Psmith in the City · Theme
Class and Social Mobility
How Psmith in the City develops 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.
Where it surfaces
- Psmith in the City
Mike's fall from school to bank work due to family financial trouble highlights class precariousness.
- Mike Hears Bad News
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.
- The Other Man
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.