A wee thought experiment

[Jimithyh]

What would you think if you read the following:

Thomas was running away from his dignity.

 

[Alistair Roberts]

I'd say he was rather naked!

 

[Stephen Drake]

That line looks familiar to me, but I don't know why...
I'd say he had done something he wasn't proud of and was trying to get away from it.

 

[KG Christopher]

I would say something like this.

Thomas was running away, shedding his dignity.

I think dignity is not something solid, you either have it, or not, you can gain it or lose it, how you do is important.

Thomas was running away, his dignity sloping off like badly placed tiles in a storm, etc.

 

[Jennifer Stone]

Personally, I think Thomas has shamed himself and is trying to outrun his embarrassment, like he has left his dignity behind him at the site of his indignity.
Or perhaps, he knows what he is about to do will cause humiliation, and so is running away from his dignity and towards ridicule.

 

[KG Christopher]

Thomas no longer needed his dignity, he needed a pair of trousers and an excuse.

 

[Jennifer Stone]

Thomas no longer needed his dignity, he needed a pair of trousers and an excuse.

And possibly bail money.

 

[Paul Whybrow]

Running away implies a deliberate choice by Thomas, even if it is an impetuous choice. He must be feeling trapped by his position of dignity, and has chosen to live life in a more free and easy way. This may be self-destructive, but he doesn't care.

(I'm writing from personal experience here!)

 

[Jimithyh]

Some great thoughts and ideas here ... It is a proposed first line ... that perhaps I have to rethink if it is a little too prosaic ... for a 12+ audience.

 

[Katie-Ellen]

He is an archbishop, and has decided to become a Taoist monk instead.

 

[Quillwitch]

I really like it! No need to change it if it´s for 12 year olds, they get it. But it might depend on what comes next. How exactly waas he doing this? It sounds like sarcasm. Is it meant to be?

 

[Jimithyh]

He is running from a fight with his brother ... escaping to a toilet to be alone and let his emotions loose ... before he then gets flushed down a toilet ... as you do!

 

[K.J. Simmill]

I'd say he was involved in something and with each passing moment he lost more of his dignity, thus his actions saw him leaving it behind at speed .

 

[Katie-Ellen]

Ah, I see. His dignity required him to stand his ground, but he didn't.

 

[Carol Rose]

He's a damn coward. LOL!!

 

[Katie-Ellen]

I suspect he will learn to face and master fear by the time @Jimithyh is through with him.

 

[Jimithyh]

He's a damn coward. LOL!!

Absolutely. Exactly right. That is exactly what Tomas is.