A precocious young woman, Thomasina, discusses 'carnal embrace' with her family and tutor, much to her mother's dismay. The conversation then veers into a humorous debate about innocence, knowledge, and the picturesque, revealing the contrasting intellectual and social dynamics within the household.
THOMASINA Septimus, they are not speaking of carnal embrace, are you, Mama?
LADY CROOM Certainly not. What do you know of carnal embrace?
THOMASINA Everything, thanks to Septimus. In my opinion, Mr Noakes's scheme for the garden is perfect. It is a Salvator!
LADY CROOM What does she mean?
Create a free account to explore more
Upgrade to Pro for full access — £6.99/month
Director's Notes
Want expert coaching on this scene?
Browse our curated list of acting coaches, dialect specialists, and more.
Need representation?
Browse verified agents and casting directors in our directory.
How well does this scene match you?
Save your casting profile to see match scores on every scene.
Try Headshot AnalyserGo Pro
£6.99/mo
- ✓ Unlimited scene reading
- ✓ PDF downloads
- ✓ Director's Notes
- ✓ Headshot Analyser
- ✓ Cover Letter Generator
- ✓ Practice Mode
- ✓ Agent Connect
- + 1,000+ scenes
More from Arcadia
Arcadia — Mr. Peacock?
from Arcadia
Bernard Nightingale, a flamboyant academic, attempts to charm Hannah Jarvis, a reserved author, upon their first meeting. He tries to flatter her about her book while she remains unimpressed and direct, quickly seeing through his affectations.
Act I, Scene 1 — When you stir your rice pudding
from Arcadia
A young, precocious student, Thomasina, questions her tutor, Septimus, about the irreversibility of stirring jam into rice pudding, leading to a philosophical discussion about free will, determinism, and the nature of God. Thomasina grapples with complex scientific and philosophical concepts, while Septimus attempts to guide her understanding.
Act I, Scene 1 — Carnal Embrace
from Arcadia
A young, precocious girl questions her tutor about the meaning of "carnal embrace," leading to a humorous and revealing discussion about sex, mathematics, and a local scandal. The tutor attempts to deflect her curiosity while she persistently seeks a true understanding of the world.
Act I, Scene 1 — The Chater Family
from Arcadia
Septimus, a tutor, is confronted by Mr. Chater, a poet, who accuses him of insulting his wife. The conversation quickly devolves into a humorous and intellectual sparring match about poetry, reputation, and the nature of satisfaction, revealing the complex relationships and social dynamics of the era.
Similar Scenes
Act I — The Twilight Monologue
from Waiting for Godot
Pozzo delivers a dramatic, lyrical description of the fading daylight and the sudden onset of night to Vladimir and Estragon, eventually seeking their validation for his performance.
Rachel's Negotiation: The Dog for the Baby
from Marty Supreme
Rachel attempts to extort a reward from a dog owner after finding his pet, using her pregnancy as emotional leverage. While her boyfriend Marty pressures her to get the money, the negotiation takes a surreal and aggressive turn as Rachel compares the dog's value to that of a human life.
The Truth of the World
from POOR THINGS
After witnessing the horrific squalor of a slum from her hotel balcony, Bella attempts a grand act of altruism by giving away Duncan's gambling winnings to ship stewards. When Duncan discovers the money is gone, he descends into a rage, only for the couple to be informed they are being evicted from their luxury accommodations for lack of funds.
The Black Man's Talk
from BlacKkKlansman
Ron Stallworth pitches a high-stakes undercover operation to Chief Taggert, proposing a 'two-man' identity to infiltrate the Ku Klux Klan. The scene explores racial perceptions and linguistic code-switching as Ron challenges the Chief's prejudices to secure approval for the investigation.