Plot
Three men in a boat (to say nothing of the dog) by Jerome, Jerome K. (Jerome Klapka)
Discussion Participants:
Tell me each of you in your own words, taking turns, what this story is all about.
Well, it's a most extraordinary thing, trying to put it into words. I suppose it's about three chaps—and a dog, can't forget Montmorency—who, feeling a bit run-down, decide a boat trip up the Thames is just the ticket. It's about the river, you see, and all the things that happen—or, more often, *don't* happen as planned when one is supposed to be having a relaxing holiday.
I must concur that it is difficult to encapsulate the essence of the narrative. It is, at its heart, a chronicle of the restorative effects of leisure and a complete change. The overstrain upon our brains had produced a general depression throughout the system; change of scene, and absence of the necessity for thought, were prescribed. A sojourn upon the river promised just such a remedy, though the execution proved... less than perfectly therapeutic at times, shall we say.
Oh, you women, you make such a fuss over everything! What's it about? It's about a good time, that's what! A few blokes, a bit of a holiday, what could be simpler? Though, mark my words, if they'd had *me* along, I'd have sorted out that packing business in no time. And as for hanging a picture, I could have shown them a thing or two.
Indeed, a "good time" seems to be one way of putting it. Building on that thought, do you think the disruptions and mishaps along the river are essential to the enjoyment, or do they undermine it? Could the narrative still work if everything proceeded smoothly?
A smooth trip? Heavens, no! It would be as dull as dishwater, I assure you. It's the mishaps, the little disasters, that make the trip memorable. Without the tin of pineapple, or George's sleeping arrangements, or Montmorency's general chaos, it would just be a lot of rowing and eating sandwiches. The mishaps are the spice, the very soul of the expedition!
While the narrator makes a point, I believe that a degree of order is not antithetical to enjoyment. The mishaps, while providing moments of amusement, often stemmed from a lack of foresight and planning. A smooth trip, properly executed, would provide a different kind of pleasure—the satisfaction of a job well done, the appreciation of the scenery without the constant distraction of avoidable crises.
Oh! you women, you make such a fuss over everything. Why, I *like* doing a little job of this sort. What's a holiday without a bit of a challenge, eh? All this talk of smooth sailing and careful planning—sounds dreadfully boring to me! The fun is in the fixing, the sorting out, the showing everyone how it's *really* done. The whole point is that even if there are some slight mishaps, as you call them, I can fix it all, of course.
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