“Behind her, Preston grunted and said, "I know it's not the right thing to say to a lady, miss, but you are sweating like a pig!"Tiffany, trying to get her shattered thoughts together, muttered, "My mother always said that horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies merely glow...""Is that so?" said Preston cheerfully."Well, miss, you are glowing like a pig!”
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Quote Analysis
This exchange from Terry Pratchett's work showcases a delightful interplay between humor and social commentary. The dialogue highlights the juxtaposition of traditional gender norms with a playful twist, as the characters navigate their perceptions of propriety and reality.
Preston's comment, "you are sweating like a pig," humorously undermines the common saying that women should be demure and composed. His cheerful tone contrasts with the potentially offensive nature of his observation, making it both endearing and humorous. This suggests that the metric of politeness can be subjective and that genuine interaction can often transcend social expectations.
Tiffany's response reflects the ingrained societal notions she has internalized, quoting her mother to emphasize the differences in perceived states of being among different genders. The phrase “horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies merely glow” encapsulates an idealized feminine image that is often unrealistic and disconnected from real human experiences.
Preston's retort, “Well, miss, you are glowing like a pig!” cleverly subverts Tiffany's attempt to uphold this ideal. It brings back the focus to a more relatable and human experience, stripping away the pretense of gendered expectations. By using humor, Pratchett not only entertains but also encourages readers to reflect on the absurdity of these societal norms.
Overall, this passage exemplifies Pratchett’s skillful dialogue, blending wit with an insightful critique of gender roles, ultimately inviting a more honest discourse about identity and expression.
Humorous Dialogue in Literature
This excerpt from Terry Pratchett showcases the use of humor in dialogue, illustrating how characters interact comically while addressing social norms. The exchange between Preston and Tiffany highlights both wit and playful banter.
“Behind her, Preston grunted and said, "I know it's not the right thing to say to a lady, miss, but you are sweating like a pig!" Tiffany, trying to get her shattered thoughts together, muttered, "My mother always said that horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies merely glow..."
"Is that so?" said Preston cheerfully. "Well, miss, you are glowing like a pig!”
In this passage, Pratchett uses humor to challenge societal expectations about gender and propriety, creating a memorable and entertaining exchange between the characters.
Similar quotes
“I know it’s not the right thing to say to a lady, miss, but you are sweating like a pig!""My mother always said that horses sweat, men perspire, and ladies merely glow…""Is that so? Well, miss, you are glowing like a pig!”
“He always says that,' muttered Vimes as the two men hurried down the stairs. 'He knows I don't like being married to a duchess.''I thought you and Lady Sybil-''Oh, being married to Sybil is fine, fine,' said Vimes hurriedly. 'It's just the duchess bit I don't like.”
“And people think she killed him?" said Miss Tick. She sighed. "They probably think she cooked him in the oven, or something.""They never actually said," said Tiffany. "But I think it was something like that, yes.""And did his horse turn up?" said Miss Tick."No," said Tiffany. "And that was strange, because if it'd turned up anywhere along the hills, people would have noticed it..."Miss Tick folded her hands, sniffed, and smiled a smile with no humor in it."Easily explained," she said. "Mrs. Snapperly must have had a really big oven, eh?""No, it was really quite small," said Tiffany. "Only ten inches deep.”
“Witches are naturally nosy,” said Miss Tick, standing up. “Well, I must go. I hope we shall meet again. I will give you some free advice, though.”“Will it cost me anything?”“What? I just said it was free!” said Miss Tick.“Yes, but my father said that free advice often turns out to be expensive,” said Tiffany.Miss Tick sniffed. “You could say this advice is priceless,” she said, “Are you listening?”“Yes,” said Tiffany.“Good. Now...if you trust in yourself...”“Yes?”“...and believe in your dreams...”“Yes?”“...and follow your star...” Miss Tick went on.“Yes?”“...you’ll still be beaten by people who spent their time working hard and learning things and weren’t so lazy. Goodbye.”
“Miss Tick sniffed. 'You could say this advice is priceless,' she said. 'Are you listening?''Yes,' said Tiffany.'Good. Now ... if you trust in yourself ...''Yes?''... and believe in your dreams ...''Yes?''... and follow your star ...' Miss Tick went on.'Yes?''... you'll still get beaten by people who spent THEIR time working hard and learning things and weren't so lazy. Goodbye.”
“You’d better tell me what you know, toad,” said Tiffany. “Miss Tick isn’t here. I am.”“Another world is colliding with this one,” said the toad. “There. Happy now? That’s what Miss Tick thinks. But it’s happening faster than she expected. All the monsters are coming back.”“Why?”“There’s no one to stop them.”There was silence for a moment.“There’s me,” said Tiffany.”