Mr. Britling Sees It Through · Chapter
§ 8 explained
Mr.
What happens
Mr. Direck arrives at Mr. Britling's household and finds it thoroughly British, sketchy, and a little difficult to follow. He is introduced only to Mrs. Britling, and then encounters the Britling child, who shares a common ground with American humor from the Sunday Supplement.
Themes in this chapter
Personal and National Identity
Mr. Direck observes the Britishness of Mr. Britling's household and contrasts it with his American background, highlighting cultural differences.
Characters to notice
- Mr. Direck
Arrives at Mr. Britling's household, finds it sketchy and difficult to follow, and is introduced only to Mrs. Britling.
- Mr. Britling
Indicates Mrs. Britling to Mr. Direck with a wave of his hand, then goes to put away the car; later appears in a grey flannel suit.
- Mrs. Britling
Tall, freckled woman with pretty bright brown hair and preoccupied brown eyes; welcomes Mr. Direck with a handshake.
- Hugh
The Britling scion, a small bright bristling boy in white flannel shirt and knickerbockers, who greets Mr. Direck and discusses American Sunday Supplement characters.
Key passages
“Mr. Direck, though he was a little incommoded by the suppression of his story about Robinson—for when he had begun a thing he liked to finish it—found Mr. Britling's household at once thoroughly British, quite un-American and a little difficult to follow.”
Mr. Direck was annoyed that his story about Robinson was cut short, but he found the Britling household very British, not at all American, and somewhat hard to understand.
Mr. Direck's initial impression of the Britling household.
“It had a quality that at first he could not define at all. Compared with anything he had ever seen in his life before it struck him as being—he found the word at last—sketchy.”
The household had an indefinable quality that Mr. Direck eventually described as 'sketchy' compared to anything he had seen before.
Mr. Direck's characterization of the Britling household.
“He descended to find the hall occupied by a small bright bristling boy in white flannel shirt and knickerbockers and bare legs and feet. He stood before the vacant open fireplace in an attitude that Mr. Direck knew instantly was also Mr. Britling's.”
Downstairs, Mr. Direck found a small, energetic boy dressed in white flannel, standing by the fireplace in a pose that reminded him of Mr. Britling.
Introduction of the Britling child, who mirrors his father's posture.
“It came to Mr. Direck as a very pleasant discovery that a British infant could find a common ground with the small people at home in these characteristically American jests.”
Mr. Direck was pleasantly surprised that a British child could share an appreciation for American humor with children back home.
Cultural connection through American comic strips.