Line By Line Explanation Of Oliver Goldsmith’s Beau Tibbs

1. A mind thus sunk……….greater vigour.

These lines form part of Beau Tibbs, an essay written by Oliver Goldsmith. Here the writer speaks of the habits of a Chinese philosopher named Lien-chi-Altangi.

Lien-chi-Altangi is a thoughtful person. But he often likes to divert himself. For the sake of diversions, he visits the places of entertainment and mixes with jolly crowds of people. He has the outwardly assumed appearance of a jester. He imitates the light-hearted people. He behaves in care-free spirit. Such light diversions on his part serve to relieve his mind. His mind is refreshed by these amusements. Such entertainments are necessary for him after his serious reflections. These pleasures give him fresh mental energy to pursue his philosophical thoughts more seriously than before. The Chinese philosopher gives rest to his mind at times. In this respect he acts like athletes who take rest after a serious physical exercise to recoup their lost energy. After taking rest, athletes are refreshed and they take part in more physical exercises with redoubled vigour. Then they can jump with greater strength than what they could do before. The Chinese philosopher gets fresh mental energy by his occasional diversions.

2. His hat was…..by long service.

These lines form part of Beau Tibbs written by Oliver Goldsmith Here the author describes the appearance of a strange character named Beau Tibbs. Tibbs was peculiarly dressed. His hat had been adjusted to his head. His appearance was pale. He was lean and thin. His looks were pointed. He had put on broad, block ribbon round his neck. He had a buckle in his breast. He had an instrument for fastening dresses. His coat was decorated with soiled cords or threads. He had beside him a sword with a black handle. He had put on silken stockings. They had become old. They were yellowish. They had been used for a long time. Although they had been freshly cleansed with water, they looked old.

3. Poaching, my lord? Says into my mouth.

These lines occur in Beau Tibbs, an essay written by Oliver Goldsmith. Here Tibbs speaks of his peculiar method of attracting women. He reports to the Man in Black an account of his interview with the Duke of Piccadilly. The Duke had wanted to know how and where he had spent the night. The Duke thought that at night, Tibbs must have poaching somewhere. That is the Duke thought that Tibbs must have made love to some girls at night. Tibbs must have enjoyed the sweet company of girls at night. Tibbs replied that the previous night he was at home. He did a peculiar method of making love. He behaved with women in the same manner as some animals behaved with the animals they hunted for food. Some animals attract their prey to themselves and then devour them outright. They stand still and all at once they fall on their prey and seize them like hawks. Similarly, Tibbs at first behaved innocently with women, but finding them off their guard, all at once he seized them and took liberties with them. This showed that Tibbs was a great lady-lover.

4. However both for the interests……….every eye.

These lines form part of Goldsmith’s Beau Tibbs. Here the Man in Black comments on an extraordinary character, Beau Tibbs. Tibbs dressed in a peculiar fashion. One day he would be dressed poorly in torn clothes, but the next day he would be dressed in fine clothes. His conduct was no less peculiar than his dress. He claimed to be intimately acquainted with many distinguished persons. But actually he was not in the least acquainted with them, he would have indulged in many vices.

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It was perhaps good for him that he was poor, otherwise, he would have been extravagant. So it was good that God had made him poor. A person of his character would have been dangerous if he had been rich.

There was another peculiarity about him. Though he was poor, he thought that his poverty was hidden from all. He pretended to be a highly connected person, who mixed with distinguished persons.

5. What do you think, Sir…you know.

These lines occur in Oliver Goldsmith’s Beau Tibbs’ These words were uttered by Tibbs. He took the Chinese philosopher to his house. There he showed him certain worthless pictures. But he boasted of their highly artistic qualities. He referred particularly to the painting of a head, which was kept in one corner of the room. He thought that the painting had been done in the style of the famous Florentine artist named Grisoni. In other words, Tibbs considered himself to be as great a painter as Grisoni. There was a true harmony in the painting. It was in fact a portrait of Tibbs himself. Tibbs had painted another portrait which had no similarity with this portrait. But a noble lady (a countess) had been so charmed by it that she had offered a hundred guineas for it. Tibbs had refused the offer. He did not like to be a mercenary artist. He did not like to paint for money. He did not like to paint at the order.

6. The company of fools………..melancholy.

These lines occur in the concluding paragraph of Oliver Goldsmith’s Beau Tibbs. Here the author states the moral of the piece. A Chinese philosopher named Lien-chi-Altangi had become acquainted with an extraordinary character named Tibbs. Tibbs was a poor man. But he gave himself airs of the rich who moved in high society. He claimed acquaintance with nobles. He invited the Chinese philosopher to dinner. He discussed with his wife the different dishes to be served in the dinner. At first the Chinese philosopher regarded Tibbs as a harmless, amusing little thing.” He considered Tibbs to be a simple and innocent person. He left amused in the company of Tibbs. But now his silly behaviour became disgusting to him. He now became sad to think of Tibbs and his silliness. From delighting us at first, but at last their company is bound to make us sad. We feel depressed to think of the absurdity of their behaviour.

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