HI

SHIVAJI UNIVERSITY, KOLHAPUR

CENTRE FOR DISTANCE EDUCATION

M. A. Part-II : English Semester-IV : Paper G1 E5 Special Author : Kingsley Amis

Semester-IV : Paper C-10 Critical Theory-II

(Academic Year 2019-20 onwards) KJ

M. A. Part-II English Paper G1 E5 Special Author : Kingsley Amis Unit-1 Lucky Jim (1954)

Contents 1.0 Objectives 1.1 Introduction 1.2 Chapter-wise Summary of Lucky Jim 1.3 Lucky Jim as a Campus Novel 1.4 Check Your Progress 1.5 Glossary and Notes 1.6 Exercises 1.7 References to Further Study 1.0 Objectives: After studying this Unit, you will be able to: 1. Introduce the modern trends in Modern and Post-modern British Novel. 2. Understand the contribution of Kingsley Amis as an eminent Modern novelist. 3. Understand features of a Campus novel. 4. Understand the Angry Young Man Movement in detail. 1.1 Introduction: Sir Kingsley William Amis , (16 April 1922 – 22 October 1995) is an eminent English novelist, poet, critic, and teacher. He wrote more than 20 novels, six volumes of poetry, a memoir, various short stories, scripts for radio and television, along with works of social and literary criticism. Kingsley Amis was best known as a prolific novelist who, as described in the words of Blake Morrison in the Times Literary Supplement, had the “ability to go on 1

surprising us.” He won critical praise in 1954 with his first novel, Lucky Jim. He wrote three other humorous works, and was characterized as a comic novelist writing in the tradition of P. G. Wodehouse and Evelyn Waugh. Critics established him among the foremost of the “Angry Young Men School” in which British writers who disdained post-World War II British society throughout the 1950s. Following his early works, however, Amis produced a series of novels that differed in genre and seriousness of theme. His place in British literature was acknowledged in 1986, as his seventeenth novel, The Old Devils, won the Booker Prize which is known as Britain's highest literary award. In 1990, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. Poetry • 1947 Bright November

• 1953 A Frame of Mind

• 1954 Poems: Fantasy Portraits

• 1956 A Case of Samples: Poems 1946–1956

• 1962 The Evans County

• 1968 A Look Round the Estate: Poems, 1957–1967

• 1979 Collected Poems 1944–78 Fiction Novels

• c. 1948 The Legacy (unpublished)

• 1954 Lucky Jim

• 1955 That Uncertain Feeling

• 1958 I Like It Here

• 1960 Take a Girl Like You

• 1963 One Fat Englishman

• 1965 The Egyptologists (with Robert Conquest)

• 1966 The Anti-Death League

2

• 1968 Colonel Sun: a James Bond Adventure (pseud. Robert Markham)

• 1968 I Want It Now

• 1969 The Green Man

• 1971 Girl, 20

• 1973 The Riverside Villas Murder

• 1974 Ending Up

• 1975 The Crime of the Century

• 1976 The Alteration

• 1978 Jake's Thing

• 1980 Russian Hide-and-Seek

• 1984 Stanley and the Women

• 1986 The Old Devils

• 1988 Difficulties with Girls

• 1990 The Folks That Live on the Hill

• 1991 We Are All Guilty

• 1992 The Russian Girl

• 1994 You Can't Do Both

• 1995 The Biographer's Moustache [37] • c. 1995 Black and White (unfinished) Short fiction collections

• 1962 My Enemy's Enemy

• 1980 Collected Short Stories

• 1991 Mr Barrett's Secret and Other Stories Other short fiction

• 1960 "Hemingway in Space" (short story), Punch December 1960 Non-fiction

3

• 1957 Socialism and the Intellectuals , a Fabian Society pamphlet

• 1960 New Maps of Hell: A Survey of Science Fiction

• 1965 The James Bond Dossier

• 1965 The Book of Bond, or Every Man His Own 007 (pseud. Lt.-Col William ('Bill') Tanner)

• 1970 What Became of Jane Austen?, and Other Questions

• 1972 On Drink

• 1974 Rudyard Kipling and His World

• 1983 Everyday Drinking

• 1984 How's Your Glass?

• 1990 The Amis Collection

• 1991 Memoirs

• 1997 The King's English: A Guide to Modern Usage (name in part a pun as he was sometimes called "Kingers" or "The King" by friends and family, as told by his son Martin in his memoir Experience )

• 2001 The Letters of Kingsley Amis , Edited by Zachary Leader

• 2008 Everyday Drinking: The Distilled Kingsley Amis , Introduction by Christopher Hitchens (an omnibus edition of On Drink , Everyday Drinking and How's Your Glass? ) Editor

• 1967 Spectrum V : a fifth science fiction anthology (ed. with Robert Conquest)

• 1978 The New Oxford Book of Light Verse (ed.) Angry Young Man Movement: The literature in 20th century is dominated by war with common themes of alienation, isolation and fragmentation. Many wars such as the Boer War and continued through World War I, World War II, The Balkans, Korea, and Vietnam, The First Gulf, Granada, etc were faced by this century. The World War I was fought as, "The war to end all wars" until the World War II. The destruction, in the

4

cities like Hiroshima and Nagasaki in Japan and towns without ever facing the foe, threatened the world. The destruction and uprooted families alarmed the upcoming menace. As a result, most of the 20th century fiction, poetry and short stories have the common theme of loneliness. The writing is distinct with the theme of deep psychological trauma. Another influence which had social and historical importance on the themes in English literature is the change in England's role in the world. During the late nineteenth and early twentieth century, England was the dominating world power with its imperialism and establishment of colonies and political influence across the world. After the First and the Second World War, England's global reach was weakened. There were labour organizations rising in power. Women were asserting their equal rights. There was much more attention to social legislation and welfare concerns. The country moved towards its more modern socialist state. These concerns become the themes of the literature. The literature presented the changed contexts of social classes, more democratic society, emergence of new members of society such as women, migrants and immigrants and mass- consumerist economic shift. Many writers started writing about material aspects of life to work, to the expectations brought about by social reformism and political change, and to the shift in relationships, class and gender conditioned terms. After the bereavement of World War II, the public did not look for new ideas and styles, but for comfort and reassurance in literature. However, by 1955, they questioned the old values and certainties which religion and nation had traditionally provided, and a new generation of critical young novelists, playwrights and artists emerged. By the appearance of Neo-realism, a trend was observed which worked against Modernism. The Second World War left a disastrous impact on the civilization. The post-World War II era was remarkably characterized by depression and anxiety as the postwar reforms failed to meet high expectations for genuine change. This very desolate picture is also evident in the literature of the 20th century. These unfavourable impacts of World War II helped to create several new traditions in literature. One such movement made its way in the early 1950s which was labeled as the Angry Young Men Movement. The literature of this age chiefly represented a rebellious and critical attitude towards the postwar British society. The group of

