Previous
John Beaver
Jock Grant-Menzies is a London socialite and member of Parliament. Jock is level-headed, good company, and universally well-liked. Once thought of as a potential match for Brenda Last before she ended up with Tony Last, he in fact does marry her in the novel’s epilogue after Tony’s disappearance and John Beaver’s departure. Nevertheless, he seems to be one of the few people Tony considers a true friend. Jock accompanies Tony on his drunken spree in London, all while playing damage control to ensure Tony doesn’t stumble onto evidence of Brenda’s affair. Jock’s interim girlfriend Mrs. Rattery joins him at Hetton for the disastrous fox hunt and keeps Tony company, while Jock goes to tell Brenda the news of John Andrew’s death. After Brenda leaves Tony, Tony crashes at Jock’s apartment for a few weeks. There is no indication that Jock intended to take Tony’s wife all along; Waugh includes this rather as a chance irony that provides symmetry to the novel, which began with Mrs. Beaver’s remarks about Jock being a better fit for Brenda than Tony.
Jock Grant-Menzies Quotes in A Handful of Dust
The A Handful of Dust quotes below are all either spoken by Jock Grant-Menzies or refer to Jock Grant-Menzies . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 3: Hard Cheese on Tony
Quotes
“You know there wasn't really much for her to do all the time at Hetton. Of course she'd rather die than admit it, but I believe she got a bit bored there sometimes. I've been thinking it over and that's the conclusion I came to. Brenda must have been bored…”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
She frowned, not at once taking in what he was saying. “John… John Andrew… I… Oh thank God…” Then she burst into tears.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“But it’s not true, is it?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it is. Everyone has known for some time.”
But it was several days before Tony fully realized what it meant. He had got into a habit of loving and trusting Brenda.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: In Search of a City
Quotes
“Is it absolutely safe?”
“Oh, I imagine so. The whole world is civilized now, isn’t it—charabancs and Cook’s offices everywhere.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire A Handful of Dust LitChart as a printable PDF.
Jock Grant-Menzies Quotes in A Handful of Dust
The A Handful of Dust quotes below are all either spoken by Jock Grant-Menzies or refer to Jock Grant-Menzies . For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 3: Hard Cheese on Tony
Quotes
“You know there wasn't really much for her to do all the time at Hetton. Of course she'd rather die than admit it, but I believe she got a bit bored there sometimes. I've been thinking it over and that's the conclusion I came to. Brenda must have been bored…”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
She frowned, not at once taking in what he was saying. “John… John Andrew… I… Oh thank God…” Then she burst into tears.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
“But it’s not true, is it?”
“Yes, I’m afraid it is. Everyone has known for some time.”
But it was several days before Tony fully realized what it meant. He had got into a habit of loving and trusting Brenda.
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 5: In Search of a City
Quotes
“Is it absolutely safe?”
“Oh, I imagine so. The whole world is civilized now, isn’t it—charabancs and Cook’s offices everywhere.”
Related Characters:
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
