Third Thoughts

Third Thoughts: E.V. Lucas, England (1868-1938)

Summary

E.V. Lucas' short fiction "Third Thought" explores how human thought processes are evolving along with the modern business environment. People today are more egotistical, mechanistic, materialistic, and mpney-minded. All of them are the results of business world behavior. Additionally, this story aims to convey that there is only business-related haggling, buying and selling, profit and loss, and nothing else—including considerations for compassion, love, liberalism, and other factors. In actuality, business has nothing to do with feelings, emotions, or sentiments. Without a doubt, the dealer (seller) tries to negotiate a low price for the goods. Both parties concur at a particular point. After that, the item is sold; the buyer and seller have no more interaction.

The author's acquaintance told him this tale. A writer's acquaintance visits London one day, and while traveling there, she notices a lovely store with vibrant paintings. He adores that painting a lot and considers its price to be excessive. He then wants to know the true pricing so that he may go to the store and speak with the dealer right now. The shopkeeper claims that this thing just costs five shillings. He then returns satisfied, having purchased the painting.

He asks fifty pounds for the painting. He has never before generated a profit of this magnitude. He then considers giving the dealer a split of the profits. But that evening he reconsiders, and the next morning he decides not to share because it was his good fortune and talent that brought him such a profit. However, that evening he again considers giving his dealer ten pounds, but ultimately decides to pay him five, then one.

He decides to write a letter and make a check in the amount of just one pound to his dealer. Then, believing that he has enough money, he enters a bar to play cards. Except for the one pound he had intended to send his dealer, he loses all of his money. Finally, he experiences hunger and purchases breakfast for even that one pound. As a result, he neither saves nor transfers the profit to his dealer, and all is gone. Finally, he feels relieved when he says that there is only profit and loss in business and no love, kindness, affections, or sentiments.

Application of Four Levels

• Literal Comprehension
  • The author's acquaintance tells him the tale "Third Thoughts." He observes a lovely shop with lovely paintings while his pal heads to the market in London. He stands there and thinks about how pricey he must think the painting is. He approaches the vendor to inquire about the true cost. The vendor responds that painting only costs ten shillings. He is surprised and delighted to hear the low price and buys right away. He then recently made a reappearance. When he sells that painting for fifty pounds, he receives the highest reward of which he had previously only dreamed. He wishes to give the dealer a portion of his profit, at first considering half, then ten, then five, and finally one pound. As a result, he plays cards in a club and loses all except one pound of his money. He spends the money on breakfast because he is so furious. Finally, he still has no money. Then he claims that there are only two things in business: loss and profit, and no sentiment, kindness, or love.
• Interpretation
  • This tale demonstrates how society has evolved to become increasingly materialistic, egotistical, and money-focused. In a same vein, it reveals that business is devoid of empathy, love, kindness, sentiment, and emotions. Instead, there is a lot of haggling, selling, and purchasing. When something is being sold, the seller wants to charge more, while the buyer wants to pay less. In any case, they set specific standards for what they sell and what they buy. In contrast, in business there is only profit or loss. This narrative also shows us that the human mind is never static. Human thought also continues to change as things change. The moral of this tale may be that the world of things doesn't place as much value on justice, assurance, sincerity, uniqueness, and purity. It could also mean that males are hypocrites. He makes one claim and makes another. He presents a false impression of possessing admirable sentiments, values, or convictions. The narrator initially presents himself as a very extravagant guy, but later he reveals his miserly nature.
• Critical Thinking
  • The author has accurately depicted the simple business policy and how human minds change in this novel. Additionally, there are only two outcomes in business: loss and gain. The relationship between the seller and the buyer ends after the item has been bought and sold. In business, neither love nor sympathy exist. The concepts are commendable. Some of the story's concepts, meanwhile, seem to be less compelling. Is it not funny that the narrator's friend and the dealer would split the profits? Do human minds change in this way? Why does he suddenly become mindful of not paying the dealer while simultaneously being unconscious of missing all of his money?
• Assimilation
  • I've been greatly impacted by this narrative. I can now recall the incident that occurred in my own life as a result of reading this narrative. A few years ago, a buddy of mine from Japan sent me an RS 2,000 mobile phone. But over Dashain, I went to my village and sold it for Rs. 10,000. I left to play cards with the older kids after becoming happy. What I was playing didn't matter to me. Then, possibly via bad luck, I lost all of my money in that game within three hours. I felt depressed but then realized that business is only about making a profit and losing money.

Referance

(Subedi, K.P. and Bhandari, M.B. (2014). Business English. Kathmandu: Highland Publication P. Ltd.)