The Chaser

What are the ways in which the older man describes his products? Why won’t he describe them directly?

In some ways, the irony and brevity of Collier’s story recall the form of the joke. What makes a joke good? Conversely, what makes a joke bad? How is this contingent on the ending of the joke?

What is Diana’s role in these men’s business transactions? Can you imagine this story being told from the perspective of a woman?

What assumptions does this story make about commercial motivations, particularly in terms of the financial prospects of young men versus older men, or versus women of the same age?

We know that Diana is “gay and giddy,” and she loves parties. How would we describe either Austen’s or the old man’s relationship to fun and freedom?