Question

What do the guests at Lady Sneerwell’s house gossip about?

• A. People’s physical appearance and makeup
• B. Financial scandals of the city
• C. Political developments in the parliament
• D. Scientific discoveries of the time

Answer 1

Answer:

A. People’s physical appearance and makeup

• At Lady Sneerwell's gathering, the conversation quickly turns to gossip, with the guests talking rudely about the physical appearances of people who are not present.

• They especially gossip about things like makeup and how others look.

• This reflects the society's focus on superficial judgments and the way people in the play judge others based on appearance rather than character. Maria, however, refuses to join in the gossip, showing that she has a more virtuous or innocent attitude compared to the other characters at the gathering.

• The scene serves as a critique of the shallow and malicious nature of social interactions in the world of the play.