The Fellow of Delicacy

"The necessity of being angry in a suppressed tone had put Mr. Stryver's blood vessels into a dangerous state when it was his turn to be angry; Mr. Lorry's veins, methodical as their courses could usually be, were in no better state now it was is turn" (P. 151). I think this is a very interesting passage, contrasting both the characters of Stryver and Mr. Lorry, while also adding to the image of bloodshed /flowing blood in the novel. Here, the image of pumping blood is seen as a result of emotion. Mr. Stryver is angry that Mr. Lorry does not agree that he is not the most suitable man for Lucie to marry, even though he his extremely qualified. Mr. Lorry is angry because of the disrespectful tone Mr. Stryver took toward Lucie. Similar to Mr. Stryver's personality, big, loud, boastful, and narcistic, makes it hard for him to control his anger in such a quiet and reserved place like Tellsons, causing his blood vessels to work over time to pump blood. On the other hand, Mr. Lorry, being merely a 'man of business,' who works systematically and precisely, usually careful not to express emotion, was so angry that his blood vessels were pumping as hard as Mr. Stryvers. The high emotions between Mr. Stryver and Mr. Lorry at this pint are the causes of strain upon their blood vessels and this is not the first time that emotions have been in a cause and effect relationship with the image of blood - recall the peasants when the wine was spilled in the streets of St. Antoine - at first excited and frolicking in the wine (symbolizing blood), the poor oppressed peasants became overly excited due to the free wine. Clearly, the image of flowing blood is seen in both of these chapters, and it may foreshadow the flowing blood of the nobles when the peasants, full of anger towards their oppressors, lash out, unable to suppress their emotions any longer.