An Event in Your Life

Chapter 1 The Bertolini compend We fall in in Florence at the Pension Bertolini, a award for British travelers. boy interchangeableLucy H unrivaledychurchand her cousin,Charlotte b machinationlett, are bemoaning the poor rooms that they cod been given. They were promised rooms with views. The both wo manpower simulate at dinner in their subvention, along with the oppo posee guests. Lucy is disappointed because the pension hostess has turned let on to be British, and the decor of the pension empathisems lift right out of a room in London. While girlfriend bartlett and Lucy talk, an darkened man interrupts them to break up them that his room has a becoming view. The man isMr.Emerson he introduces his son,George Emerson. Mr. Emerson offers female child Bartlett and Lucy a room swap. The men leave take the rooms over the courtyard, and Lucy and Charlotte will take the to a greater extent pleasant rooms that project views. Miss Bartlett is horrified by the offer, and refuses to accept she begins to ignore the Emersons and resolves to switch pensions the next day. Just then,Mr. Beebe, a clergyman that Lucy and Charlotte k at a time from England, enters. Lucy is delighted to meet both(prenominal)one she knows, and she shows it now that Mr. Beebe is here, they must hindrance at the Pension Bertolini. Lucy has heard in letters from her mother that Mr.Beebe has tho accepted a position at the parish of Summer Street, the parish of which Lucy is a member. Mr. Beebe and Lucy have a pleasant talk over dinner, in which he gives Lucy advice approximately the sites of Florence. This vacation is Lucys first time in Florence. Soon, almost perpetuallyyone at the eat table is giving Lucy and Miss. Bartlett advice. The torrent of advice signifies the acceptance of Lucy and Miss Bartlett into the undecomposed graces of the pension guests Lucy nones that the Emersons are out aspect of this fold. After the meal, some of the guests move to the selective service room. Miss Bartlett discusses the Emersons with Mr.Beebe Beebe does not have a really high gear opinion of Mr. Emerson, merely he debates him harmless, and he believes no harm would have come from Miss Bartlett accepting Mr. Emersons offer. Mr. Emerson is a Socialist, a status that is used by Mr. Beebe and Miss Bartlett with clear disapproval. Miss Bartlett continues to ask Mr. Beebe about what she should have done about the offer, and if she should apologize, until Mr. Beebe becomes annoyed and leaves. An old lady approaches the two women and talks with Miss Bartlett about Mr. Emersons offer. Lucy asks if perchance there was something beautiful about the offer, even if it was not delicate.Miss Bartlett is fuddle by the question to her, beauty and delicacy are the resembling thing. Mr. Beebe returns he has arranged with Mr. Emerson to have the women take the room. Miss Bartlett is not kind of sure what to do, precisely she accepts. She takes the larger room, which was occupied by George, because she does not emergency Lucy to be indebted to a young man. She bids Lucy swellnight and inspect her new quarters, and she finds a piece of paper pinned to the washstand that has an enormous note of interrogation scrawled on it. Though she feels threatened by it, she saves it for George between two pieces of blotting paper.Chapter Two In Santa Croce with No Baedeker Summary Lucy looks out her window onto the beautiful scene of a Florence morning. Miss Bartlett interrupts her reverie and encourages Lucy to begin her day in the dining room, they argue politely about whether or not Miss Bartlett should accompany Lucy on a bit of sightseeing. Lucy is eager to go that does not wish to tire her cousin, and Miss Bartlett, though tired, does not penury Lucy to go alone. A clever lady, whose name is Miss consume, intercedes. After some discussion, it is agreed that Miss shower and Lucy will go out unneurotic to the church of Santa Croce.The two women go out, and have a runly ( scarce not too involved) conversation about politics and people they know in England. Suddenly, they are lost. Lucy tries to consult her Baedeker travel organise, except Miss bountiful will have none of it. She takes the guide book away. In their wanderings, they cross the settle of the Annunziata the buildings and sculptures are the most beautiful things Lucy has ever seen, but Miss Lavish drags her forward. The women eventually reach Santa Croce, and Miss Lavish spots Mr. Emerson and George. She does not indigence to run into them, and seems disgusted by the two men. Lucy defends them.As they reach the steps of the church, Miss Lavish sees someone she knows and rushes off. Lucy waits for a while, but then she sees Miss Lavish wander down the street with her friend and Lucy realizes she has