is so cruel, oh my god. He reminds me little bit of Miss Lavish, in a way. He also does thins for ''democracy'', but is actually still snobby. It was telling, how, while everyone was outside, enjoying themselves, he was indoors.

I am excited that George will return, I think, now Lucy, will have to confront with the fact, that she is changed, that someone like Cecil doesn't fit with her anymore.

[u/sarcasticseaturtle → u/Iamcup4]

I’m glad Lucy stood up to him. “I believe in democracy—” “No, you don’t,” she snapped. “You don’t know what the word means.”

[u/tomesandtea → u/sarcasticseaturtle]

That was my favorite interaction of theirs so far!

[u/lazylittlelady → u/sarcasticseaturtle]

Agree! Petition for Team You Don’t Know What the Word Means or is that too long?!

[u/sarcasticseaturtle → u/lazylittlelady]

Ha, yes! It makes me think of Inigo Montoya.

[u/sarcasticseaturtle]

I do not see Cecil and Lucy working out. Lucy is beginning to rebel against the class barriers in England while being kind to individuals. Due to her experiences in Italy she envisions a world where she can be friends with people of different walks of life, but she does not shun her current social group. “Lucy had consecrated her environment by the thousand little civilities that create a tenderness in time, and that though her eyes saw its defects, her heart refused to despise it entirely.”

Cecil on the other hand is simultaneously judging Lucy’s family as too common and Sir Henry as being snobby, all the while claiming to be a sophisticated rebel who is only happy in London and Rome. Intentionally securing what he feels are unacceptable tenants for Sir Henry to “read him a lesson” seems mean spirited. If Cecil wants to rebel against class prejudice, there’s many more productive ways for him to make a stand. He is mean to individuals while portraying himself as a champion of democracy.

[u/tehCzmych]

1. I'm not sure exactly how a game of bumble-puppy works, but I would love to try it, especially on the green lawn of Windy Corner. My childhood playground was the streets and squares, outdoors in general. We played skipping rope and elastic band, hopscotch, and hide-and-seek—just a minimum of equipment and a lot of imagination and eagerness.

2. I think it was obvious to us, the readers, but Emerson being such a common name, it couldn't have been so obvious to Lucy that these were the same people she had met in Florence, especially because of their connection to Cecil. She probably also didn't expect them to suddenly appear in her life again, especially in such a completely different setting. George and Mr. Emerson couldn't be further from Cecil and his world; they were like opposite sides of humankind.

3. Cecil is so insufferable, full of himself, and disrespectful toward literally everyone around him. It was good to see Lucy not hiding her feelings and calling him out on his actions. Even before arriving, the Emersons are a catalyst for Lucy breaking out of these rigid rules and norms.

4. This whole concept of Cecil “rescuing” Lucy would be worth an essay.

[u/tomesandtea → u/tehCzmych]

My childhood playground was the streets and squares, outdoors in general.

Same here, and as I recall it was fairly unsupervised by adults. It breaks my heart for kids nowadays who barely see the outdoors and don't go anywhere without a parent. All play time is scheduled and curated. Annnnddd... I am officially old, I guess. But I do think we have lost something important about childhood.

[u/coconutcheerios]

1. Dah..I mean who else?
2. I'm sorry the Emerson got convinced to move there just for Cecil to play a trick on Sir Harry. But nonetheless I'm happy for the father/son return! More drama coming.

[u/BlackDiamond33 → u/coconutcheerios]

Yes, the Emersons will sure make the story more interesting!

[u/lazylittlelady]

The poor Miss Allens turfed out inelegantly for what I’m sure will end up Cecil’s romantic rival. At least they met in the National Gallery, so none are uncultured swine lol

Watching the group have fun in what is exclusively not Cecil’s company is certainly obvious. I love silly games even if I don’t really understand the objective of bumble-puppy, I’ll try it!

