Question
Having, therefore, determined to commit these boys to the tuition of a private tutor, Mr. Thwackum was recommended to him for that office, by a very particular friend, of whose understanding Mr. Allworthy had a great opinion, and in whose integrity he placed much confidence.
This Thwackum was fellow of a college, where he almost entirely resided; and had a great reputation for learning, religion, and sobriety of manners. And these were doubtless the qualifications by which Mr. Allworthy's friend end had been induced to recommend him; though indeed this friend had some obligations to Thwackum's family, who were the most considerable persons in a borough which that gentleman represented in parliament.
Thwackum, at his first arrival, was extremely agreeable to Allworthy; and indeed he perfectly answered the character which had been given of him. Upon longer acquaintance, however, and more intimate conversation, this worthy man saw infirmities in the tutor, which he could have wished him to have been without; though as those seemed greatly overbalanced by his good qualities, they did not incline Mr. Allworthy to part with him: nor would would they indeed have justified such a proceeding; for the reader is greatly mistaken, if he conceives that Thwackum appeared to Mr. Allworthy in the same light as he doth to him [the reader] in in this history, and he is as much deceived, if he imagines that the most intimate acquaintance which he himself could have had with that divine, would have informed him of those things which we, from our inspiration, are enabled to open and discover. Of readers who, from such conceits as these, condemn the wisdom or penetration of Mr. Allworthy, I shall not scruple to say that they make a very bad and ungrateful use of that knowledge which we have communicated to them.
What is the effect of the irony in the first paragraph?
1. It highlights Mr. Allworthy's generosity in hiring Thwackum solely on the basis of his friend's recommendation.
2. It illustrates Mr. Allworthy's innocence as he is unable to see beyond Thwackum's reputation to his true qualities.
3. It shows the friend's immorality and unreliability as he purposely deceives Mr. Allworthy about Thwackum's deficiencies.
4. It creates doubt about Thwackum's favorable recommendation by revealing how the friend is indebted to Thwackum's family.
This Thwackum was fellow of a college, where he almost entirely resided; and had a great reputation for learning, religion, and sobriety of manners. And these were doubtless the qualifications by which Mr. Allworthy's friend end had been induced to recommend him; though indeed this friend had some obligations to Thwackum's family, who were the most considerable persons in a borough which that gentleman represented in parliament.
Thwackum, at his first arrival, was extremely agreeable to Allworthy; and indeed he perfectly answered the character which had been given of him. Upon longer acquaintance, however, and more intimate conversation, this worthy man saw infirmities in the tutor, which he could have wished him to have been without; though as those seemed greatly overbalanced by his good qualities, they did not incline Mr. Allworthy to part with him: nor would would they indeed have justified such a proceeding; for the reader is greatly mistaken, if he conceives that Thwackum appeared to Mr. Allworthy in the same light as he doth to him [the reader] in in this history, and he is as much deceived, if he imagines that the most intimate acquaintance which he himself could have had with that divine, would have informed him of those things which we, from our inspiration, are enabled to open and discover. Of readers who, from such conceits as these, condemn the wisdom or penetration of Mr. Allworthy, I shall not scruple to say that they make a very bad and ungrateful use of that knowledge which we have communicated to them.
What is the effect of the irony in the first paragraph?
1. It highlights Mr. Allworthy's generosity in hiring Thwackum solely on the basis of his friend's recommendation.
2. It illustrates Mr. Allworthy's innocence as he is unable to see beyond Thwackum's reputation to his true qualities.
3. It shows the friend's immorality and unreliability as he purposely deceives Mr. Allworthy about Thwackum's deficiencies.
4. It creates doubt about Thwackum's favorable recommendation by revealing how the friend is indebted to Thwackum's family.
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The effect of the irony in the first paragraph is best captured by option **4. It creates doubt about Thwackum's favorable recommendation by revealing how the friend is indebted to Thwackum's family.**
The paragraph suggests that the recommendation for Thwackum was not based purely on his merits but was influenced by the friend’s obligations to Thwackum's family. This creates a sense of irony regarding the reliability of the recommendation, casting doubt on whether Mr. Allworthy's choice for a tutor was as sound as it appears.
The paragraph suggests that the recommendation for Thwackum was not based purely on his merits but was influenced by the friend’s obligations to Thwackum's family. This creates a sense of irony regarding the reliability of the recommendation, casting doubt on whether Mr. Allworthy's choice for a tutor was as sound as it appears.