been abandoned. Upset, she goes into Santa Croce alone. The church is cold, and without her Baedeker travel guide Lucy feels unable to correctly view the many fam ous works of art housed there. She sees a child hurt his foot on a grave accent sculpture and rushes to help him. She then finds herself side-by-side with Mr. Emerson, who is also helping the child. The childs mother appears and sets the boy on his way.Lucy feels determined to be good to the Emersons despite the disapproval of the other pension guests. But when Mr. Emerson and George invite her to join them in their little s overstep of the church, she knows that she should be offended by such an invitation. She tries to seem offended, but Mr. Emerson sees immediately that she is difficult to behave as she has seen others behave, and tells her so. Strangely, Lucy is not angry about his avidness but is instead somewhat impressed. She asks to be taken to look at the Giotto frescoes. The trio comes across a tour company, including some tourists from the pension, led by a clergyman namedMr.Eager. Mr. Eager spews discoverary on the frescoes, which Mr. Emerson heartily disagrees wi th he is skeptical of the praise and romanticizing of the past. The clergyman icily leads the theme away. Mr. Emerson, worried that he has offended them, rushes off to apologize. George confides in Lucy that his father alship canal has that effect on people. His earnestness and bluntness are repellent to others. Mr. Emerson returns, having been snubbed. Mr. Emerson and Lucy go off to see other works. Mr. Emerson, sincere and earnest, shares his concerns for his son. George is unhappy. Lucy is not sure how to react to this direct and skillful talk Mr.Emerson asks her to befriend his son. She is close to his age and Mr. Emerson sense much that is good in the girl. He hopes that these two young people can subscribe to from each other. George is deeply saddened by smell history itself and the transience of human beingness this cerebral sorrow all seems very strange to Lucy. George suddenly approaches them, to tell Lucy that Miss Bartlett is here. Lucy realizes that one of the old women in the tour group must have told Charlotte that Lucy was with the Emersons. When she seems distressed, Mr. Emerson expresses sympathy for her. Lucy becomes cold, and she informs him that she has no need for his pity.She goes to join her cousin. Chapter terce harmony, Violets, and the Letter S Summary One day after luncheon Lucy decides to play the piano. The narrator tells us that Lucy has a great love for contend she is no genius, but she is talented and passionate, always performing on the side of Victory. Mr. Beebe recalls the first time he heard her play, back in England, at Tunbridge Wells. She chose an curious and intense piece by van Beethoven. At the time, Mr. Beebe remarked to someone that if Lucy ever learned to live as she plays, it would be a great event. Now, Mr. Beebe makes the same remark to Lucy directly.Miss Bartlett and Miss Lavish are out sightseeing, but it is rainwatering hard outside. Lucy asks about Miss Lavishs refreshful, which is in progress. L ately, Miss Lavish and Miss Bartlett have become close, leaving Lucy feeling like a third wheel. Miss Catharine Alan enters, complimenting Lucys playing. She discusses the impropriety of the Italians with Mr. Beebe, who half-agrees with her in a subtly and playfully mocking way. They discuss Miss Lavish, who once wrote a novel but lost the thing in heavy rains. She is working on a new book, set in modern Italy. Miss Alan talks about Miss Lavish first meeting with the Emersons.Mr. Emerson made a comment about acidity of the stomach, trying to be helpful to another pension guest. Miss Lavish was drawn to his directness. She tried to stand up for the Emersons for a while, talking about commerce and how it is the heart of Englands empire. But after dinner, she went into the pot room with them. A few minutes later, she emerged, silent. No one knows what happened, but since then, Miss Lavish has made no attempt to be genial to the men. Lucy asks Miss Alan and Mr. Beebe if the Emersons a re nice after some discussion, Mr. Beebe gives a qualify yes and Miss Alan a no. Mr.Beebe, though he does not swear it, does not approve of the Emersons attempts to befriend Lucy. Mr. Beebe feels badly for the Emersons nonetheless they are exhaustively isolated at the pension. He silently resolves to organize a group outing so that everyone will have a good time. even comes on and the rain stops. Lucy decides to go out for a walk and sleep with the last bit of daylight. Clearly, Miss Alan disapproves and Mr. Beebe does not approve entirely. But Lucy goes out anyway Mr. Beebe chalks her behavior up to too much Beethoven. Analysis Music and Lucys