Question

2 And he did come, rather earlier than had been expected, in consequence of the sudden breaking-up of a large party assembled for gaiety at the house of another friend, which he had left Weymouth to join. He came on the wings of disappointment, and with his head full of acting, for it had been a theatrical party. The play in which he had been cast was within two days of performing, when the sudden death of one of the nearest connections of the family had destroyed the party and dispersed the performers. To be so near happiness, so near fame, only to lose it all, was an injury to be keenly felt, and Mr. Yates could talk of nothing else. The theater, with its arrangements and dresses, rehearsals and jokes, was his never-failing subject, and to boast of the past was his only consolation. Why did Mr. Yates arrive at Mansfield Park “on the wings of disappointment?” (paragraph 2)

Answer 1

Mr. Yates arrived at Mansfield Park "on the wings of disappointment" because he had just experienced the abrupt end of a theatrical party he had joined in Weymouth. He had been excited to participate in a play that was close to its performance date but was instead met with disappointment due to the sudden death of a family member, which caused the party to break up and the performers to disperse. This proximity to achieving happiness and fame, only to have it snatched away, left him feeling keenly hurt and frustrated. As a result, he was consumed by thoughts of the theater, sharing his past experiences and lost opportunities, which highlighted his discontent and disappointment.