5

“angry young men” comprised of English novelists and playwrights, mostly having lower middle or working-class, and with university education. No considerable trends have been observed in English fiction since the time of the angry young men of the 1950s and 1960s. This group, which included the novelists Kingsley Amis, John Wain, and John Braine, attacked outmoded social values left over from the pre-war world. Novelists such as Alan Sillitoe, Kingsley Amis and John Braine were mostly young, and like many of the British readers at the time, they expressed impatience with tradition, authority and the ruling class. Their works reflect their anger and frustrations with the established systems. Many novels are set in working-class areas of depressed cities in the industrial north, and have sexually explicit scenes. Dialogues are carried out in regional dialects which give a strong sense of the characters’ identity and social lower background. The protagonists of these novels are 'outsiders'. They do not identify with modern society. Like the authors themselves they are impatient, dissatisfied and critical of traditional morality and behaviour. They feel resentful and powerless but are violent sometimes. These uneducated, undisciplined heroes are different from literary conventions, but it meant that disagreement, honesty and openness were introduced into literature not only in novel and drama, but also television and film by the writers known as the “angry young men”. Alan Sillitoe’s The Loneliness of the Long Distance Runner (1959) is a story of an impoverished Nottingham teenager who has less prospects in life and enjoys few trackings beyond committing petty crimes. His home life is unhappy. Caught for robbing a bakery, Colin is confined to a borstal (Youth Detention Centre), or prison for delinquent (involved in minor crimes) youth. He finds solace in long distance running, attracting the attention of the school's authorities, but, during an important cross-country race which he is about to win, he stops just short of the finish line to rebel his captors. The heroes of the “angry young men’ novels are hesitant, timid men. They are not brave enough to fight against directly. They express their anger elsewhere. Their ‘manly’ presentation is not found in literature. The novels of Kingsley Amis also represent these Young Heroes who express their anger against the prevailing systems in a very timid manner.

6

1.3 Chapter-wise Summary of Lucky Jim: Chapter 1 The novel opens with Professor Ned Welch and Jim Dixon walking together across the campus of a small English college. Welch is telling him a tedious story, and Dixon is irritated while showing outwardly interested. Welch is Dixon's direct superior in the Department of History who has authority to decide whether or not Dixon remains a junior lecturer. Dixon asks about Margaret, who is recovering at Welch's house after a suicide attempt. Welch replies that Margaret is recovering and absent-mindedly changes the conversation onto another different topic while Dixon expresses his frustration. Welch goes inside the history department offices and Dixon thinks about Margaret. Dixon and Margaret were friends, and, to Dixon is surprised, how she has reached the status of a psychologically disturbed especially after Margaret's mysterious lover Catchpole betrayed her. Dixon moves inside the history building to remind Welch that he had invited him to tea. On the way to Welch's house, they discuss Dixon's academic article, he is meant to write. Dixon is unable to find a publisher. Dixon thinks annoyingly of his article's "niggling mindlessness." As they arrive near the Welch residence, Welch invites Dixon to his house the following weekend, and tells Dixon to give the end-of- term ‘College Open lecture’ on the subject of "Merrie England." Chapter 2 Dixon and Margaret have a drink at the Oak Lounge down the road from the Welch residence. Margaret explains to Dixon her emotions during her suicide attempt. Her suicide attempt was unsuccessful because her neighbor, Wilson, came in to complain about the high volume of her wireless radio; found her still conscious and took her to hospital. She also describes the kindness of the hospital staff and of Mrs. Welch. Dixon asks Margaret if she would try committing suicide again. Margaret postulates that she would not, as she does not care for Catchpole, who has not even contacted her at all. Margaret takes another beer and Dixon pays for it, though Margaret's salary is higher than Dixon's. Dixon remembers the morning of the day Margaret attempted 7

suicide, Margaret stopped at a drugstore to buy sleeping pills. Margaret had invited Dixon over for tea that evening, but he had stayed home to write a lecture. Dixon has since learned from Margaret that Catchpole broke up with Margaret, and that she swallowed the pills around the time that he should have been there for tea. Margaret thanks him for giving her help during her recovery. Dixon feels that the comment is to make him visit her only once in hospital, but then decides that Margaret seems to be "genuine." Dixon inquires her about the upcoming "arty get- together" at Ned Welch's house. Margaret tells the planned activities and the guest list, including a media team from Picture Post Magazine and Welch's son and his girlfriend, whom Margaret has listed as a ballet student named Sonia Loosmore. Dixon informs Margaret that he has no musical talent and suspects that Welch merely wants to test him. Margaret gives Dixon intimate glances and request them if they can move from the bar to a private corner. Dixon is frustrated by the sudden change and then excuses himself to go to the bathroom. In the bathroom, Dixon muses about walking out of the bar and out of his job. He gets visions of London and thinks about their importance in his life. Leaving the bathroom, Dixon again feels like running away, but his economic necessity and the call of pity, along with fear, makes him back into the Oak Lounge. Chapter 3 Michie, a history student, stops Dixon to inquire about the syllabus for Dixon's special honors subject course in the following fall. Dixon informs her that the papers are in his room, but actually, he has not worked out what he will teach. Dixon decides to plan his special subject in such a way a sufficient number of students would be attracted without taking them from Welch's classes. He wants to figure out how to insure that Michie does not take the class, and that three attractive girl students do. Additionally, Dixon is not sure whether he will still be at the college the next fall. Michie offers lengthy suggestions about the course. At the foot of College Road, the two men part and Dixon walks to his room in a boardinghouse. In his room, his fellow tenants are Alfred Beesley, an assistant lecturer in the English Department, Bill Atkinson, an insurance salesman, and Evan Johns a staff member at the college and an oboe player at Professor Welch's concerts.

8

A letter announcing the acceptance of Dixon's academic article in Caton's new academic journal is waiting for Dixon from Dr. L. S. Caton. Beesley comes home and Dixon tells him about the acceptance of his article. Beesley suspects that L.S. Caton's vague note will not be enough to guarantee Dixon's job security. They sit down to tea served by Miss Cutler, the housekeeper when Bill Atkinson comes in. Beesley asks Dixon if Dixon's article is any good, and then why Dixon decided to take up medieval studies. Dixon is surprised that Beesley would assume that Dixon was taking either the paper or his career seriously. Dixon has become a medievalist because the medieval coursework was easier at his college. Beesley leaves and Dixon asks Atkinson to phone him at the Welches' on Sunday to give Dixon an excuse to leave the get-together early. Johns arrives in the room at that time. Dixon is doesn’t know whther Johns, a friend of both of the Welches, has overheard the conversation. Dixon has resolved to take the bus rather than going with Johns. Dixon walks to the bus stop feeling optimistic and energized by the business of the city center. He looks forward to giving Margaret a book of verse he's bought for her. Chapter 4 The madrigal singing session at the Welches' amateur music weekend is in process. Dixon has claimed to be able to sight-read music and the others have forced him to participate in the singing. Dixon lays low under the cover of another tenor and History department colleague, Cecil Goldsmith, for a song. Just as Dixon's lack of musical talent is just to be exposed in the following song, Professor Welch's son, Bertrand, arrives. The madrigal group breaks up, and Dixon goes to a corner to smoke and look at Bertrand's girlfriend who is out of his league. Dixon strikes up a conversation with Margaret, and Bertrand and his girlfriend come over. Bertrand gives a witty speech about his work as a painter that irritates Dixon because of its rehearsed quality. Dixon turns to Bertrand's girlfriend and addresses her as "Sonia Loosmore." In fact, Margaret's earlier information was mistaken, and Bertrand and Sonia Loosmore have broken up lately. Bertrand angrily accuses Dixon of deliberately provoking him and walks away with Christine. Dixon and Margaret discuss about beauty and unappealing pretention of Bertrand's girlfriend Christine. Dixon walks off to check the recital schedule with 9

