Quote:
Originally Posted by gmw
Given how often this sentiment is repeated (as you already noted, Orczy did like to make sure the reader didn't miss such things  ), it is obviously intentional that we should understand that the League are not doing it to be heroic. In more modern times we have heroes striding forward into their heroic endeavour like that scene from "The Right Stuff", but I believe the style of that period (and going back quite a way) was that it was better form (more English, perhaps?) for them to be doing it for sport. |
That was my take on it too. To me, it seemed clear that Orczy herself revered that "for sport" mentality. Heroism per se seems to have been a bit too vulgar for her, in the sense of being too plebeian. Those of the right sort do the right thing for fun, it seems. Which is part of why I think the book was an apt selection - we read it not out of noble motives, but just for fun.
