Question

Explain the following: 'Fancy a lad spending his time playing around like that with gourds ! ...'

Hint:

For quotes from literary texts, identifying the source and context is crucial. Explain who is speaking, to whom, and under what circumstances. This will help clarify the quote's deeper meaning and significance within the story.

Answer 1

This quote is from the story "The Artist" by Shiga Naoya. It is an expression of disapproval and bewilderment from the father and teachers of the protagonist, a talented young boy named Seibei.
Step 1: Understanding the Context:
Seibei is a twelve-year-old boy who has a deep and unconventional passion: collecting, polishing, and admiring gourds. He devotes his time and energy to this hobby, seeing beauty and potential in objects that others consider mundane. To him, the gourds are a form of art.
Step 2: Explaining the Quote's Meaning:
The quote, "Fancy a lad spending his time playing around like that with gourds!", reflects the adult world's complete failure to understand or appreciate Seibei's passion. The word "Fancy" is used sarcastically to express incredulity and disdain. From the perspective of his father and his ethics teacher, Seibei's hobby is a frivolous and unproductive waste of time. They believe a boy his age should be focused on his formal education and preparing for a conventional, respectable future. The term "playing around" diminishes his serious artistic pursuit into childish idling.
In essence, the statement highlights the conflict between individual artistic talent and a rigid, conformist society that values utility and convention over creativity. It represents the dismissal of a unique passion by an authority figure who cannot see its value, ultimately leading to the suppression of Seibei's talent.