KuaiLe
Member
- Joined
- May 21, 2006
- Member Type
- Student or Learner
- Native Language
- Chinese
- Home Country
- Taiwan
- Current Location
- Taiwan
I read this from "Too Much Happiness", a short story by Alice Munro.
"...every time he told the story, Vladimir’s part—and the General’s money’s part—grew smaller. No mention of the passport either. It was Jaclard’s own bravery, his own agility, that counted. But he did seem to be better disposed to his audience, as he talked."
Jaclard refers to Charles Victor Jacquard, a member of the Paris Commune. He was once put in prison and his father-in-law (the General) got him out by bribery. Then he escaped the country by using his brother-in-law's (Vladimir’s) passport. And he enjoyed bragging about this story.
I don't understand what "be better disposed to" means in this context. The definitions of "dispose" given by the dictionary don't seem to fit the context. And I found that "well disposed" means "friendly and helpful". Does this mean Jaclard was friendly to his audience even though he was full of himself?
"...every time he told the story, Vladimir’s part—and the General’s money’s part—grew smaller. No mention of the passport either. It was Jaclard’s own bravery, his own agility, that counted. But he did seem to be better disposed to his audience, as he talked."
Jaclard refers to Charles Victor Jacquard, a member of the Paris Commune. He was once put in prison and his father-in-law (the General) got him out by bribery. Then he escaped the country by using his brother-in-law's (Vladimir’s) passport. And he enjoyed bragging about this story.
I don't understand what "be better disposed to" means in this context. The definitions of "dispose" given by the dictionary don't seem to fit the context. And I found that "well disposed" means "friendly and helpful". Does this mean Jaclard was friendly to his audience even though he was full of himself?