Professor Welch and returns to find Margaret talking with Carol Goldsmith. When Dixon talks about Bertrand's behavior to be rude, Carol and Margaret defend Bertrand, to Dixon's surprise. Carol explains that they have been friends with Bertrand since the previous summer. Bertrand returns to the group and, in response to Carol's questions about Christine, reveals that Christine is the niece of Julius Gore-Urquhart, a famous art patron. Christine has arranged a meeting between Gore-Urquhart and Bertrand, as Bertrand is interested in a position as Gore-Urquhart's personal assistant. Margaret reminds Bertrand that the weekend on which Bertrand and Christine will return to the country to meet Gore-Urquhart is the weekend of the College's Summer Ball. Christine returns to the group and Margaret praises Gore-Urquhart for his generosity. Bertrand begins to criticize the government for extracting money from the rich. Dixon steps in with a comment endorsing socialism, and Christine and Bertrand react to Dixon's comment scornfully. Bertrand will not let the discussion go until Dixon surrenders his point, which Dixon refuses to do. Christine asks Dixon to stop talking in that strain, because it irritates her. Just as the next recital piece is about to begin, Dixon insults both Christine and Bertrand. They are near the point of physical violence when Professor Welch returns and Dixon brushes past him out the door. Chapter 5 Dixon struggles back up the Welches' driveway after drinking far more than he planned at a country pub. He notices, through a window, Bertrand Welch embracing Carol Goldsmith. After an initial pang of pity for Cecil Goldsmith, Carol's husband, Dixon attempts to forget what he has seen and manages to get into the house. After unsuccessfully trying to sober up, Dixon heads toward his bedroom, but this requires passing through a bathroom that is in use and he is temporarily blocked. Margaret opens her bedroom door, sees Dixon in the hall, and invites him into her bedroom. Margaret tells Dixon that Johns informed Mrs. Welch that Dixon had probably gone off to the pub. Dixon uses the bathroom and finds, upon his return, that Margaret has put on lipstick. He worries if he is being fair to Margaret, but he continues to touch her. All of a sudden, Margaret suddenly flings Dixon off, stands up, and asks him to leave.

10

Thrust out into the hallway with his coat under his arm, Dixon finds the bathroom door still locked, and heads downstairs to raid the Welches' liquor cabinet. Dixon drinks half a bottle of port, then goes to his room. He thinks about that Margaret wants to be with Dixon, but he feels guilty for being involved with her so soon after her suicide attempt. Chapter 6 Dixon wakes up in the morning with a tremendous hangover. He soon finds that he fell asleep while smoking and has burned large holes in the bedsheets as well as in the rug and the table. Without thinking, Dixon cuts the burnt sections out of the bedsheets with his razor. He tries to plan an escape from the Welches' even earlier than he had previously planned. He attempts to put a call through to Atkinson, asking Atkinson to phone earlier than previously planned so that Dixon can escape before the damaged sheets are discovered. Dixon waits on the telephone for a half-hour. Getting frustrated, he proceeds into the breakfast- room, where he finds Christine eating breakfast. Dixon quickly apologizes to her for his behavior the previous evening. Christine listens with intermittent fascination and arrogance to Dixon's description of his night at the pub. During their conversation Dixon again notices Christine's beauty, as well as her large, unembarrassed appetite, and her laugh, which is less musical than he expects. Suddenly, Dixon remembers his bedsheets and explains the source of his panic to Christine. She agrees to have a look at the sheets and try to help conceal the damage. Christine enthusiastically hides the damaged sheets from Mrs. Welch. Watching Christine from the other side of his bed, Dixon feels anguished that she is so far out of his league. Christine goes out to the hallway to signal Dixon when it is safe for him to remove the burnt table. Dixon brings the table out, laughing with Christine. Margaret, suddenly, opens her bedroom door to ask Dixon what is going on. Chapter 7 Dixon tries to explain the situation to Margaret while Christine tries to suppress her laughter. Christine breaks into the conversation to suggest that they take care of the table. Dixon returns from hiding the table in a room down the hall, Christine has left and Margaret is waiting for him. He explains to her about the fire, she expresses 11

her disgust at Dixon's handling of the situation and her dislike of Christine. Dixon explains to Margaret that Margaret is the one who is interrupting. Margaret theatrically displays hurt. As Margaret's distress rises, Dixon begins to panic. He eventually breaks in to speak, and Margaret becomes quiet and then decides to return to bed. Bertrand calls out from downstairs that Dixon has a telephone call. Dixon takes the call in the drawing-room when Atkinson tells him that he must leave immediately to meet his parents, who've unexpectedly arrived in town. Before he can finish, Margaret and Johns come into the drawing-room. In the ensuing chatter, Dixon slips out with hurried explanations. Chapter 8 A week and a half after the Welches' party, Professor Welch calls Dixon into his office for a discussion about Dixon's article. Welch tells Dixon that Dixon's publisher, Dr. L. S. Caton, apparently has a history of suspicious behavior. Welch suggests that Dixon obtain an exact publication date from Caton. Before leaving, Dixon rouses up the courage to ask Welch about his standing within the department, but Welch tells Dixon nothing has been decided yet. Angry with himself for being strung along, Dixon thanks Welch, thinking to himself that he'll never be able to express his frustration and anger to Welch or to Margaret. Dixon leaves Welch's office and enters the Common Room, he sees Margaret sitting by herself and feels affectionate and remorseful towards her. Dixon and Margaret have met after an evening at the Oak Lounge, where Dixon tried to put their friendship back to normal. As they talk, Margaret begins to cry and tells that she's feeling depressed and hasn't been sleeping. Dixon, feeling bad for not having called her the previous evening, tries to pacify Margaret with a cigarette and with sympathy, and then asks her to lunch that day. Margaret explains she's expected at the Welches' for lunch and then mentions the Summer Ball on the upcoming weekend. Dixon quickly asks Margaret to the dance, and she cheers up instantly and agrees to both the Ball and lunch. Before she leaves, she mentions that Bertrand will be escorting Carol Goldsmith to the Ball since Cecil is out of town. Dixon sits down to write the letter to Caton asking for a specific publication date. Chapter 9 Maconochie, the college porter, finds Dixon in the Common Room and asks him to take a phone call for Professor Welch, who is taking the day off. Dixon picks up 12

