A fellow may be forgotten--illiterated from the memory
— Sheridan, Richard Brinsley (1751-1816)
Work Title
Place of Publication
London
Publisher
John Wilkie
Date
1775
Metaphor
A fellow may be forgotten--illiterated from the memory
Metaphor in Context
MRS. MALAPROP
There, Sir Anthony, there sits the deliberate Simpleton, who wants to disgrace her family, and lavish herself on a fellow not worth a shilling!
LYDIA
Madam, I thought you onc. --
MRS. MALAPROP
You thought, Miss!--I don't know any business you have to think at all--thought does not become a young woman; the point we would request of you is, that you will promise to forget this fellow--to illiterate him, I say, quite from your memory.
LYDIA
Ah! Madam! our memories are independent of our wills.--It is not so easy to forget.
MRS. MALAPROP
But I say it is, Miss; there is nothing on earth so easy as to forget , if a person chooses to set about it.--I'm sure I have as much forgot your poor dear uncle as if he had never existed --and I thought it my duty so to do; and let me tell you, Lydia, these violent memories don't become a young woman.
SIR ANTHONY
Why sure she won't pretend to remember what she's order'd not!--aye, this comes of her reading!
(Act I, Scene ii)
There, Sir Anthony, there sits the deliberate Simpleton, who wants to disgrace her family, and lavish herself on a fellow not worth a shilling!
LYDIA
Madam, I thought you onc. --
MRS. MALAPROP
You thought, Miss!--I don't know any business you have to think at all--thought does not become a young woman; the point we would request of you is, that you will promise to forget this fellow--to illiterate him, I say, quite from your memory.
LYDIA
Ah! Madam! our memories are independent of our wills.--It is not so easy to forget.
MRS. MALAPROP
But I say it is, Miss; there is nothing on earth so easy as to forget , if a person chooses to set about it.--I'm sure I have as much forgot your poor dear uncle as if he had never existed --and I thought it my duty so to do; and let me tell you, Lydia, these violent memories don't become a young woman.
SIR ANTHONY
Why sure she won't pretend to remember what she's order'd not!--aye, this comes of her reading!
(Act I, Scene ii)
Categories
Provenance
Seth Lerer pointed out this passage in conversation, copied from HDIS
Citation
First performed January 17th, 1775. 14 entries in ESTC (1775, 1776, 1785, 1788, 1791, 1793, 1797, 1798).
Sheridan, R. B. The Rivals, a Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (London: John Wilkie, 1775). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Sheridan, R. B. The Rivals, a Comedy. As it is Acted at the Theatre-Royal in Covent-Garden (London: John Wilkie, 1775). <Link to ECCO-TCP>
Date of Entry
11/02/2003
