The Duchess and the Jeweller

In "The Duchess and the Jeweller," the relationship between the jeweller and the Duchess is complex and manipulative. The Duchess exploits the jeweller's aspirations and vanity to sell fake pearls at...

In “The Duchess and the Jeweller,” Oliver Bacon's life before becoming a jeweler was a mixture of the colorful and the mundane. As well as working behind a counter and selling cheap watches, he also...

The themes in "The Duchess and the Jeweller" by Virginia Woolf include greed, deception, and social class. The story explores how both the Duchess and the jeweller are driven by their desires for...

The jeweller is dissatisfied with his his life in "The Duchess and the Jeweller" because no matter how much he has, he always wants more. This is rooted in his shame over his poor, obscure childhood,...

Oliver's childhood in "The Duchess and The Jeweller" was marked by poverty and hardship. He grew up in a "filthy little alley" and resorted to selling stolen dogs to survive. His mother played a...

In "The Duchess and the Jeweller," Oliver is compared to several animals: his nose is likened to an elephant's trunk, his behavior to a giant hog sniffing for truffles, his walk to a camel's haughty...

Oliver's attitude toward his past in "The Duchess and the Jeweler" is ambivalent. He feels a mixture of pride and shame, proud of his rise from a poor background to wealth, yet ashamed of his humble...

The setting of "The Duchess and the Jeweller" is primarily London, reflecting societal shifts where the bourgeoisie intermarried with the upper classes. This backdrop highlights the cultural tensions...

In "The Duchess and the Jeweller," the duchess cheats Oliver by selling him fake pearls for the price of real ones. The effect of this transaction is to bring out resignation and acceptance in...

The old woman in the picture on Oliver Bacon's mantelpiece is his late mother. Oliver craves her approval, often speaking to her portrait about his successes. These conversations highlight his...

The main argument of "What if Shakespeare Had Had a Sister?" is that the potential for great writing by women was lost because, in the past and even to an extent today, opportunities for women to be...

Oliver and the Duchess need each other because the Duchess requires money to pay her gambling debt, and Oliver desires the opportunity to court her daughter, Diana. Despite their mutual distrust,...

The statement "rotten at the core" in "The Duchess and The Jeweller" signifies the inherent corruption and moral decay within individuals. It implies that beneath the surface, people may harbor...

In the beginning of "The Duchess and the Jeweller," Woolf uses the narrative technique of summarizing Oliver Bacon's habitual thoughts. As we get to the episode, however, that is at the heart of the...

The Duchess invites Oliver to her estate to exploit his desire for social respectability. Despite his wealth, Oliver seeks acceptance by the elite, which the Duchess uses to her advantage. She hopes...

The phrase "the truffle he had routed out of earth" being "Rotten at the center - - rotten to the core!" implies a profound disappointment with something initially perceived as precious. It...

Woolf uses specific word choices to show Oliver's concern with others' perceptions, emphasizing his meticulous attention to appearance. Descriptions of his "perfect trousers," "smart blue overcoat,"...

Oliver Bacon behaves dismissively towards his four friends, Marshall, Spencer, Hammond, and Wicks, treating them with little respect. He merely acknowledges them with a finger waggle, avoiding any...

Oliver discovers that the pearls given to him by the Duchess are fake, meaning he has paid a large sum for worthless jewels. Despite suspecting their authenticity, he chooses not to scrutinize them...

In "The Duchess and the Jeweller," Oliver values social respectability above money and success. Despite his wealth and achievements, he yearns for social standing. This desire leads him to be...

The Duchess and Oliver Bacon are simultaneously friends and enemies because their relationship is based on mutual need rather than genuine care. They are "friends" in the sense that they rely on each...

The Duchess wants to sell the pearls to raise £20,000, claiming it is for her daughters, Araminta, Daphne, and Diana. She is depicted as having a history of deception, having pawned most of her...

In his transaction with the Duchess, the Jeweller, Oliver Bacon, is a material loser as he pays twenty thousand pounds for fake pearls. However, he gains a psychological advantage by knowing the...

Oliver Bacon, despite his wealth, lacks social status and acceptance by the aristocracy. He attempts to gain entry into high society by exploiting the financial troubles of the Duchess, knowing the...

In "The Duchess and the Jeweller," the comparisons of pearls to tears, rubies to heart's blood, and diamonds to gunpowder highlight class conflict and Oliver Bacon's personal struggles. Pearls and...

One observation from Woolf's story "The Duchess and the Jeweler" that is still relevant today is that money can't buy status, and status doesn't necessarily give you brains. No amount of wealth can...

Oliver Bacon and the Duchess symbolize the perceived moral decline of society during the time Virginia Woolf wrote the story. Oliver, a lower-class individual, rises possibly through dishonest means,...

The jeweller associates Diana's name with love and aspiration, evoking a desire to be part of her world. This creates conflict as he is reminded of his compromised integrity; he is buying fake jewels...

Oliver Bacon, the protagonist in Virginia Woolf's "The Duchess and the Jeweller," is a wealthy jeweler with humble beginnings. Despite his success, he remains unsatisfied and yearns for social...

Mr. Oliver Bacon's success and wealth are indicated by the opulent settings of his stock room and private residence, including a costly portrait of his mother. His wealth is further highlighted by...

In "The Duchess and the Jeweller," Oliver deceives himself by pretending the pearls that the Duchess is offering him as security for a loan are real and by believing someone from his background could...

Mr. Bacon is sad because he longs for companionship and is in love with Diana, the Duchess of Lambourne's daughter. The bigger bet he intends to win is the chance to spend a weekend with Diana, which...