the phone in the next room and hears Christine on the other end, calling to get information about Bertrand's whereabouts. Christine has an opportunity to set up the meeting between Bertrand and Gore-Urquhart for the coming weekend at the College Summer Ball, but can't locate Bertrand to tell him. Dixon tells that he doesn’t know whether Bertrand plans to attend the Summer Ball so as not to reveal to Christine that Bertrand is planning to escort Carol Goldsmith. Dixon suggests that Christine telephone Mrs. Welch, but Christine explains that she doesn't get along with Mrs. Welch. Dixon offers to telephone the Welch residence and makes Professor Welch to call Christine back. Dixon and Christine spend several more minutes chatting. Just as Dixon hangs up, Johns comes in and Dixon wonders if he's been spying. Dixon walks down the hallway back to the Common Room, where Michie overtakes him. Michie explains to Dixon that he likes the syllabus for Dixon's special subject, but other three attractive female students, Miss O'Shaughnessy, Miss McCorquodale, and Miss ap Rhys, consider it too heavy to study. Dixon agrees to meet with the three girls and Michie the next morning to discuss the syllabus, and mentally resolves to further change it to attract the girls and discourage Michie. From the phone in the Common Room, Dixon calls the Welch house and hears Mrs. Welch on the other end. Mrs. Welch recognizes Dixon's voice and begins asking him about the ruined sheets. Before she can finish, Dixon tells her that he is actually a reporter with the Evening Post, and that he is calling for Bertrand. Bertrand comes to the phone and Dixon continues with his chatting, asking Bertrand questions about his artwork. Dixon ends up the conversation by pretending that Christine suggested the interview and mentions to Bertrand that he should telephone Christine that afternoon. Bertrand asks for his name, and Dixon calls himself as Beesley. Dixon hangs up, overwhelmed but elated by his successful deception of Mrs. Welch and Bertrand. He calls Christine back to prepare her for Bertrand's phone call. Chapter 10 Margaret and Dixon dance together at the Summer Ball the following weekend. Margaret explains to Dixon how furious Carol was when Bertrand told Carol that she would now be attending the Ball with Gore-Urquhart while Bertrand escorted Christine. Dixon does not tell Margaret about Carol and Bertrand's embrace on the night of Welch's party. Margaret and Dixon head into the makeshift bar with Bertrand and Christine for a drink. Gore-Urquhart and Carol already occupy a table

13

in the corner. Gore-Urquhart has enticed Maconochie, a fellow Scotsman, into bringing them all full pints of beer. In an aside to Dixon, Margaret dramatically explains that she's "getting much too fond" of Dixon and asks him to hold her seat. Dixon listens to Bertrand brag to Gore-Urquhart. Margaret returns and asks Gore- Urquhart to dance. Bertrand asks Carol to dance, Dixon asks Christine to dance. Chapter 11 Dixon leads Christine onto the dance floor. Once they begin dancing, Christine asks Dixon if Carol is resentful because Bertrand was initially going to take her to the dance. Dixon tells her he knows nothing about it. Christine responds to this with bitterness and Dixon again feels confusion about her true character. Dixon thanks Christine for her help covering up his phone deception with the Welches'. Christine admits that she thought Dixon's Evening Post routine was "brilliantly funny," and they dance even closer. Christine tells Dixon that Johns told Professor Welch that Dixon asked Atkinson to call him at the Welches' and pretend Dixon's parents had come to town. Dixon, enraged, realizes that Johns had been spying. Christine and Dixon return to the bar to find Bertrand bragging to Gore-Urquhart. Carol reappears and asks Dixon to dance with her. Chapter 12 On the dance floor, Carol speaks frankly to Dixon. She asks him what the two of them should do about the Bertrand situation, given that Dixon is attracted to Christine and Carol is having an affair with Bertrand. Carol suggests Dixon not to waste more time on Margaret, who she says will pull Dixon down with her. Carol explains her own anger at Bertrand's mistreatment of her that evening. Dixon is impressed by Carol's straightforward explanations as when she tells him that she has told her husband about Bertrand. Carol wishes Dixon to act on his desires with Christine. When Dixon tells her he would rather not try it because he thinks Christine is of his class, Carol accuses him of being reverential about Christine. Dixon and Carol return to the bar to see Gore- Urquhart still in the same position, with Bertrand and Margaret on either side of him. Christine looks bored. Carol encourages Dixon to save Christine from her boredom. Dixon approaches the table and begins talking to Christine, who justifies Bertrand by saying that he did come mainly to talk to Gore-Urquhart. Dixon tells Christine that 14

he is getting a taxi, and that she should come out and he will take her back to the Welches'. Dixon leaves the dance to look for a telephone. Chapter 13 Dixon steps outside to wait for the taxi he's ordered, excited by the decisive action he's just taken in asking Christine to let him take her home. A taxi pulls up for Professor Barclay, and Dixon identifies himself as Barclay, asking the driver to wait around the corner. Professor Barclay and his wife emerge, and Dixon begins talking to them so that they will not notice their taxi. Dixon walks with the Barclays down the road a bit, sees Christine come outside and walk toward him. Christine asks Dixon if he has gotten a cab yet, and he quickly keeps her from saying more and leads her away from the Barclays. Dixon and Christine meet the taxi around the block. Dixon gives the driver the Welches' address and, when the driver protests that he cannot go that far, orders him to stop at the gas station near campus. Chapter 14 In the cab, Dixon begins to feel annoyed that Christine doesn't feel bad about Dixon's stealing the cab, but he relents when Christine says that she was annoyed by all the intrigue at the Ball, and that she has felt depressed of late. The cab arrives at the gas station and Dixon bangs on the closed shop door until a man comes out and agrees to fill up their tank. Dixon feels more warmly toward Christine now that she seems to trust him, and asks her why she is depressed. Christine describes how people focus on her outward poise and forget the fact that she is not even twenty years old yet. Christine explains to Dixon her past difficulties with men who dropped her after realizing she didn't want to be seduced. She explains further that Bertrand has not tried to seduce her and that she has been feeling fondly toward Bertrand despite their frequent arguments. Christine mentions that she suspects Bertrand expect to marry her. Dixon asks Christine what Bertrand's pictures are like and is pleased to discover that Bertrand has not shown any of his work to Christine, saying he's not a real painter yet. Dixon does not accept Christine's explanation that it's harder to date a man who is an artist than an ordinary man. Christine asks Dixon if he thinks she should marry Bertrand. He says "no," explaining that Bertrand, like Professor Welch, is only interested in himself. When Christine says that she could marry Bertrand without loving him, Dixon gives Christine a lecture on the dangers of her views. Christine becomes tired

15

and naps on Dixon's shoulder until they pull up to the Welch residence. She requests Dixon to help her get back in the locked house. Dixon asks the taxi-driver to wait. Chapter 15 Dixon and Christine walk through the Welches' yard in search of a way into the house. Dixon finds an unlocked window, enters the room, and switches on a light. They find themselves very close together. They sit down to drink the coffee and eat the cookies. Dixon tells Christine that he likes her and she protests that he does not know her at all. Dixon asks Christine to come out with him. Christine reminds him of their respective relations to Bertrand and Margaret. Dixon explains that Margaret has no official claim on him, and then asks Christine what she would like to do. She comes out with him. They decide to meet at a hotel in town for tea on Tuesday. They hear the Welches' pull up in their car. Before Dixon can hop out of the window, Christine shoves some money in his pocket for the taxi. Chapter 16 On Sunday, Dixon writes a threatening letter addressed to Johns. The letter accuses Johns of carrying on with one of the secretaries, and Dixon writes as if he were the secretary's angry boyfriend. Dixon thinks about Christine, then realizes his desperate financial situation. Margaret comes into Dixon's room and asks him why he deserted her at the Ball. She also informs Dixon that all three Welches are upset with him. Dixon reminds Margaret that she ignored him at the dance in favor of Gore-Urquhart, and Margaret scornfully tells Dixon he can't tell the difference between flirting and friendliness. Dixon tells Margaret that he is not interested in her romantically, and that she should stop acting as though he were. Suddenly, Margaret falls onto Dixon's bed and has an emotional fit. Bill Atkinson and Miss Cutler come in the room. Atkinson strikes Margaret several times and sends Dixon upstairs to Atkinson's room for whiskey. Soon Margaret acts normally again and apologizes for her behavior, commending Dixon on his patience. Margaret accepts their break-up and leaves, and Dixon feels a mixture of concern and guilt over her. He takes the letter to mail to Johns and goes to the pub with Atkinson and Beesley. Chapter 17 Dixon comes down to breakfast early on Monday so as to spend the full morning writing his "Merrie England" lecture. Beesley and Atkinson come in, followed by Johns with his letter. Beesley and Atkinson watch Johns with 16

