Class and Social Mobility

The book explores tensions between old money, new money, and the working class, as seen in Psmith's aristocratic demeanor clashing with the bank's commercial environment and Mr. Bickersdyke's political ambitions.

Mike's fall from school to bank work due to family financial trouble highlights class precariousness.

Mike's dream of attending Cambridge and playing county cricket is shattered by his father's financial loss, highlighting how economic instability can disrupt social aspirations.

Mr. Waller's comments on Bickersdyke's rise from fellow clerk to manager, and his disdain for those who climbed less high, illustrate the competitive social dynamics within the bank.