Impudence?

Throughout the play, the word "impudence" comes up several times. At first I had a general notion of what the definition meant--that someone was being bold, rude, and arrogant. However after looking up the definition, I have a better sense of the word used in context: "effrontery; insolence....lack of modesty, shamelessness." ([|www.dictionary.com]).

With the word reappearing countless times, clearly it has significance. In the time period in which the play took place, clearly it was expected of people to be gracious, polite, and respectful. It was certainly an insult for someone to be rude to another person.

Marlow first brings up impudence on page 19 of my edition (I have a different one): "An impudent fellow may counterfeit modesty, but I'll be hanged if a modest man can ever counterfeit impudence." This is fitting that Marlow should be the one to first bring up impudence, as he is the one who best displays it out of all the characters!

When Marlow asks for punch while Hardcastle is trying to be friendly and tell stories, Hardcastle marvels: "This is the most unaccountable kind of modesty I ever met with!" (22). Marlow goes on to say that Hardcastle is an "impudent" fellow, "but he's a character, and I'll humor him a little." I find this funny because Marlow was the epitome of impudence! Hardcastle even calls Marlow a "brazen dog" at one point.

Later when Miss Hardcastle is talking to the flustered, much different Marlow, she says during an aside: "Who could ever suppose this fellow impudent upon some occasions?" (31).

So, what I am asking is: What is the significance of "impudence" mentioned many times in the play? I think that it has to do with the perceptions of the dual-natures of Marlow. He comes off as shy to some (as Miss Hardcastle states: "his mauvaise honte, his timidity, struck me at first site" (39). In Miss Hardcastle's conversation with her father, however, Hardcastle contrasts: "I never saw such a bouncing, swaggering puppy since I was born."

Impudence. Impudence. Impudence. Any ideas? 1203169834

Although impudence may be an insult in the usual sense, I think that the use of impudence in the play may have to do with letting down barriers and revealing the truth. It seems that Marlow was modest because that was what was expected of him--he knew how to survive in society and he played along. However, when he was being "impudent," as when he was talking to Mr. Hardcastle as an innkeeper, it seems that he no longer felt the need to play by the rules and impress people. Therefore, he revealed those things that he suppressed for the sake of societal acceptance. The use of impudence in the play seems to me a way of revealing characters in a deeper sense. 1203185406