How would you interpret this sentence? A French instructor here at the Teachers College, a particular Miss Attwood, has lately kept up a long campaign to be taken to the movies. With all presentable m

Wu Ting

How would you interpret this sentence? A French instructor here at the Teachers College, a particular Miss Attwood, has lately kept up a long campaign to be taken to the movies. With all presentable men at the front, she feels that a fellow should accept his duty to take a girl to see The Picture of Dorian Gray. The idea of a crowded theater makes me shudder. Sometimes leaving the house at all becomes a frightful thing, I carry an inexplicable dread inside that never completely abates. But Miss Attwood would not be refused. Hurd Hatfield made a gratifying Dorian, despite his treachery toward Sibyl Vane and Gladys Hallward. Duty seems fulfilled, all quiet on the Attwood front this week. How would you interpret this sentence: Hurd Hatfield made a gratifying Dorian, despite his treachery toward Sibyl Vane and Gladys Hallward? I think this sentence may have something to do with The Picture of Dorian Gray which I haven’t read. And this paragraph is taken from a letter. Thanks!By the way, how would you interpret the 'front' in the last sentence: ...all quiet on the Attwood front this week?

Dec 4, 2014 12:13 PM

Answers · 4

It's referring to the film version of The Picture of Dorian Gray. Hurd Hatfield played Dorian Gray. Sibyl Vane and Gladys Hallward are other characters in the film/novel. There was a famous WWI novel called All Quiet on the Western Front", referring to the western front of the war. "All quiet on the XXX front" became a common phrase meaning that nothing of note was happening. In this case there was no conflict with Miss Attwood.

December 4, 2014

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