Mr Know All PAPER ONE.

Summary

The transcript introduces the character of Mr. Colada, an overly confident and exuberant passenger on a ship journey from San Francisco to Yokohama. Despite his charm, he is widely disliked for his intrusive and boastful nature. The narrator, who shares a cabin and meals with him, becomes increasingly irritated by Mr. Colada's incessant talking, brashness, and overbearing personality. The story explores the dynamics of their interactions, as Mr. Colada dominates conversations and the social scene aboard the ship. Tension rises when he unexpectedly reveals his expertise in the pearl trade, intensifying the already fraught atmosphere.

Takeaways

• 😀 The narrator initially dislikes Mr. Colada, assuming he would be difficult to share a cabin with during the voyage from San Francisco to Yokohama.
• 😀 Mr. Colada's appearance and behavior are strikingly flamboyant, and he has a tendency to be overly familiar and intrusive with others, including the narrator.
• 😀 Despite the narrator's reservations, Mr. Colada manages to ingratiate himself with almost everyone on board, becoming very popular and involved in ship activities.
• 😀 Mr. Colada is portrayed as overly self-assured, domineering in conversation, and unwilling to accept disagreement or correction from others.
• 😀 The narrator finds Mr. Colada's behavior irritating, particularly his constant talking, uninvited physical closeness, and lack of awareness of personal boundaries.
• 😀 The narrative describes Mr. Colada's extravagant personal items, such as his toiletries and monogrammed accessories, which further alienate the narrator.
• 😀 Mr. Colada's behavior at mealtimes is intolerable; he monopolizes conversations, speaks as though he knows everything, and refuses to drop topics until everyone agrees with him.
• 😀 Mr. Colada engages in debates with other passengers, particularly Ramsey, an American consular official, over topics like pearls and their market value.
• 😀 Mr. Colada reveals a hidden aspect of his life when he mentions being involved in the pearl trade and that he's going to Japan to investigate the Japanese pearl industry.
• 😀 The narrator contrasts Mr. Colada's blustering, confident persona with the calm and refined demeanor of Mrs. Ramsey, who possesses a quiet, distinguished quality.

Q & A

Why was the narrator initially upset about sharing a cabin with Mr. Colada?

The narrator was unhappy to share a cabin with Mr. Colada because of his dislike for Colada's overly familiar and ostentatious personality, as well as the discomfort of sharing a small space for the long journey.

What was the narrator's first impression of Mr. Colada’s luggage?

The narrator found Mr. Colada's luggage unappealing, noting that it had too many labels, and his large wardrobe trunk seemed excessive. This gave him a negative first impression of Colada.

What aspect of Mr. Colada's grooming products stood out to the narrator?

The narrator noticed that Mr. Colada was a patron of high-end products, such as Monsieur Cote's scent and hair wash, which were displayed on the washing stand. These items were monogrammed, adding to the narrator's negative perception.

How did Mr. Colada try to establish rapport with the narrator during their first interaction?

Mr. Colada tried to establish rapport by addressing the narrator as a fellow Englishman and expressing his preference for English people to stick together when abroad, even though the narrator had doubts about his English background.

What was peculiar about Mr. Colada’s British passport?

The British passport seemed to contradict Mr. Colada's appearance and behavior, leading the narrator to suspect that Colada was actually born in a place with a 'bluer sky' than England, hinting at his foreign origins.

How did Mr. Colada react when offered a drink in a dry ship environment?

Despite the ship being dry due to prohibition, Mr. Colada offered the narrator a choice of illegal drinks, including a dry martini, by discreetly presenting flasks from his pockets.

What social role did Mr. Colada take on during the voyage?

Mr. Colada became a central figure on the ship, organizing events such as auctions, sports prizes, concerts, and even a fancy dress ball, ensuring that he was involved in every social activity.

Why was Mr. Colada particularly disliked by the other passengers?

Mr. Colada's overbearing, boastful, and intrusive personality made him the most hated man on the ship. His constant need to dominate conversations and events alienated many of the passengers.

How did Mr. Colada behave during mealtimes?

During meals, Mr. Colada was loud, talkative, and argumentative. He dominated conversations, insisting that his opinions were superior and refusing to drop topics until others agreed with him.

What role did Mrs. Ramsey play in the conversation about pearls?

Mrs. Ramsey, although not the main focus, contributed to the discussion about pearls by adding a sense of grace and distinction. Her quiet yet poised manner contrasted with the arguments between Mr. Colada and Mr. Ramsay.