Quote by Oscar Wilde

What are American dry-goods? asked the duchess, raising her large hands in wonder and accentuating the verb.American novels, answered Lord Henry.

What are American dry-goods? asked the duchess, raising her

Summary

In this quote from Oscar Wilde's novel, "The Picture of Dorian Gray," the duchess expresses her curiosity about "American dry-goods." However, Lord Henry, known for his wit and sarcasm, responds by saying "American novels." This brief exchange highlights the duchess's lack of knowledge or understanding about American goods, while Lord Henry cleverly associates and contrasts it with American literary works. The quote serves to illustrate the disconnect between the old world and the new, implying that the duchess is more familiar with traditional luxuries rather than contemporary aspects of American culture like literature.

Topics

Humor Funny Books American Sarcasm Literary Criticism Novels

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