and adopting the role of local "courtier" in small town, rural Meryton,is that he took the idea far too far.

In one aspect it is very funny. He is over the top in his desire to act as if he were living among the court at St James- for courteous does indeed derive from the word "court",meaning the social and govermental circle centered around the monarch

The distinction had perhaps been felt too strongly. .He could...occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world. For, though elated by his rank, it did not render him supercilious; on the contrary, he was all attention to everybody. By nature inoffensive, friendly, and obliging, his presentation at St. James's had made him courteous….

His repsonse to his visit to St James's is quite extreme and makes him rather a figure of fun: a former tradesman and local mayor, aping the civiliies of the court as if he were at least a duke...tut,tut. He needed a reality check.

In another aspect it is rather tragic as his removal to the countryside, away form Meryton will surely ahve financial consequences:-) Let's wait and see what effect his decision to quit both his business and his town had on his fmily:

It had given him a disgust to his business, and to his residence in a small market town; and, quitting them both, he had removed with his family to an house about a mile from Meryton, denominated from that period Lucas Lodge, where he could think with pleasure of his own importance, and, unshackled by business, occupy himself solely in being civil to all the world.

His decision to become"courteous" makes him rather ridiculous ,IMHO ;-)