QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS – Atreyi Gundgurthi

1. How does Rudyard Kipling suggest that Barr-Saggott is an eligible

bachelor? Give examples from the extract about that illustrate my Mrs
Beighton, almost wept with joy at the thought of him courting kitty.

In the second paragraph, Rudyard Kipling defines an eligible bachelor. “When a

man is a Commissioner and a bachelor and has the right of wearing open-work
jam-tart jewels in gold and enamel on his clothes, and of going through a door
before everyone except a Member of Council, a Lieutenant-Governor, or a
Viceroy, he is worth marrying. At least, that is what ladies say.”
He then proceeds to state that Barr-Saggott is all of these things however he was
nicknamed “The Langur”- which means grey ape.
When he settled his sights on Miss Beighton she was flattered, but her mother was
overjoyed. This is mentioned in the third paragraph of the extract, “I believe that
Mrs Beighton wept with delight at the reward Providence had sent her in her old
age.”
The next instance is on the next page when ‘young Cubbon’ is introduced, and how
Kitty flees from “the stately wooings of Barr-Saggott to the company of young
Cubbon”. Her mother is upset by this and scolds her. Kitty retaliates by bringing
up how ugly Barr-Saggott is. Her mother protests this,“” My dear”, said Mrs
Beighton, piously, “” We cannot be other than all-ruling Providence has made us.
Besides, you will take precedence over your own Mother, you know! Think of that
and be reasonable.””
Her mother is telling her to overlook his looks as We can only be what the
omnipotent Fate has created us to be. And that Kitty would marry into a better rank
than her mother did

2. Why do you think that kitty doesn’t share her mother’s enthusiasm for
Barr-Saggott’s attention? Give two examples from the extract above to
support your answer.

The author begins by giving a background on what an eligible represents. Which,

as per the text,” When a man is a Commissioner and a bachelor and has the right of
wearing open-work jam-tart jewels in gold and enamel on his clothes, and of going
through a door before everyone except a Member of Council, a Lieutenant-
Governor, or a Viceroy, he is worth marrying.”
Commissioner Barr Saggott embodies exactly this a rich, well-mannered
commissioner. His being well-mannered is an imperative detail since
commissioners are of course rich but not too often well-mannered.
Kitty Beighton, the lady Barr Saggott is courting, is of course flattered to be
courted by a commissioner as rich and well-mannered as Barr Saggott and her
mother even more so. As a “any good mamma ” Mrs Beighton was ecstatic that her
daughter might just win over a commissioner. On the other hand, Kitty was just
that, flattered. For Barr-Saggott was described as “FEARFULLY ugly” by her.
And she’d rather be with “the graceless Cubbon”—“The boy with a handsome face
and no prospects ”