高级英语 Blackmail 雪茄的分析 the Cigar

Implication:
After so much struggle, Duchess becomes the winner and turns from the position “blackmailee” to “blackmailer”. Ogilvie puts the cigar out to show his willingness to accept the Duchess’ offer. He turns from"balckmailer" to "accomplice".
Scene 2 :
She met his eyes directly." What are you talking about?" "Don't play games, lady. This is for real." He took out a fresh cigar and bit off the end, "You saw the papers. There's been plenty on radio, too." Two high points of color appeared in the paleness of the Duchess of Croydon's cheeks. "What you are suggesting is the most disgusting, ridiculous..." "I told you – Cut it out!” The words spat forth with sudden savagery , all pretense of blandness gone. Ignoring the Duke, Ogilvie waved the unlighted cigar under his adversary 's nose. “ (Page 87 Para. 15-18)
Scene 5
"Twenty-five thousand dollars," she repeated. “Ten thousand now. Fifteen thousand more when you meet us in Chicago. " Still without speaking, the fat man licked his lips. His beadyeyes, as if unbelieving, were focused upon her own. The silence hung. Then, as she watched intently, he gave the slightest of nods. The silence remained. At length Ogilvie spoke. "This cigar bother in' you, Duchess?" As she nodded, he put it out. (Page 95 Para. 105-109)
Image Description − “Cigar”: interchange of Blackmailer and Blackmailee
By Group 5
Scene 1:
A wave of cigar smoke accompanied Ogilvie in. When he had followed her to the living room, the Duchess looked pointedly at the half-burned cigar in the fat man’s mouth. “My husband and I find strong smoke offensive. Would you kindly put that out.”
Implication:
In order to light up a fresh cigar, one end of it has to be clipped. A coarse people like Ogilvie just bites it off directly. Moreover, he has evidence so he is so confident and arrogant that he takes another cigar. His power increases gradually.
Scene 3
"That's more like it," Ogilvie said. He lit the fresh cigar. "Now we're getting somewhere." Wearily, in a gesture of surrender, the Duchess of Croydon sank back into her chair. Clasping her hands to conceal their trembling, she asked. "What is it you know?" "Well now, I'll spell it out." The house detective took his time, leisurely putting a cloud of blue cigar smoke, his eyes sardonically on the Duchess as if challenging her objection. But beyond wrinkling her nose in distaste, she made no comment. (Page 88 Para.21-23)
Conclusion:
“Cigar” – the key in this Novel: interchange of blackmailer and blackmailee
Leabharlann Baidu
Thank you!
Group 5:
Ivy 张红一 Vivian 施晓维
Gracie 胡菁 Ally 陈莹
(Page 86 Para.3)
Implication:
Ogilvie’s behavior of smoking in the presence of a lady without asking for permission is impolite and rude. This shows Ogilvie is a coarse, vulgar and uneducated fellow.
Implication:
Ogilvie lit the fresh cigar finally because the Duke admitted his crime. By this way, Ogilvie shows his power to challenge the Duchess’ authority openly. He wants to see if Duchess dares to object to his smokingagain like before. Duchess, this time, makes no comment because she and her husband are under Ogilvie'scontrol. Her power is weakened.
Duchess is strongly against his smoking and expressed her uncomfortable feeling directly.
Scene 1:
"Pretty neat set-up you folks got.” Taking his time, Ogilvie removed the offending cigar, knocked off the ash and flipped the butt toward an ornamental fireplace on his right. He missed, and the butt fell upon the carpet where he ignored it. The Duchess's lips tightened. (Page 86 Para.5,6)
Implication:
Ogilvie follows her “direction” to some extent. After failing to throw the cigar into the fireplace, he just lets the butt fall upon the carpet and does not choose to pick it up. He thinks he has the Duke and Duchess under his thumb, so he does not care about what they think or feel. Duchess feels quite offended but has to tolerate his bad behavior.
Implication:
As Ogilvie provides more and more evidence information that he has grasped, he puffs the cigar and observes their reflection meanwhile. Then he can control the situation better.
Scene 4
"You might have something there," Ogilvie conceded. "Anyway, what I found made me do some scouting -- across at police headquarters where they know me too." He paused to puff again at the cigar as his listeners waited silently. When the cigar tip was glowing he inspected it, then continued. "Over there they got three things to go on. They got a headlight trim ring which musta come off when the kid an’ the woman was hit. They got some headlight glass, and lookin’ at the kid's clothin', they reckon there'll be a brush trace. “ (Page 90 Para. 42)