# Work vs. Idleness in Psmith in the City

> Theme guide for Psmith in the City by P. G. Wodehouse.

Characters grapple with the demands of banking work versus their desire for leisure, with Psmith treating work as a performance and Mike struggling to adapt to a life of commerce after cricket.

## Where it surfaces

- [First Steps in a Business Career](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/iv-first-steps-in-a-business-career): The chapter contrasts the apparent bustle of the bank with the reality that little work is done early, and employees like Bannister advise Mike on how to appear busy.
- [The Other Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/v-the-other-man): Psmith's ironic declaration of becoming 'Psmith, the Worker' contrasts with Mike's genuine struggle with the drudgery of office life, highlighting the tension between enforced labor and personal fulfillment.
- [Psmith Explains](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/vi-psmith-explains): Psmith contrasts his brief period of intense work with his leisurely stroll and tea shop visit, highlighting the tension between duty and leisure.
- [VII: Going Into Winter Quarters](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/vii-going-into-winter-quarters): Psmith's banter about being a 'bee, not a drone' contrasts with Bickersdyke's suspicion of idling, highlighting the tension between appearance and actual work.
- [VIII: The Friendly Native](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/viii-the-friendly-native): The tension between Psmith's conversational diversions and Rossiter's insistence on work highlights the conflict between idleness and productivity.
- [Mike Is Moved On](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xiii-mike-is-moved-on): Mike balances his duties with surreptitious reading and extended tea breaks, illustrating the tension between work and leisure in the bank.
- [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): The overstaffed bank allows for idle conversations and visits between departments, contrasting with the pretense of busy work.
- [XIX: The Illness of Edward](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xix-the-illness-of-edward): The chapter contrasts the pleasant, leisurely winter routine at the bank with the sudden intrusion of personal crisis, highlighting how work can become mechanical in the face of deeper concerns.
- [Concerning a Cheque](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xx-concerning-a-cheque): Psmith shifts his focus from reforming the idle Bristow to targeting Bickersdyke, highlighting the contrast between purposeful work and distraction.
- [XXI: Psmith Makes Inquiries](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxi-psmith-makes-inquiries): Psmith's leisurely posture and musing contrast with the serious consequences of Mike's job loss, highlighting the tension between duty and leisure.
- [The Spirit of Unrest](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxiv-the-spirit-of-unrest): Mike's growing hatred of bank work contrasts sharply with his longing for cricket and outdoor life, highlighting the tension between duty and personal desire.
- [At the Telephone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxv-at-the-telephone): Mike's impulsive decision to play cricket highlights his internal conflict between the drudgery of bank work and the allure of leisure and sport.
- [Breaking the News](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xxvi-breaking-the-news): Mike abandons his bank duties for cricket, highlighting the tension between professional obligations and personal passions.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/themes/work_vs_idleness
- Themes index: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/themes