RCA
Elite Member
- Joined
- Jun 27, 2017
- Professional Status
- Certified General Appraiser
- State
- California
There is a stanza in the poem I like:
Drops the wind and stops the mill;
Turbot is ambitious brill;
Gild the farthing if you will,
Yet it is a farthing still.
This is old almost archaic language. Who knows what Turbot and Brill is? To make this clear, I asked Grok:
ME: From Gilbert & Sullivan, what does this phrase mean:
"Drops the wind and stops the mill;Turbot is ambitious brill;Gild the farthing if you will,Yet it is a farthing still."
Grok: "The lines you’ve quoted are from the operetta Trial by Jury by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, specifically from the Judge’s song in which he humorously recounts how he rose from a lowly position to become a judge. The stanza containing these lines is part of a broader satirical commentary on social ambition, deception, and the superficiality of appearances. Let’s analyze the meaning of the passage line by line, maintaining a formal tone and providing a clear, precise interpretation:
Drops the wind and stops the mill;This line employs a metaphor to describe an attempt to defy or manipulate natural processes, which ultimately fails. The "wind" represents the natural force that drives the mill (a windmill, in this context), and "dropping the wind" suggests an unnatural or futile attempt to halt or control it. The implication is that such interference leads to failure, as the mill (a symbol of productivity or progress) stops functioning. This sets the tone for the stanza, highlighting the futility of trying to alter fundamental truths or realities.
Turbot is ambitious brill;Here, Gilbert uses a playful comparison between two types of fish: turbot, a flatfish considered a delicacy, and brill, a similar but less prestigious fish. The phrase suggests that a turbot (representing someone or something of lesser status) aspires to be seen as a brill (something more esteemed or valuable). However, the comparison underscores that no matter how much the turbot aspires, it remains a turbot. This line satirizes social climbers or those who strive to appear greater than they are, emphasizing that their true nature cannot be changed.
Gild the farthing if you will,A "farthing" was a low-value British coin, and to "gild" it means to coat it with gold to make it appear more valuable. This line refers to superficial efforts to enhance something inherently worthless or of little value. It critiques the act of dressing up something insignificant to give it the illusion of worth, whether in terms of social status, wealth, or character.
Yet it is a farthing still.The final line drives home the central message: no amount of superficial embellishment can change the intrinsic nature of something. A farthing, despite being gilded, remains a farthing—a coin of minimal value. This reinforces the theme of authenticity versus pretense, suggesting that attempts to disguise one’s true self or status are ultimately futile.
Taken together, these lines form a concise but sharp critique of social ambition and deception. Gilbert, through the Judge’s self-aware and ironic narrative, mocks the idea of artificially inflating one’s worth or status. The stanza suggests that no matter how much one tries to manipulate appearances—whether through ambition, pretense, or superficial enhancements—the underlying truth remains unchanged. In the context of Trial by Jury, this reflects the Judge’s own dubious rise to prominence, as he admits to using questionable means to achieve his position, yet the humor lies in his acknowledgment that such efforts cannot fully obscure one’s origins or true nature.
This interpretation aligns with Gilbert and Sullivan’s characteristic wit, using clever wordplay and metaphors to comment on societal norms and human behavior in a lighthearted yet incisive manner.
Yes, this so reflects the MAI: The basis of the profession is the deceptive perception of a superior and polished appearance (if all goes well and they don't screw up) that inflates the real value of an MAI appraisal that is basically quite and often fallible, and that, above all, lacks substance. These MAI appraisals are often the work of English and Philosophy majors with verbal embroidery worthy of the best novelist.
Drops the wind and stops the mill;
Turbot is ambitious brill;
Gild the farthing if you will,
Yet it is a farthing still.
This is old almost archaic language. Who knows what Turbot and Brill is? To make this clear, I asked Grok:
ME: From Gilbert & Sullivan, what does this phrase mean:
"Drops the wind and stops the mill;Turbot is ambitious brill;Gild the farthing if you will,Yet it is a farthing still."
Grok: "The lines you’ve quoted are from the operetta Trial by Jury by W.S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan, specifically from the Judge’s song in which he humorously recounts how he rose from a lowly position to become a judge. The stanza containing these lines is part of a broader satirical commentary on social ambition, deception, and the superficiality of appearances. Let’s analyze the meaning of the passage line by line, maintaining a formal tone and providing a clear, precise interpretation:
Drops the wind and stops the mill;This line employs a metaphor to describe an attempt to defy or manipulate natural processes, which ultimately fails. The "wind" represents the natural force that drives the mill (a windmill, in this context), and "dropping the wind" suggests an unnatural or futile attempt to halt or control it. The implication is that such interference leads to failure, as the mill (a symbol of productivity or progress) stops functioning. This sets the tone for the stanza, highlighting the futility of trying to alter fundamental truths or realities.
Turbot is ambitious brill;Here, Gilbert uses a playful comparison between two types of fish: turbot, a flatfish considered a delicacy, and brill, a similar but less prestigious fish. The phrase suggests that a turbot (representing someone or something of lesser status) aspires to be seen as a brill (something more esteemed or valuable). However, the comparison underscores that no matter how much the turbot aspires, it remains a turbot. This line satirizes social climbers or those who strive to appear greater than they are, emphasizing that their true nature cannot be changed.
Gild the farthing if you will,A "farthing" was a low-value British coin, and to "gild" it means to coat it with gold to make it appear more valuable. This line refers to superficial efforts to enhance something inherently worthless or of little value. It critiques the act of dressing up something insignificant to give it the illusion of worth, whether in terms of social status, wealth, or character.
Yet it is a farthing still.The final line drives home the central message: no amount of superficial embellishment can change the intrinsic nature of something. A farthing, despite being gilded, remains a farthing—a coin of minimal value. This reinforces the theme of authenticity versus pretense, suggesting that attempts to disguise one’s true self or status are ultimately futile.
Overall Meaning
Taken together, these lines form a concise but sharp critique of social ambition and deception. Gilbert, through the Judge’s self-aware and ironic narrative, mocks the idea of artificially inflating one’s worth or status. The stanza suggests that no matter how much one tries to manipulate appearances—whether through ambition, pretense, or superficial enhancements—the underlying truth remains unchanged. In the context of Trial by Jury, this reflects the Judge’s own dubious rise to prominence, as he admits to using questionable means to achieve his position, yet the humor lies in his acknowledgment that such efforts cannot fully obscure one’s origins or true nature.
This interpretation aligns with Gilbert and Sullivan’s characteristic wit, using clever wordplay and metaphors to comment on societal norms and human behavior in a lighthearted yet incisive manner.
Yes, this so reflects the MAI: The basis of the profession is the deceptive perception of a superior and polished appearance (if all goes well and they don't screw up) that inflates the real value of an MAI appraisal that is basically quite and often fallible, and that, above all, lacks substance. These MAI appraisals are often the work of English and Philosophy majors with verbal embroidery worthy of the best novelist.