relationship to her music is one of the novels themes.Mr. Beebes comment becomes the readers hope for Lucy perhaps one day she will play as well as she lives. Forster speaks in this chapters opening pages of musics transcendent abilities. It can be the gift of anyone regardless of social class or education. Through Beebes statement, Fors ter is suggesting that these qualities also apply to passionate living. To live life well is within the grasp of anyone, despite the prejudices and proprieties of Lucys world. Her choice of unusual Beethoven pieces is indicative of her passion. She needs more of an outlet than music, but for now her music will have to do.Music puts her in touch with her desires and feelings the passion of Beethoven makes her resolve to go out alone, despite the disapproval of others. Chapter Four Summary Lucy goes out longing for adventure, hoping for something great. She buys some photographs of great artworks at a put away shop, but remains unsatisfied. She wanders into the Piazza Signoria it is nearing twilight, and the world takes on an aura of unreality. Nearby, she sees two Italians arguing. One of them is struck lightly on the chest he wanders toward Lucy, trying to say something, and blood trickles from his lips.The light strike was actually a stabbing. A crowd surrounds them and carries th e man away. She sees George Emerson, and then the world seems to fall on top of Lucy suddenly, she is with George Emerson, sitting on some steps some distance away. She fainted, and George has carried her here. She convey George and asks him to fetch her photographs, which she dropped in the square when he leaves to get them, she tries to sneak away. George calls to her and persuades her to sit down. The man who approached her is dead or dying. A crowd surrounds the man, down by the fountain, and George goes to investigate.George returns, and they talk of the murder. They walk back to the pension along the river, and George suddenly tosses something into the water. Lucy angrily demands to know what he threw away, suspecting that they might be her photographs. After some hesitation, George admits that they were. He threw them away because they were covered with blood. At Georges request, they stop for a moment. He feels something unbelievable has happened, and he wants to figure it out. Leaning over a parapet, Lucy apologizes for her fainting and asks that he not tell anyone at the pension what happened.She realizes that he is not a brave man, meaning he is a stranger to unstylish ideas of courtesy and propriety, but she also realizes that George is intelligent, trustworthy, and kind. She says that events like the murder happen, and that the witnesses go on living life as usual. George replies that he does not go on living life as usual. Now, he will want to live. Analysis Forster spends the first opus of the chapter explaining Lucys character. She is naive, but she has some strength and passion. She is frustrated by the constraints on her gender, but she is also no firebrand by nature.She feels that she should be ladylike, in the old-fashioned sense of the word, but in practice she wants to be more forego and adventurous than that label allows. She feels her emotions most passionately and deeply after she has vie piano. Forster often uses the landscape t o mirror Lucys mood. After she finished playing the piano, the rain cleared, mirroring Lucys tendency to know her own desires most clearly after playing music. As she wanders into the square, the world seems touched by unreality. She longs for an adventure, and she is conscious of being in a different place and wanting to see something rule.It is twilight, a transitional time between day and night, and Lucy is about to have a very confusing and important experience. She is rescued by George, and she cannot seem to decide what to think about it. For his part, George is as taciturn and strange as ever. Forster lets us into his characters heads, but with George and Mr. Emerson we have only their outward actions and dialogue. Lucys experience is confusing not only because she watches a man die, but also because she is not sure how to wangle with George and how he makes her feel.She recognizes that he is not chivalrous or proper, but she sees worthiness in him. She stops by the river and feels somehow comfortable with him, but she nervously asks him not to tell anyone that she fainted and he carried her. For George too, the experience is important. For whatever reason, and in ways that Forster will not allow us to see directly, he is changed. He tells Lucy that he will not return to life as he lived it before now, he wants to live. The experience has made him appreciate life, perhaps in part because he shared something extraordinary with Lucy.