Psmith in the City · Chapter
Stirring Times on the Common explained
Psmith and Mike accompany Mr.
What happens
Psmith and Mike accompany Mr. Waller to a Socialist meeting on Clapham Common. Mr. Waller's energetic speech attracts a crowd, but his temperance remarks turn the audience hostile. When a man named Bill picks up a stone to throw at Mr. Waller, Mike tackles him, leading to a physical fight. Psmith watches nervously, ready to intervene if Bill's friends join in.
Free preview opens on this chapter — companions, themes, and character notes appear beside the text.
Narrative arc
Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.
- Setup
- Escalation
- Breaking point
This is the story's dramatic climax because it marks the emotional and psychological peak where Psmith, having…
Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.
Follow the arc while readingThemes in this chapter
- Social Performance and Identity
Mr. Waller's theatrical speaking style and the crowd's reaction highlight how public performance shapes identity and perception.
- Humor and Absurdity
The absurdity of the meeting—with Prebble's unintelligible speech and Waller's hopping—is played for comic effect.
- Resilience and Adaptation
Mike's quick action to tackle Bill shows his ability to adapt to a threatening situation, despite his initial reluctance.
Characters to notice
- Psmith
Accompanies Mike and Mr. Waller to the meeting; expresses interest in oratory and keeps watch during the fight.
- Mike Jackson
Reluctantly attends the meeting; tackles Bill to prevent him from throwing a stone at Mr. Waller, then fights him.
- Mr. Waller
Speaks passionately at the meeting; his temperance remarks anger the crowd, leading to hostility.
- Bill
A thickset youth in a cloth cap who picks up a stone to throw at Mr. Waller; fights Mike after being tackled.
- Comrade Wotherspoon
One of the speakers at the meeting; his audience dwindles as Mr. Waller attracts the crowd.
- Prebble
Another speaker at the meeting; his speech is hard to understand due to a palate defect, but he draws laughter.
Key passages
“Comrade Waller means well, but if he shoots it at them like this much more there'll be a bit of an imbroglio.”
Psmith warns that Mr. Waller's aggressive speech will cause trouble.
Psmith's understated comment foreshadows the violence.
“The first thing to do is to ascertain that such a place as Clapham Common really exists.”
Psmith jokes about the difficulty of finding Clapham Common.
Psmith's characteristic humor before the meeting.
“I may possibly say a few words, if the spirit moves me. Who am I that I should deny people a simple pleasure?”
Psmith hints he might give a speech at the meeting.
Psmith's playful threat alarms Mike.
