Social Propriety In The Adventures Of Peregrine Pickle

In Tobiad Smollett’s novel The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, he uses consistent dialogue with a passive aggressive tone and a rushed narrative pace in order to demonstrate the relationship between emotions and social propriety during the Enlightenment era. Smollett uses Peregrine and Godfrey’s actions to exemplify how many followed social propriety instead of their natural instincts. This creates a daunting feel between both characters in their situation.
Throughout the beginning of the passage, there is constant dialogue between Peregrine and Godfrey as they argue over status of Peregrine’s relationship with Godfrey’s sister. There is an underlying passive aggressive tone behind the dialogue, that shows how both characters refuse to let their emotions take over and break societal norms. For example, instead of blatant name-calling and foul words, they both are mature when it comes to their conflict. The two focus on being chivalrous by referring to each other as “sir”, as this is repeated four times throughout the passage. Arguably, the men are seen using the passive aggressive tone in hopes of coming off ‘polite’ towards each other, even though they are in the midst arguing. Godfrey is still in his polite and chivalrous

character, satirically calls Peregrine a “gentlemen”, when this happens Peregrine mocks Godfrey’s use of gentlemen by the repeated use of the word. The dialogue between both men illustrate societal propriety instead of using their own feelings to take care of the issue.
Furthermore, this sense of being rushed and in a hurry created by Smollett’s use of narrative pace in the piece shows how the two men are ready to attack each other.

During the actual act of attacking each other, this a common act during this time period. This was a way to assert dominance without letting their emotions shine. Ironically, how fast paced the fight is, Smollet uses long drawn out sentences to build up and show the extent of the fight. Then using strong and disturbing vernacular to describe the fight shows the true pent-up anger the two men had against each other. In the manner the two men fight shows the relationship between emotions and societal propriety by how their emotions are hidden away in the societal norm of

dueling.
Throughout the piece The Adventures of Peregrine Pickle, Tobiad Smollet uses the narrative pace of the piece, and tone during the dialogue to show the relationship between emotions and social propriety during this time period. Overall, the men use societal means of dueling to create a cover for their true emotions and feelings.