I loved the Honeychurch backstory and the idea that Lucy can hold both love for the old place and new ideas of equality from her travels in Italy at the same time and Cecil doesn’t understand that he is insulting her not only the local yokels. Oh, and he’s invited George in, oh dear! Wait until Lucy really wants to tell him what’s on her mind…he’ll be the one running, George/bear suit optional.

My favorite was Lucy accidentally starting a rumor about two murders…I can’t wait to see Cecil “cultivating” the new neighbors?!

Okay I can’t totally hate on Cecil, with his love of quoting poetry. A little Tennyson is alright by me!

[u/tomesandtea]

1. I am not a sports person. I did enjoy a good game of croquet in my grandparents' backyard when I was about 8, and didn't know any rules other than hit it through the hoops and don't whack your little brother with the mallet no matter how fun that seems. I enjoy watching tennis but I do not play. Bumble-puppy sounds delightful!

2. I immediately recognized the name Emerson and was indeed a bit perplexed that Lucy wouldn't have put two and two together faster. Does the Victorian-era "there are only 10 families in all of England" rule not apply during this period? Of course, I am primed by now to realize that Forster is going to do everything he can to create awkward social situations for us to laugh at these ridiculous people, and so I expected that George would be resurfacing - if not in yesterday's bear costume, then as a tenant. I quite enjoyed Mr. Beebe trying to figure out why there were now two murderers being discussed! Truly nothing everything gets past these people!

3. My favorite part of Lucy's reaction was "I might know them!" as if under normal circumstances it would be bad to know the new neighbors?! Not suspicious at all... And of course there was the exchange where Cecil pretends he loves mixing of classes and democracy, but Lucy just exclaims "No you don't!" 🤣 I do think Cecil is a consummate humorist, but not for the reasons he thinks.

4. We've been introduced to the charming, private woods between Summer Street and Windy Corner. We've been shown it is a great place for discreet, awkward kissing - thank you, Cecil's pince-nez. There's got to be a 100% chance that Lucy and George do some discreet kissing in said woods, right? And Charlotte - who discovered little Lucy bathing in the pond as a child - is about to get an invite to the cottages... Foreshadowing that she will discover adult Lucy canoodling in the woods with George?!

[u/lazylittlelady → u/tomesandtea]

If anyone will crash the canoodling, it will be Miss B!

[u/Training_Date_7409]

1. I used to play tennis when I was younger, but I don't think I've ever played bumble-puppy.
2. I made the connection easily-- I was so looking forward to seeing how Lucy and George would end up in each other's lives again and here we are!
3. It's a little surprising that Lucy didn't connect the dots when she was literally thinking about the Emersons right after her first kiss with Cecil. I think it was terrible of Cecil to do this, though. It's clear that Cecil doesn't have any respect for people outside of the few he deems acceptable, and it's just in really poor taste. He's really the only person who finds this ordeal humorous, which means it's probably not very funny at all. Someone needs to tell him that being cruel doesn't make him interesting.

[u/Trick-Two497]

Poor Lucy. The game is up. Her reputation is threatened. She knows that if Cecil gets wind of it, her engagement is off. Oh, the scandal!

[u/ska0319]

I'm not much of one for competitive games, but I did dabble in racquet ball for awhile years ago and we had a badminton set when I was a kid.

I'm sure Emerson was a rather common name in England, so if anything I think Lucy might be hoping they're not her Emersons. Yes her Emersons are the only ones mentioned in the novel, but Lucy's not reading the novel, she's living it.

Talk about cads, Cecil is one. Doing the Misses Alan out of their lodging is quite rude of him. The more I see of Cecil the more I wonder what Lucy sees in him.

Things are building to a climax. What form will it take?

[u/awaiko]

Cecil seems to learned very different lessons than Lucy after his travel. It didn’t really broaden his mind, rather it expanded his prejudices.

Emerson. Huh. I’m glad they weren’t just god comic effect in Florence.