amusement as he reads the letter and becomes upset. Atkinson asks him several times if he's heard bad news. Dixon doesn't enjoy the moment as much as he thought he would. Johns turns to Dixon and tells him the letter isn't funny, and threatens Dixon with revenge. Beesley and Dixon walk to the college together. They enter the Common Room and check their mailboxes, and in one of his academic journals Beesley finds a notice announcing that Dr. L. S. Caton has gotten a job in Argentina. Dixon panics slightly and makes plans to call Caton soon about Dixon's article. Dixon walks over to the music department to get a book on medieval music from Professor Barclay to pad the "Merrie England" lecture with material Professor Welch will like. At the library, Professor Welch gives Dixon a sheaf of papers containing titles he would like Dixon to check out for him at the public library. Welch also informs Dixon to come to a meeting at five o'clock the next day, which is just an hour after Dixon is supposed to meet Christine in town. Chapter 18 By the end of that Tuesday, Dixon brings the checked-out library books to Professor Welch, who invites Dixon to dinner at his house. Dixon accepts, even though he should be working on his "Merrie England" lecture. In the car, Professor Welch discusses how much Dixon, Welch, and Michie have in common, namely, an interest in backward-looking English traditions. Dixon tunes out and thinks of how he will face Margaret at dinner and manage to signal that he still cares for her without returning to their previous relationship. Dixon tunes back in to hear Welch describing his second son, Michel, who is a writer. They pull up to the Welch residence and Dixon rips his only pair of good pants on an exposed spring in the car seat while getting out. Inside the Welch house, Professor Welch suddenly explains there's been a mix- up and that the Welch family cannot have dinner with Dixon after all, as they are expected in town for a show with the Goldsmiths. Mrs. Welch asks Dixon face to face about the damaged sheets, and Dixon admits his guilt and offers to pay for them. Mrs. Welch also tells Dixon that she suspects that he called her house posing as a reporter for the Evening Post. Dixon pretends ignorance so successfully that Mrs. Welch leaves the room with embarrassment. Bertrand confronts Dixon about leaving the Ball with Christine. Dixon explains that he has done nothing wrong and that

17

Christine can see whomever she would like. Bertrand screams at Dixon that Dixon is wasting his time with Christine and calls him a "lousy little philistine." Christine pulls Bertrand away and Dixon sits down on the couch with Margaret. Bertrand's final comments have strengthened Dixon's feeling that he and Christine could never be together. He also feels that he is destined to be with a woman like Margaret. Dixon talks to Margaret about resuming their relationship; he refers to their relationship in terms of duty. He persuades Margaret to come to the movies with him and she goes upstairs to get ready. While Dixon waits in the hall, Christine comes downstairs. Dixon brings up the matter of their tea date, to cancel it, but Christine reassures him that she'll be there. Professor Welch brings the car around and Dixon, Bertrand, Christine, Margaret, and Mrs. Welch get in. Chapter 19 Dixon sits in the drawing room of his house on Tuesday preparing to telephone Christine to cancel their tea date. Mrs. Welch answers when he calls, Dixon pretends to be an operator ringing someone through from London, then asks to speak with Christine in a strange accent. Mrs. Welch guesses she is speaking to Dixon and says so; Dixon hangs up. A man introducing himself as Catchpole telephones Dixon. Catchpole asks about Margaret's health and Dixon reacts coldly to him. Catchpole seems confused about Dixon's treatment of him, and asks Dixon to meet him at the pub on Thursday afternoon. Dixon next telephones Caton to ask him for an estimated publication date, but Caton refuses to give even an estimated date. Dixon returns to his room to work on his lecture and stands up five hours later with the lecture nearly complete. He rushes to get ready for his date with Christine and arrives at the hotel two minutes late. Christine immediately tells Dixon of Bertrand's suspicion and her decision not to go on seeing him. And Dixon has come to tell her the same thing. He expresses disgust at their mutual decisions to cautiously do what they should do instead of taking a risk. Dixon asks her if he would see Christine again and she tells him that they will see each other only at Dixon's lecture the following night. Christine explains that she and Bertrand will attend with her uncle Gore-Urquhart, who has mentioned that he is looking forward to seeing Dixon again. Dixon asks Christine for her address in London, but she refuses to give it..

18

Chapter 20 The next day, Dixon writes the last lines of his lecture. Bertrand comes into Dixon's room and accuses him of seeing Christine the day before. Bertrand says Johns has told him about the tea date between Dixon and Christine. Bertrand explains to Dixon that he plans to marry Christine, and that Dixon has become a distraction to them. Annoyed, Dixon tells Bertrand that Bertrand himself is the one who is a distraction to Christine and Dixon. He refers to Bertrand’s relations with Carol. Bertrand and Dixon begin to fight. Bertrand hits Dixon near his eye and Dixon hits Bertrand in the ear, sending him to the floor. At this moment, Michie knocks on Dixon's door and enters. Michie has come to tell Dixon that the three girls won't be taking Dixon's special subject, but that Michie will. Michie wishes Dixon luck on his lecture, informing him that a large number of students plan to attend. Dixon decides to shave and then go up to Atkinson's room for some whiskey before the evening begins. Chapter 21 Dixon stands at the pre-lecture reception talking to the Principal, Gore-Urquhart, and Ned Welch. Gore-Urquhart suspiciously asks Dixon's eye, which is black where Bertrand had punched him. He drinks many glasses of sherry on top of the whiskey he has had earlier in the evening. He nervously surveys the number of people attending the lecture, both from the college and from the town. Gore-Urquhart asks Dixon about his job and his commitment to it, and then they bond over the absurdity of the lecture event. Dixon also catches a glance exchanged between Gore-Urquhart and Carol Goldsmith across the room, but does not know what it might mean. Dixon approaches Christine and Bertrand, and Carol intervenes and takes Bertrand away. Dixon tells Christine about his fight with Bertrand. Bertrand reappears and drags Christine away while warning Dixon that he will have Dixon fired. Margaret approaches Dixon and taunts him about his unrealized desire for Christine. Dixon is angry, and leaves for the bathroom without a word. Gore- Urquhart walks in the bathroom after Dixon to find Dixon making one of his

19

signature face-contortions. Gore-Urquhart gives Dixon a large swig from his flask of whiskey. Dixon walks into the lecture hall feeling drunk.

