Lionel Trilling's “Of This Time, Of That Place"

The Irritable Howe

As you read the story “Of This Time, Of That Place,” by Lionel Trilling you realize that Joseph Howe has a lot of annoyances to deal with. A negative criticism of his poetry by Frederic Woolley makes him tense and defensive around others that he knows have read the article. He has to deal with Tertan the strange student who is later diagnosed with a mental illness and Blackburn who sets off Howe’s irritations almost every time they meet. Soon you’ll understand how irritable of a person Howe is.

When facing the class for the first time, Howe was very irritated. As all the students rushed to their classes Howe himself was procrastinating. He stopped by his office and lit himself a cigarette. Not only did this kill some time before he had to face the class it also probably helped calm his nerves. He now knew it was time to go to class. “The prospect of facing his class had suddenly presented itself to him and his hands were cold” (271). When he entered the classroom all voices were ceased and the students looked at him. To Howe, “their faces seemed gross” (271). So showing authority he briskly stated his name, and turned and wrote it on the blackboard. Then a little later on he turns to the black board again and speaks to the class over his shoulder. By him speaking over his shoulder it shows that he is still “grossed” out by the student’s faces.

While the class was writing a paper, Howe was enjoying an idly moment at his desk, when suddenly a boy at the door way interrupts the class. The boy wanted to know if he had the right room for the English 1A class. Howe nodded to him and the boy stopped before Howe and said, “I am Tertan, Ferdinand R., reporting at the direction of head of Department Vincent” (273). The introduction brought fourth a mocking cheer from the class, and “Howe looked at the class with a sternness he could not really feel, for there was indeed something ridiculous about this boy” (273). Here Howe is irritated at the class for mocking Tertan aloud. Even though he understands why they are doing it, he feels bad for Tertan.

A few days later the irritating Theodore Blackburn met with Howe in his office. Blackburn wanted to take Howe’s romantic poets course the following semester, and asked if he could take Howe’s romantic prose course this semester. Even though it wouldn’t be for credit he just wanted to take it for the background. Howe consented. Then the bell rang and they walked down the hall to the classroom together. As they reached the door Howe stood back to let Blackburn enter first, but instead Blackburn moved behind him and grasped him by the arm to urge Howe into his own room. They entered with Blackburn’s hand firmly on Howe’s bicep. “Howe felt a surge of temper rise in him and almost violently disengaged his arm and walked to the desk, while Blackburn found a seat in the front row and smiled at him” (283). Blackburn did not get off to a good start with Howe. Almost instantly, from the first words Blackburn speaks, Howe is irritated. Then to top it off Blackburn defies Howe’s authority by leading him into the classroom.

On another occasion when Howe goes to see the