# Mike Jackson — Psmith in the City character guide > Mike Jackson in Psmith in the City by P. G. Wodehouse. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Mike, Jackson, Mr. Mike, Comrade Jackson **First appearance:** 0004-ii-mike-hears-bad-news ## Snapshot A shy former cricket star exiled from school to a bank desk, whose bluntness hides a sympathetic heart that suffers every awkward silence. ## Who they are Mike enters the bank world with his cricket triumphs behind him and his father's financial troubles pushing him into a clerk's stool he never wanted. Painfully self-conscious in company, he upsets a water jug into a jam tart at a stranger's dinner table and spends the rest of the meal scarlet to the ears, yet his instinctive sympathy for the worn-down Mr. Waller reveals a decency that draws people to him. As Psmith's straight man and anchor, he grounds the novel's comedy in genuine feeling. ## Relationships ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/psmith) _friendship_ Close friends and allies, with Psmith often guiding and amusing Mike through their shared work and adventures. ### [Mr. Waller](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mr_waller) _professional_ Mike works under Mr. Waller at the bank, with Waller acting as a kindly but somewhat ineffectual supervisor. ### [Mr. Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mr_jackson) _family_ Father and son relationship, with Mr. Jackson concerned about Mike's career and future. ### [Mr. Bickersdyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mr_bickersdyke) _rivalry_ Mike is frequently at odds with Bickersdyke, who dislikes him due to his association with Psmith. ### [Joe Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/joe_jackson) _family_ Brothers who share a close bond, with Joe often looking out for Mike's interests. ### [Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/father) _family_ Mike's father is a caring but somewhat distant parent, concerned with his son's professional development. ### [Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/bill) _friendship_ Bill is a friend and fellow cricketer who shares Mike's love of sport and provides camaraderie. ### [Bannister](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/bannister) _professional_ Bannister is a fellow clerk who works alongside Mike, with a neutral to slightly friendly dynamic. ### [Rossiter](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/rossiter) _professional_ Mike works under Rossiter's supervision at the bank, enduring his fussy and officious manner. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/psmith) _friendship_ Close friends and allies, with Psmith often guiding and amusing Mike through their shared work and adventures. ### [Psmith](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/psmith) _friendship_ Close friends and allies, with Psmith often guiding and amusing Mike through their shared work and adventures. ### [Mr. Jackson](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mr_jackson) _family_ Father and son relationship, with Mr. Jackson concerned about Mike's career and future. ## In the story ### [Psmith in the City](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/psmith-in-the-city) Scores 98, learns of financial trouble, starts at bank, transferred to cash department, plays for county, confesses to Bickersdyke, resigns. ### [Mr. Bickersdyke Walks Behind the Bowler's Arm](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/i-mr-bickersdyke-walks-behind-the-bowler-s-arm) Star batsman who scores 98 before being bowled due to Bickersdyke's distraction. ### [Mike Hears Bad News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/ii-mike-hears-bad-news) Returns home after a successful cricket week, only to be told he cannot go to Cambridge due to family financial troubles. ### [The New Era Begins](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/iii-the-new-era-begins) Mike receives news of his bank job, reads Psmith's letter, travels to London, and secures a gloomy bed-sitting room in Dulwich, feeling homesick as he reflects on his lost cricket days. ### [First Steps in a Business Career](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/iv-first-steps-in-a-business-career) Mike starts his first day at the bank, feeling lost and awkward, especially when he recognizes Mr. Bickersdyke as the man from the park. ### [The Other Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/v-the-other-man) Feeling gloomy and homesick, Mike finds the bank work monotonous and yearns for his former outdoor life. He is grateful for Mr. Waller's kindness. ### [Psmith Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/vi-psmith-explains) Listens to Psmith's explanation and expresses concern about Bickersdyke's hostility. ### [VII: Going Into Winter Quarters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/vii-going-into-winter-quarters) Endures his first day at the bank; accepts Psmith's invitation to move into the flat; feels less lonely with an ally. ### [VIII: The Friendly Native](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/viii-the-friendly-native) Works in the postage department, bonds with messenger William over roses, and experiences homesickness. ### [The Haunting of Mr. Bickersdyke](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/ix-the-haunting-of-mr-bickersdyke) Absent for most of the chapter, attending the Gaiety; returns to hear Psmith's account of the evening. ### [Misunderstood](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xi-misunderstood) Stays at the flat reading a novel while Psmith attends the meeting. He expresses regret at missing the 'rag' and jokes about Bickersdyke's likely reaction. ### [Mike Is Moved On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xiii-mike-is-moved-on) Mike grows accustomed to the bank, finds old schoolmates, and enjoys evenings with Psmith, but faces occasional reprimands from Mr. Bickersdyke. ### [Mr. Waller Appears in a New Light](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xiv-mr-waller-appears-in-a-new-light) Now working in the Cash Department under Mr. Waller, he enjoys the work and the friendly atmosphere, and is invited to hear Mr. Waller speak. ### [Stirring Times on the Common](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xv-stirring-times-on-the-common) Reluctantly attends the meeting; tackles Bill to prevent him from throwing a stone at Mr. Waller, then fights him. ### [Further Developments](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xvi-further-developments) Engages in a fistfight with Bill, gets injured, and flees with Psmith. ### [Sunday Supper](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xvii-sunday-supper) Reluctantly attends supper; feels out of place, is grilled by Edward Waller, and accidentally spills water into the jam tart, mortifying himself. ### [Psmith Makes a Discovery](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xviii-psmith-makes-a-discovery) Mike endures Comrade Prebble's tedious lecture and later expresses his frustration to Psmith, but becomes intrigued by the discovery of Bickersdyke's past speeches. ### [XIX: The Illness of Edward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xix-the-illness-of-edward) Mike notices Mr. Waller's distress and feels sympathy but is unable to express it; he seeks Psmith's help. ### [Concerning a Cheque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xx-concerning-a-cheque) Takes the blame for the forged cheque to protect Mr. Waller. ### [XXI: Psmith Makes Inquiries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxi-psmith-makes-inquiries) Dazed after being dismissed by Bickersdyke; worries about what his family will say and his future employment. ### [And Takes Steps](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxii-and-takes-steps) Mike returns to the bank after confessing, feeling subdued and wanting to be left alone. ### [Mr. Bickersdyke Makes a Concession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxiii-mr-bickersdyke-makes-a-concession) Referenced as the employee whose dismissal is at stake; Psmith negotiates on his behalf. ### [The Spirit of Unrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxiv-the-spirit-of-unrest) Transferred to Fixed Deposits under Mr. Gregory; hates the work and grows restless as cricket season begins. ### [At the Telephone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxv-at-the-telephone) Receives a call from his brother Joe and impulsively agrees to play cricket for his county, reflecting his deep dissatisfaction with bank work. ### [Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxvi-breaking-the-news) Rushes off to play cricket for his county after a call from his brother Joe. ### [At Lord's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxvii-at-lord-s) Arrives at Lord's to play for his county; reflects on his future after leaving the bank; resolves to succeed as a professional cricketer. ### [XXVIII: Psmith Arranges His Future](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxviii-psmith-arranges-his-future) Reported to be playing at Lord's, having scored 98 runs; Psmith reveals he has been fired from the bank. ### [And Mike's](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxix-and-mike-s) Scores 148 for his county, feels exhausted but triumphant; accepts Psmith's offer to go to Cambridge. ### [XXX: The Last Sad Farewells](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxx-the-last-sad-farewells) Silent and embarrassed during the confrontation, but feels relieved and optimistic about the future afterward. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters/mike_jackson - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/characters