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Season 2022 – Talk 18 – Tea in Literature
In Tea in Literature Sue Willson talks about the use of tea in novels over the past couple of centuries.
Click a thumbnail below to view the image gallery that accompanies the talk.
Morse:
Sue’s first story isn’t from a book, instead she looks at the Morse episode ‘Twilight of the Gods’. She isn’t sure whether the issue over the ‘Senior Tea’ is in the book however she notes that it gives John Gielgud a wonderful moment when he insists that it must go on.
Sue is breaking the rule that she always used when teaching – use the book not the film / television series in your answer!
Sandition:
Sue then tells us about Sandition, the unfinished novel by Jane Austen. We hear that Austen uses ‘tea parties’ to great effect and that this novel is no exception. They provide an opportunity to explore relationships, set scenes and explain issues between people.
There is the scene where two of the characters often believe themselves ill and so take many cures. At tea there are several teapots on the tray because they drink different types of tea for their different medical complaints.
Middlemarch:
Middlemarch dates from 1871, but is set in 1831/2. The time of the Reform Act and early passenger railways.
Here a tea drinking episode shows a crucial turning point in the marriage of a doctor and his wife. There are growing debts because of her desire for a posh house and possessions whilst he is setting up his practice.
She calls for tea, and so he has to sit down and talk. He tells her that they’re seriously short of money. Her response is ‘what can I do’? She’s not prepared to economise and does not expect to suffer any inconveniences at all.
Cranford:
Towards the end of Cranford Miss Matty, one of the main characters, is impoverished due to the failure of her bank. Her friends suggest that she should sell tea to earn a little money as this is a gentile occupation. She agrees and opens a tea shop.
Sue also tells us about the ‘Mad Tea Party’ in Alice in Wonderland and the importance of taking tea in L P Harley’s ‘Go Between’ which contrasts ‘taking tea’ in the class system of 1900 Britain.
Listen to the podcast and hear Sue recount the full stories.
About this podcast:
This is an edited recording of a talk given to the Farnham u3a World History Group.
It is not always possible to use all of the images in the original talk for copyright reasons.
The Farnham u3a site is here.
This podcast is also available through Amazon Music, Apple Podcasts, Castbox, Deezer, Podchaser, Spotify, Stitcher and Vurbl and others.
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© The MrT Podcast Studio and Farnham u3a World History Group 2018 – 2023
