«Adonde fueres, haz lo que vieres»
Chowringhee«Adonde fueres, haz lo que vieres» is invoked as practical advice about adapting to the customs of the place one enters. In its one supplied use, however, the proverb does not settle a disagreement: it sharpens the mismatch between the rule it expresses and Ranganathan’s insistence on Italy.
Meaning and Use
The speaker says that Ranganathan has placed him in a difficult position and that he keeps repeating the proverb to him. The saying offers a familiar principle for navigating unfamiliar surroundings: observe local practice and act accordingly. Its repetition suggests an effort to persuade, or at least to remind Ranganathan of that principle, rather than a detached reflection on custom.
The Ranganathan Context
The speaker’s example turns on national associations. Connie is Scottish, and Dimple Scotch is Scottish too, yet Ranganathan continues to insist on Italy. The passage leaves the precise choice at issue unstated; what it makes clear is the contrast between the Scottish connections the speaker points out and Ranganathan’s Italian preference.
Irony and Narrative Function
The proverb’s advice and the outcome pull in opposite directions. Ranganathan is presented with a local cue, but the speaker’s repeated appeal does not change his insistence. The saying therefore works less as a successful instruction than as an ironic measure of the impasse: the principle of adapting to one’s surroundings is plainly stated, while the person being addressed persists in his contrary choice.
