DifficultyWithMyLife t1_itiwcl8 wrote on October 23, 2022 at 11:41 PM

Reply to comment by foxdna in The way people speak in The Count of Monte Cristo. Can someone explain? by foxdna

"Pray I entreat you to answer me" does seem unnecessary. Why ask a question otherwise?

And before anyone mentions rhetorical questions - like my own above - I think those are generally implicitly understood to be rhetorical based on context. I doubt people didn't understand that concept back then, so I do wonder why they would say that, specifically.

foxdna OP t1_itiwj07 wrote on October 23, 2022 at 11:42 PM

They didnt! i made that up as an example bc I didnt have one readily available from the book. LOL

Shows my ignorance..

DifficultyWithMyLife t1_itiwqow wrote on October 23, 2022 at 11:44 PM

Oh, heh. Well, now I feel silly.

foxdna OP t1_itix36k wrote on October 23, 2022 at 11:47 PM

Why feel silly?? You made a valid observation;)

Thelmara t1_itm3h2b wrote on October 24, 2022 at 5:28 PM

> "Pray I entreat you to answer me" does seem unnecessary. Why ask a question otherwise?

It's just an intensifier. "Hey man, what's got you so down? Please, tell me what's going on!" You don't need the second sentence, but it changes the tone, adds urgency or insistence to the initial request, or helps characterize the person you're asking as not being forthcoming.

DifficultyWithMyLife t1_itmn0z2 wrote on October 24, 2022 at 7:34 PM

Fair enough, that makes sense.