Toilers of the Sea · Chapter
A Certain Predilection explained
This chapter explores Mess Lethierry's particular tastes and his fastidiousness regarding women's hands, influenced by an observation from Admiral de Suffren.
What happens
This chapter explores Mess Lethierry's particular tastes and his fastidiousness regarding women's hands, influenced by an observation from Admiral de Suffren. It recounts his past romantic encounters and his decision not to marry due to his exacting standards, as well as his philosophical and satirical nature as a Norman sailor.
Themes in this chapter
Social Class and Reputation
Lethierry's fastidiousness about women's hands reflects a concern for refinement and social standing, contrasting with the rough life of fishermen's daughters.
Superstition vs. Progress
The chapter touches on the clash between rustic customs (like using dried manure for fuel) and Lethierry's more refined sensibilities, hinting at a tension between tradition and personal progress.
Characters to notice
- Mess Lethierry
Described as a child of Nature with uncultivated yet refined tastes, particularly fastidious about women's hands. His past romantic experiences and decision not to marry are detailed.
- Gilliatt
Mentioned briefly as a child of Nature, setting a contrast with Lethierry.
Key passages
“Gilliatt was a child of Nature. Mess Lethierry was the same. Lethierry’s uncultivated nature, however, was not without certain refinements.”
Both Gilliatt and Mess Lethierry are natural and unrefined, but Lethierry has some cultivated tastes.
Introduces the contrast between the two characters' naturalness and Lethierry's particular refinements.
“He was fastidious upon the subject of women’s hands.”
Lethierry had very particular standards about the appearance of women's hands.
Highlights Lethierry's specific and somewhat unusual preference.
“The exclamation of Admiral de Suffren had rendered Lethierry fastidious and exacting in the matter of small and white hands.”
Admiral de Suffren's comment made Lethierry very particular about women having small, white hands.
Explains the origin of Lethierry's fixation on hands.