Chapter 22 Dixon begins reading his lecture and unknowingly imitates Professor Welch in his intonation. Realizing that something is wrong, Dixon makes a conscious effort to change his voice, imitating the Principal. Half of the audience murmurs with alarm, while the other half, including Gore-Urquhart, are delighted. Dixon pauses for a minute to gather himself, then begins speaking again in a voice not his own. Realizing that his fate is sealed, Dixon changes his voice one last time to an exaggerated version of his childhood regional accent and inflects his tone with disgust for the subject at hand. The crowd becomes quite loud and Dixon reaches up to cover his ears. Atkinson and Dixon have made a plan earlier in the evening that Atkinson will attend the lecture and pretend to faint if Dixon scratches both his ears at once. Thinking Dixon is signaling him, Atkinson faints loudly in the crowd, and general disorder arises. Dixon attempts to finish his lecture, now disregarding his notes and speaking scornfully of people who remain attached to an idealized version of the past. Welch and the Principal approach Dixon to drag him off-stage, but Dixon leaves before they reach. Chapter 23 Walking in to college on Thursday, Beesley tries to comfort Dixon about his lecture, but Dixon finds a note from Ned Welch in his mailbox telling him that he will not be kept on at the College. Dixon goes upstairs to his office and absent- mindedly flips through an Italian academic journal where hee recognizes Dr. L. S. Caton's name next to one of the articles and translates enough of it to realize that it is Dixon's own article. Angry at first, Dixon just laughs getting normal. He turns his mind to Johns and possible revenge for Johns's for telling Bertrand about Dixon's tea date with Christine. Dixon pockets a few insurance policies sitting on Johns' desk and goes down to the boiler room to burn them. Dixon starts home when he meets Michie. Michie congratulates Dixon on his lecture, saying that the students greatly enjoyed, and sympathizes with Dixon about being fired. Dixon returns home and gets in the bath. Miss Cutler comes to his door with a phone call for him, and Dixon asks her to take a message. He knows that the 20

caller was Gore-Urquhart. To Dixon's surprise, Gore-Urquhart offers him the job that Bertrand wanted and tells Dixon to be in London by Monday morning. Dixon leaves his house for his arranged meeting with Catchpole. Chapter 24 Dixon arrives at the pub to find Catchpole waiting for him. Catchpole explains that he and Margaret were never physically involved, and also explains that Margaret only pretended to commit suicide with the sleeping pills in her hand. Catchpole warns Dixon that Margaret feeds on emotional tension and that Dixon should let her go, as she can ultimately take care of herself. Dixon understands, but he still leaves the pub feeling that he cannot get out of his relationship with Margaret. Dixon returns home for lunch and Atkinson tells him that Christine has called for him. Atkinson gives Dixon a vague message about meeting her at the train station before her train leaves at 1:50 so that she can give him some news, but that she is leaving it up to Dixon whether to come or not. Dixon, confused, runs out of the house to catch the bus to the station and arrives at the station three minutes before the train is due to arrive, but the conductor tells the train to London actually left at 1:40. Dixon assumes Atkinson messed up Christine's message, but then he sees Welch's car slowly pull up and Christine step out of it and hurry toward him. Chapter 25 Dixon explains to Christine that she's missed her train, and Christine tells Dixon that Carol Goldsmith told her about Bertrand's infidelity. Christine has broken up with Bertrand. Dixon reveals that he knew of the affair all along. Christine feels that Carol has told her about Bertrand because Carol has begun seeing someone else, who Dixon guesses to himself is Gore-Urquhart. Dixon tells Christine that he and Margaret are through. Dixon asks Christine if she minds if Dixon comes back with her to London later in the afternoon and tells her of his new job with Gore-Urquhart. Christine laughs at the irony of Dixon winning the job that Bertrand was actively pursuing. Dixon spots Welch's car parked outside a teashop nearby. All of the Welches emerge from the teashop. Dixon walks up to them with Christine. About to denounce Bertrand and Mr. Welch, Dixon instead releases a howl of laughter. Christine leads Dixon away up the street.

21

Lucky Jim as a Campus Novel: A campus is a closed world which denotes a self-sufficient educational premise. Whenever, the world is closed, there are possibilities of ‘intrigue’, ‘suspense’, ‘politics’, ‘romance’ and even ‘injustice’ there. The academic world is presented fully with its minute details. Campus novel includes any action based on the following relationships: 1. Role of teachers / professors in campus 2. teacher- student relationship 3. Student- student relationship maybe love relationship, rivalry, etc. 4. Academic issues: research, syllabi, 5. Academia- society relations 6. Teaching-learning processes, etc. Lucky Jim represents this genre justifying all the aspects mentioned above.the following issues are discussed in it. 1. The struggle for the entry in the Job: Jim Dixon, lecturer in medieval history at a red brick university in the English Midlands. He is expected to perform all his duties rigorously in and around the campus. 2. Concern about losing the probationary position in the department: To confirm a permanent post, he tries to maintain a good relationship with his absent-minded head of department, Professor Welch. He is expected to participate in all activities organized by the Head of the Department, may it be a tea-party, ball dance, get- together, etc. he is not good at singing. Still he is not to refuse any task given to him. 3. To establish his credentials the candidate must also ensure the publication of his first scholarly article. He writes the article and submits to the editor of a journal, Mr. Caton. 4. Plagiarism: He eventually discovers that the editor to whom he submitted it has translated it into Italian and passed it off as his own. 5. Personal Life entangled with academic: His behaviour with his colleagues is entangled with the family of Mr. Welch. He sympathizes with Margaret who is

22

deceiving him. Bertrand, Mr. Welsh’s son, is playing intrigues with Christine as well as Carol. Most of the relations are affected by their personal or academic benefit. 6. University-Community inter-relationship: Public lecture on "Merrie England”: Dixon takes much efforts to present his views on the topic. But, the tension makes him drink before the lecture. Though, it is admired by the students and other members of society, he is fired from the job. 1.4 Check Your Progress: A) Choose the correct alternatives: 1. The theme of ------is mainly found in the post-war literature. A) romance B) alienation C) religion D) social upliftment 2. Margaret has reached the status of a psychologically disturbed her mysterious lover -----betrayed her A) Bertrand B) Beesley C) Dixon D) Catchpole 3. …… ? A) Europe & America B) Germany & Italy C) Africa & India D) Canada & Australia B) Answer in one word/phrase/sentence. State true or false: 1. Whose theories are incorporated by modernist authors? 2. To Lyotard, What does mean modernism and post-modernism? 3. How does Eagaleton contrast Modernism with Post-modernism? 4. What does mean modernity in Neitzschean term? 5. Who says that active forgetting of history is never possible? 6. What is the view of Paul De Man of Modernism? 7. Who is one of the chief exponent of Post-Structuralism? 8. Who coined a term called ‘deconstruction’? 9. What does mean ‘Temporal distortion’ ?

