How are the characteristics of Sir Alexander Heathcote contradictory to that of Alex in'The Chinese Statue'?
Answers
Sir Alexander Heathcote was a gentleman. He was a meticulous person. He got up at seven o'clock in the morning and joined his wife at breakfast. He ate one boiled egg which was cooked precisely for four minutes, two pieces of toast with a spoonful of Cooper's marmalade. He used to drink one cup of China tea. At exactly eight-twenty he used to take a hackney carriage from his home in Cadogan Gardens and arrive at the Foreign Office at eight-fifty-nine. He returned home at six o'clock.
While Alex lived extravagantly and indulged in gambling. As a result he lost all his money. He decided to sell the Chinese statue and get money to pay off his debts. When he came to know that it was a fake statue he contemplated suicide. But ultimately he was able to get some money as the base of the statue was genuine.
Explanation:
The Chinese Statue
Character Sketch of Alexander Heathcote
Sir Alexander Heathcote is the main protagonist of the core story and the one whose acts are responsible for the development of the frame story.
Physical appearance and personality traits
Sir Alexander has been described as a tall British gentleman, whose height is exactly six- foot - three and a quarter inches. He was a punctual and stated as "exact man"as - who " rose at seven O'clock every morning, joined his wife at breakfast to eat one boiled egg cooked for precisely four minutes, two pieces of toast with one spoonful of Cooper's marmalade, and drink one cup of China tea."
He would then leave for office at exactly eight - twenty and arrive there at eight fifty - nine. He would return in the evening exactly at six O' Clock.
Diplomatic Career
Unlike his father, who was a military General, Sir Alexander chose a diplomatic career. He gradually rose from the position of a Desk Officer to the position of Deputy Ambassador and finally to a British Ambassador to China. When he completed his tree years term, it was because his excellent service that the Empress awarded him the "Silver star of China" and Queen Victoria awarded him the Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.
Lover of Art
Sir Alexander had a vast knowledge and interest for Ming dynasty's art. He was the lover of Ming dynasty's art. Due to this reason he was quite happy to be appointed as the British Ambassador to China and he had taken it as an "opportunity to observe in their natural habitat some of the great statues, paintings and drawings."