Write the explanation of the essay 'Tight Corner'. (Part-2)

Write the explanation of the essay ‘Tight Corner’. (Part-2)

Ans.

Explanation

(5) Picture after picture was put up and sold, but I saw none of them. I was running over the names of uncles and other persons from whom it might be possible to borrow, but wasn’t: wondering if the money-lenders who talk so glibly about “note of hand only” really mean it; speculating on the possibility of confessing my poverty to one of Christie’s staff and having the picture up again.

Reference to the Context: These lines are an extract from the essay, ‘Tight Corners’ written by E. V. Lucas The narrator described the most difficult situation in which he was put in at Christie’s. He added that tight corners become tighter when they become mental because the pain is felt in the mind, not in the body.

Explanation: The narrator was persuaded by his friend to visit the sale room at the Christie’s where Barbizon pictures were put up for sale at very high prices by auction. For some time he watched the sale of those pictures but he took part even without any money in his pocket. He bade for fun thinking that he would give up bidding in the middle but he was caught in the tight-corner because he had bidden for four thousand fifty guineas for that picture.

He gave his card to the clerk and started thinking what to do the next. Picture after picture was put up on sale but he did not notice it because his mind was busy somewhere else. He was recalling the names of his uncles and friends from whom he could borrow money. When he thought that they would not give him any money, he thought of the money-lenders who had promised to lend him money against the promissory note. Soon he felt that such people do not keep their promise, so they would not lend him any money. At last he decided honestly to confess his poverty to the staff of the Christie’s who could put up the picture for sale again. Though he was thinking in this way but he could not speak a word because he thought it wise to keep silence on such occasion.

(6) Meanwhile the sale came to an end and I stood on the outskirts of the little knot of buyers round the desk who were writing cheques and giving instructions. Naturally I preferred to be the last. It was there that I was joined by my friend; but only for a moment, for upon a look at my face he rammed his handkerchief in his mouth and again disappeared.

Reference to the Context: These lines are an extract from the essay, ‘Tight Corners’ written by E. V. Lucas. He narrated that picture after picture was put up and sold but he did not pay any notice to it. He recalled the names of his uncles and friends to borrow money from them but they refused to help him. Even the money-lenders did not keep their promise to lend money to him. He thought to confess his poverty to the staff of Christie to put up that picture for sale again.

Explanation: Meantime suddenly the sale of the paintings and pictures came to an end. Then the narrator was standing on the outer part of the small group of buyers round the desk. They were writing cheques for the payment for buying the paintings or pictures. At the same time they were giving necessary directions to the staff members.

It was natural for him to prefer to write the cheque for the payment in the last. There his friend returned and joined him but only for a very short time. When he looked towards the face of his friend, he rammed his handkerchief in his mouth and after that he disappeared there. Its reason was that he did not like to help him by giving him any amount of money. These lines show that the friend was very selfish and he did not like to help him by giving him any money when he was in a very difficult situation.

(7) Alone I was to dree this awful weird. I have never felt such a fool or had colder feet. I believe I should have welcomed at firing party.

Reference to the Context : Same as above.

Explanation: The person who had offered four thousand and fifty guineas for a painting at the auction sale was caught suddenly in a tight corner because he had no money in his pocket to pay for it. No other person came forward for a higher bid to make him free from his tension. Other buyers were writing cheques to pay for their pictures which they had purchased but this man was standing silently behind them thinking how to avoid that difficult situation. His friend had also disappeared leaving him in lurch.

He remembered that he had never been placed in such a difficult situation before. He thought that he had acted foolishly by taking part in the auction. He was standing there like a foolish man with his trembling feet due to the feeling of much cowardice. He regarded it a great insult for him if he could not pay the necessary amount of money. He did not see any way out to come out of that tight corner. He thought of a firing party which could save him from that difficult situation. The people then should feel panicky and run here and there for their safety. Then he could escape from there without being blamed for the non-payment for that painting for which he had made his bid at the sale.

(8) And then the unexpected happened, and I realized that a career of rectitude sometimes has rewards beyond the mere consciousness of virtue. A voice at my ear suddenly said. “Beg pardon, sir, but was you the gent that bought the big Daubigny ?”

Reference to the Context: These lines are an extract from the essay, ‘Tight Corners’ written by E. V. Lucas. That man who had fallen in a tight corner got the reward as the solution of his problem.

Explanation: According to the writer a person who is good and gentle gets help in his hour of difficulty from unexpected quarters. The same thing happened with this gentleman who had bought a painting at the auction by his mistake, though he had no money. He had done it out of fun in a thoughtless manner. He fell into a tight corner when the time for payment came. He was left all alone because his friend had disappeared.

It is necessary to mention that then an unexpected thing happened to make him free of his mental tension, he felt that God helps those who wait patiently for His mercy. For him, help came to him who was not conscious of virtue which he also practised it.

That man had practiced virtue in his life before making a mistake, so God forgave him and helped him in the hour of need. Suddenly a man came to him and asked him if he had bought that painting and he was ready to pay him extra fifty guineas to buy that picture.

(9) If ever a messenger of the high gods wore a green baize apron and spoke in husky cockney tones this was he. I could have embraced him and wept for joy. Would I take fifty guineas ? Why. I would have taken fifty farthings.

Reference to the Context: Same as above.

Explanation: The person, who was deeply concerned of his poverty for not paying the amount of money for the painting which he had offered to buy at the auction, got the sudden relief. A gentleman came forward with the message that his friend would buy that painting by paying fifty guineas extra to him. In such a tight-corner the second buyer of the painting proved like a messenger of God with the divine help to the unhappy bidder.

The messenger was wearing a green baize apron and he was speaking English like the natives of the great city of London. The narrator felt immense joy and he wished to embrace the messenger for bringing him such comforting news. The messenger had offered him extra fifty guineas if he would exchange that painting to his supporter. It was an offer far more than what he had expected. He could have felt satisfied only with just fifty farthings but it was his good luck which had brought fifty guineas for him. Any person could have envied him for his sudden good fortune.

(10) But how near the surface and ready, even in the best of us, is worldly guile ! “is that the most he would offer ?” I had the presence of mind to ask.

Reference to the Context : Same as above.

Explanation: A man who falls in a difficult situation wants immediate relief from it, so he makes his prayer to God for his Merciful help. When God had sent him help, he became greedy and he wanted more money because of his cunning nature. The same thing is clear in the behaviour of that man who had fallen in a tight-corner because of wrongly taking part in the auction for having a fine painting.

He had offered to pay four thousand fifty guineas for that picture without having money with himself. When the bidding fell on him, he felt nervous how to make the payment for that painting. He wished to come out of that tight corner. God had sent him immediate help when a man came forward to offer him fifty guineas extra to hand over that painting in the exchange of that extra money. Certainly it was a good opportunity for him to become free from that serious situation because he was being paid fifty guineas extra for nothing but his greed had overpowered him. He demanded one hundred extra guineas because of his greed. It was only his presence of mind to demand so much extra money.