where_away | Handwriting

Stephen said, ‘Will I tell you another of Plato’s observations?’
‘Pray do,’ said Jack, his smile briefly returning.
‘It should please you, since you have a very pretty hand. Hinksey quoted it when I dined with him in London and we were discussing the bill of fare: “Calligraphy,” says Plato, “is the physical manifestation of an architecture of the soul.” That being so, mine must be a turf-and-wattle kind of soul, since my handwriting must be disowned by a backward cat; whereas yours, particularly on your charts, has a most elegant flow and clarity, the outward form of a soul that might have conceived the Parthenon.’ (TC Chapter 6)

This is one of my favourite quotes because I like using fountain pens, dip pens, and inks for writing - a far more civilised method of creating than the utility of a computer keyboard. Sadly however I have far too much affinity with Stephen's handwriting than I would like, although I long to have Jack's 'elegant flow and clarity'. A backward cat would probably laugh at my attempts.

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'What would be a proper time for this visit?' asked Stephen without the least sign of
having heard but reflecting upon his friend's large, clear, somewhat round and feminine hand, his instant reaction in time of nautical crisis, and his not uncommon ineptitudes.
(chapter five)

:D
Please to add a tag for book: 19(hundred days). Thank you

I will!

somewhat round and feminine hand

This surprised me when I read it - I would never have associated Jack with having a feminine hand... I supppose he may have been taught to write by dear Queenie, but even so... It is an odd comment I feel.

I wonder what O'Brian meant by it. Gentlemen of the time were apparently supposed to prove their gentlemanliness by having illegible handwriting (to prove they were no clerks!), so perhaps "feminine" is just a way of repeating "clear".

That might explain why doctors persist with the notion even today.

*nods*

Meanwhile I am very glad to know that anyone contemplating my handwriting would instantly know therefore I was a gentleman in spirit at least (even though the anatomy refutes it!)

It is traditional.

I was a gentleman in spirit at least
LOL. Goodness knows what anyone would make of mine. That I am about six years old.

Maybe Stephen associates a more feminine hand with something clearer to read, contrary to his own less legible writing?

A typical doctor then?

Still... feminine... midshipman Ophelia frockery aside, it's not really the first word that springs to mind with big, beefy, hearty Jack, is it?

*nods to either*

I know that Stephen admires his friend's handwriting and has complimented him on it before, but feminine? It is an unusual choice of words.

So what does the writer want to tell us?

Handwriting

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