A Handful Of Dust Context Flashcards
1
Q
Context: Religion
A
- Anglican church is a farce
- Religion disjointed from spirituality
- Political not spiritual
- Shallow beliefs with no spiritual connection
- Insincere religion based on tradition not
belief - Humanity has become unworthy of God’s
grace - Lack of respect for marriage vows
- Quest for Holy Grail, Tony unworthy like
knights - Promotion of Catholicism as solution,
steadfast and unchanging
2
Q
Context: Divorce
A
- Divorce is trivialised and normalised
- Lack of respect for marriage vows
- Infidelity
- Marriage institution not respected or
honoured - Divorce is a source of shame
3
Q
Context: Waugh’s Life
A
- Very conservative
- Wife cheated on him
- Converted to Catholicism
4
Q
Context: Architecture
A
- Modernisation of society as a negative
- Way of life changing
- Tastelessness of modern styles
- Symbolism of dismantling British ruling class
5
Q
Context: Post WW1 Britain
A
- Loss of a generation
- Increase in socialist principles
- Increased liberalism in society, permissive
- Decline of British power + economic power
- Generational divide veterans + non-veterans
- American influence increase
- British society threatened
- Loss of identity
- Chivalry/Morality boring
6
Q
Context: Victorian Gentlemen and Victorian Britain
A
- Idealisation of Victorianism
- Harkening to past
- Respect for previous values
- Values threatened in contemporary world
- Gentleman Ideal
- Tradition as odds with vulgar society
- Victorian way of life is flawed
- Class inequality of the era
7
Q
Context: Class
A
- Expanding consumerist opportunities
- Growing middle class
- Class inherited not bought
- Conservative view in the novel
- Taxes after war
- Class an inherent quality in aristocratic circle
- Manners, dress and behaviour sigils of class
- Class no longer moral or ethical
8
Q
Context: Colonialism
A
- British empire in decline
- Critical of colonial exploitation of other cultures
- Uncomfortably racist in treatment of others
- Infiltration of west detrimental
- Advocates for preservation of national identity
- Superiority of British culture