23

10. Whose works are mostly related to magical realism, according to many critics? 1.5 Glossary and Notes: Merrie England: " Merry England ", or in more jocular, archaic spelling "Merrie England " (also styled as " Merrie Olde England "), refers to an English auto-stereotype, a utopian conception of English society and culture based on an idyllic pastoral way of life that was allegedly prevalent in Early Modern Britain at some time between the Middle Ages and the onset of the Industrial Revolution. More broadly, it connotes a putative essential Englishness with nostalgic overtones, incorporating such cultural symbols as the thatched cottage, the country inn and the Sunday roast. "Merry England" is not a wholly consistent vision but rather a revisited England which Oxford folklorist Roy Judge described as "a world that has never actually existed, a visionary, mythical landscape, where it is difficult to take normal historical bearings." It may be treated both as a product of the sentimental nostalgic imagination and as an ideological or political construct, often underwriting various sorts of conservative world-views. Favourable perceptions of Merry England reveal a nostalgia for aspects of an earlier society that are missing in modern times. 1.6 Exercises: A) Answer the following questions: 1. Explain the terms Modernism and Postmodernism. 2. Comment on the characteristics of Modernism and Postmodernism. 3. “The 20th century English Drama is called a ‘split drama’”. Discuss. 4. “Modern poetry is regarded as ant-traditional”. Explain. B) Write short notes: 1. Modernism 2. Postmodernism 3. The Psychological Novel 4. Experimentation in fiction

24

1.7 References to Further Study: 1. Nayar, Pramod K. (2009). A Short History of English Literature . New Delhi: Cambridge University Press of India. 2. Sharama, S. R. (2010). Contemporary English Literature. New Delhi: Mohite Publications. 3. Singh, D K. (2010). English Literature Then and Now. Daryaganj: Surendra Publications. 4. Woods, Tim. (2010). Beginning Postmodernism. New Delhi: Viva Books Pvt. Ltd. 5. Ford, Boris. The Pelican Guide to British Literature 6. Esslin, Martin. (1980). The Theatre of the Absurd. London: Penguin. 7. Stead, C. K. (1986). Pound, Yeats, Eliot and The Modernist Movement. London: Macmillan. 8. Jacobs, Eric (1995). Kingsley Amis, a Biography. Hodder & Stoughton. ISBN 0- 340-59072-6. JJJ

25

Unit-2 That Uncertain Feeling - Kingsley Amis

Contents 2.0 Objectives 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Subject Matter 2.2.1 Life and Works of Kingsley Amis in brief 2.2.2 Chapter wise Summary 2.2.3Major Themes 2.3 Exercises 2.4 Books for Reference 2.0 Objectives After reading this unit you will be able to: 1. Understand the life and works as well as the contribution of Kingsley Amis as an author 2. Understand the plot outline of That Uncertain Feeling 3. Understand the various themes presented in That Uncertain Feeling 4. Understand the characters and the inter relations 5. Understand the elements of Campus Novel and Angry Young Men in That Uncertain Feeling 2.1 Introduction This unit acquaints you with one of most famous novel named That Uncertain Feeling (1956) written by Kinsley Amis. He was a major novelist who presented the people and socio political issues of English society after the World War II. Amis used comic and satiric tone while writing. He tried to point out some of the follies and weaknesses of contemporary individuals and social institutions through his

1

works. The novel is a good psychological study of the complex interplay of human relationships. 2.2 Subject Matter 2.2.1 Life and Works of Kingsley Amis: Kingsley Amis (1922-1995) was one the most versatile and prolific men of letters in twentieth century England. His father, William Robert Amis was a senior clerk in Colman’s Mustard Firm. His mother Rosa had interest in singing and music. This lower middle class background had a decisive impact on Amis’s personality as a writer. His father wanted him to have Commerce education but the son had literary interest since childhood. At the age of eleven his first short story was published in the school magazine. Kingsley Amis had his education at the City of London, St. Hilda and Norbury Colleges. Later on he went to St. John’s College at the University of Oxford. Amis had BA and MA degrees in English. At Oxford he developed intimacy with Philip Larkin who turned to be a renowned poet later on. Their friendship remained until Larkin’s death in 1985. He had to work in army from 1942 to 1945 at the time of World War II. In 1995 Amis had a stroke which laid to his hospitalization followed by death on 22 October 1995. In his personal life Amis was a member of the Communist Party for a brief period. But later on he became a supporter of the Labour Party. As a human being Amis is said to be ‘a serial adulterer’ for much of his life. He enjoyed a great deal of drinks also. Amis is known as a novelist, poet, short- story writer, editor, non fiction writer, biographer script writer and journalist. He had his contribution in the field of mass communication as he gave many interviews to radio, television, newspapers and magazines. As a writer Kingsley Amis is grouped among the Angry Young Men Movement who expressed social discontent. Amis is comic and satiric who points out the contemporary social evils through his novels. As a poet he is represented the Movement Poets. His contemporary writers included John Wain, Iris Murdoch, John Brain and William Golding. All of experimented a new kind of fiction depicting the middle class anti hero. They voiced the problems of the British middle class intellectuals of 1950s. According to Zachary Leader, the biographer of Kingsley Amis, he (Amis) was “the finest British comic novelist of the second half of the twentieth century.” A critic Green Martin has remarked, “He (Amis) was the 2

spokesman in fiction for the post-war socialist England. His literature reflected all that seemed characteristic of the post-War world.”Neil McEwan, another critic evaluated Amis as, “An excellence in writing, an insistence on ‘Englishness’ and an aggressive concern with values are three points on which all critics of Amis seem to agree.” The novels of Amis are demonstrations of certain social phenomena than just a work of fiction. Another critic, C.P.Snow has commented, “Kingsley Amis does not shrink from society: his attitude to his art is much tougher than that of his immediate predecessors.” As a prolific author Amis wrote near about thirty novels, eight collections of poetry, four collections of short stories and numerous essays and critical articles. Some of his major novels include Lucky Jim (1954), That Uncertain Feeling (1955), I Like It Here (1958), Take A Girl Like You (1960), One Fat Englishman (1963) The Anti- death League (1966), I Want It Now (1968), The Green Man (1969), Girl,20 (1971) , Difficulties With Girls (1988), The Russian Girl (1992),etc. As a writer Amis received many literary awards and prizes. His Ending Up (1974) was nominated for Booker Prize and he received it for Old Devils in 1986. He was awarded the Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E.) IN 1981. The Queen awarded him with Knight Ship in 1990. The Times ranked him among the Greatest 50 British Writers since 1945. 2.2.2 Chapter wise Summary Chapter: 1 That Uncertain Feeling (1955) is the second novel by Kingsley Amis. It is dedicated to someone named Hilly. The first chapter presents all important characters including Mr. John Lewis, the protagonist. He is a young, educated and physically attractive person working as an Assistant Librarian in The Public Library, Aberdarcy in England. It is an ordinary job and he gets six dollars eleven sent only. It is a very meager income with which he has to manage the household with his young wife Jean and two children. He lives in a small, congested flat in an apartment owned by Mrs. Davies. Lewis is from a lower middle class family. He is university educated but has no sufficient financial income. He has the wish to succeed in life. He is the representative of the post War generation of 1950s as well as a representative of the Angry Young Man Movement in Europe.

