Anthony Blanche Cordelia Quotes

Anthony Blanche first introduces Sebastian’s family to Charles at dinner during his Oxford years. “They’re all charming, of course, and quite, quite gruesome,” (Waugh 53), he exclaims. Brideshead and Julia take the brunt of his ire. , proceeding to list the family members and commenting upon their varying faults. Anthony is critical, Waugh makes him incredibly so, but he knows nothing about Cordelia except that her governess drowned herselfnever once does he mention Cordelia. She is exempted from the English charm that Waugh casts over the rest of her family. Cordelia’s purpose is to instead guides the path of Charles’ faith, from nonexistentence to complete conversion. Cordelia jumps into the narrative suddenly, almost out of nowhere, much like Sebastian and Charles’ conversations about Catholicism. Waugh introduces her as the youngest sister, faithful and “bird-happy,” (89), who had all the
She is the antithesis of Charles, who lives as an aesthete. When Cordelia speaks to Charles about Sebastian, she attempts to explain the fact that Sebastian has gotten closer to God through his suffering, but then switches tactics. She talks instead of the beauty of the monastery and the kindness of the monks. Charles looks at her and says, “you knew I would not understand?” (Waugh 309). Through this comment, Cordelia sparks Charles’ introspectionThis realization that she prompts in him guides his introspection. “How often, it seemed to me, I was brought up short, like a horse in full stride suddenly refusing an obstacle, backing from the spurs, too shy even to put his nose at it and look at the thing” (Waugh 310). This is Charles’ first real expression of doubt. After some consideration, hHe notices that while plain, she has a sort of beauty all her own in how she loves her family. Thise recognition of her opens the door for Charles to think about faith a little kindlier, even if he doesn’t consciously admit