3

The novel opens when Mr. Lewis is in library. A lady named Mrs. Edwards has come to exchange books. She has brought a book from one Mrs. Bevan who was unable to come to library. A female assistant to Lewis named Dilys Jones came to Lewis with a complaint that a lady from avery rich and aristocratic family had come to library to have a book on the history of costumes. She complained that the lady was very rude in behaviour. This lady is Mrs. Elizabeth Gruffydd- Williams.She was the wife of a very rich and politically influential person Mr. Vernon Gruffydd- Williams from Aberdarcy. He was a member on the Council and also on the Library Committee. Lewis goes to meet the lady and finds that she had extraordinary physical charm.As a young man Lewis had excessive attraction for women and for sex. He notices that “she was attractive in a square shouldered, taut bloused way, with skin the colour of the milk and hair the colour of tar.”(11)Naturally he felt attracted towards her. He also noticed her upper class accent and etiquettes. At the same time he felt an old and hateful (sexual) excitement beginning to stir in him. Lewis and the lady were together for some time searching the book. While trying to find out the book she wanted, she bent to pick it up, Lewis saw her ‘fully blossomed breast’. The thoughts in his mind were, “Dear, Dear. I wanted to shut my eyes…there are some things a man doesn’t like to see.”(18) After some time the lady went away in a very luxurious, costly and enormous car. Through the conversation between Lewis and Ieuan Jenkins, another Assistant Librarian, we come to know that both of them were working on meager salary. Mr. Webster the Sub Librarian working there was going to Leicester as Chief Librarian. Hence there would be a vacancy. Both Lewis and Jenkins wished to get this post. The opening chapter makes introduction to the major themes of this novel. It is about sexual affairs and condition of educated people who do not had good jobs. The lady was extremely beautiful and affluent whereas Lewis is young, educated and ‘manly’ but is in need of good source of income. Chapter: 2 Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have been invited for a party by Mrs. Elizabeth Gruffydd- Williams. They are surprised to get the telephonic invitation because they belong to lower middle class whereas the party is for rich, aristocratic, upper class people. There are class and economical differences. It has been revealed that Mrs. Jean Lewis was a classmate of Elizabeth. It means that Elizabeth had married a rich person and entered the upper class society. Lewis thinks that such parties were meant 4

to show one’s wealth and impress others. The couple prepares to look decent in the party. Jean accuses her husband though not very seriously, ‘not to get mixed with upper class ladies as he had done many times earlier.’ She tells him “Now you’re to stick with me to-night, see? No wandering round seeing what you can pick up like you usually do”. (27) Mrs. Jean is also very beautiful and young. She has ‘abundant dark red hair, a small thin full lipped face with large dark fringed eyes and a slender figure.” (26) They are waiting for Mr. and Mrs. Jenkins’ arrival that are rather late. Lewis has two children, a daughter named Eira and a son, referred as baby. Mrs. Davies, the land lady lived with her husband and a young son at the ground floor. Jenkins comes to tell that his wife(Megan) was not in good health. She had some mental stress hence they were not coming for theparty. Lewis is an honest person by nature. He thinks that Jenkins was in need of better job than him. He needed money to get good treatment for his wife’s illness. Lewis and his wife decide to cancel the visit. Lewis goes out and makes a phone call to Mrs. Elizabeth that they were unable to come. She asked him his address. Lewis was living at Cwmhyfryd, Mansel Road. When Lewis returned home having some food, he saw that Elizabeth herself had come to his house with a person called Bill Evans. This chapter also informs of Mrs. Davies, the neighbour and her spoilt son Ken who is in company of bad friends. He worked at the Cwmhyfryd Coliseum. This is important chapter because it shows the special interest Mrs. Elizabeth has in Lewis. She herself comes to take him to her house for the party. During the visit she comes to know the financial condition of Lewis. Chapter: 3 The party at Mrs. Elizabeth is going on. It is attended by representatives of the rich, upper class British people. We meet an old man called Gareth Probert, ‘occupation poetry writing office worker’. There were others like Beynon, Miss. Hutchinson, etc. Probert had written a play that was to be performed under Elizabeth’s direction. It was about the medieval Wales people. Hence they needed suitable costumes. They were in search of a book giving information about costumes. Probert and Lewis were school mates. Jean Lewis was a college mate to Probert. Probert had written the play The Martyr. Lewis has two children, the girl named Eira and the small boy. Lewis hated two things- One, to get heavily drunk by the lady and secondly, he was a sworn enemy of the Aberdarcy bourgeoisie. This chapter also describes Mrs. Elizabeth who had deliberately wore ‘an orange-reddish lower cut 5

dress’. There we meet her husband Mr. Vernon and a lighter man named Paul Whetstone. Mr. Gruffydd-Williams looked a positive man who wasa member on Council and other committees as well as on the Board of the Cambrio- Sudanese Oil Association. Thus he was a big name in business and politics. Elizabeth introduced Lewis to her husband. While talking to Vernon Lewis explains that Jenkins is a good person to work as a librarian. Later on another person named Whetstone enters in the talk. It turns about Gareth and Lewis tells that he is very rude in behaviour. Lewis was least interested in such English Aberdarcy bourgeoisie talk. He felt that he shall not attend such party again. The members in party were having excessive drinks and gossiping about prices of sports cars, cabin cruisers and such other issues. Lewis felt everything to be utterly boring. It was the world of people having lot of money. He felt uninterested there because he did not belong to them. Chapter: 4 Lewis is yet in the party at Mrs. Elizabeth’s house. There were many people attending it. He obviously met Elizabeth there. She offered him to have drinks together. She told him that Vernon; her husband had shown interest in Lewis. While speaking about her husband Elizabeth appeared to be unhappy. She said, “It was all rather unfortunate.”(50)She just enquired about his family income and his need to get the job in library. She informed that her husband is on library Committee. She said, “He asks my advice about a lot of things, you know.”(53) She offered to help him in getting the job. Lewis was reluctant. She urged him not to take it negatively. There was a lot of lobbying for the post. While talking to her from so close, Lewis observed her physical attractiveness. Lewis was young, handsome and had some sort of ‘innocence’ in his personality that impressed women immediately. Elizabeth expressed some kind of connection with him. She said, “I‘ve got a feeling that you and I are going to get on very well together… in all sorts of ways.”(54) She was eager to meet him again very soon. Mr. Gruffyd Williams comes there and smiles at them. Through his smile Lewis felt that he was saying, “Nothing you can do will surprise me.” This is an important hint for further development of the plot. Lewis observes the exotic and erotic body of Mrs. Elizabeth and feels attraction for her. His wife Jean was seen talking to Probert for long time. This was also unusual. But Lewis neglected it.

6

Chapter: 5 Lewis telephones Mrs. Elizabeth. Her husband receives the call. It was the decision taken by Jean to call Mrs. Elizabeth. She wanted to make request regarding the post of Asst. Librarian for Lewis. They receive second invitation for tea from the lady. Elizabeth wished to engage in ‘chats about old times’. Lewis was wandering alone on street thinking about the party at Elizabeth’s house. Hewatches two young girls playing tennis on ground. He gets attracted towards them. He thinks, “It wasn’t just that women were a thing that had made a profound impression on me… I found that women attractive, especially…Why did I like women’s breasts so much? I was clear on why I liked them, thanks, but why did I like them so much ?”(60) This clearly shows the thoughts in Lewis’ mind and the excessive physical attraction he has for women. A very big car of amphisboenic size and luxurious look came there. It was of Mrs. Elizabeth’s car. She realized the passion in Lewis; mind when he was intently watching the girls. He felt somewhat ashamed. She offered him lift. It was a wonderful experience for Lewis to travel by such posh, luxurious car. She even offered to go to a country pub for a few drinks that evening. Lewis was thrilled but how can he go without his wife. She couldn’t accompany because there were two children to take care of. He suggested that they should consult Jean. Elizabeth comes to Lewis’ house. It was a very small, uncomfortable place. Jean, after listening to the proposal suggests that she won’t come but Lewis can go. Elizabeth tried to force her but she didn’t yield. Finally Elizabeth and Lewis leave for the pub.Lewis was completely excited because of the car ride with a beautiful woman like Elizabeth. He said, “I’m looking forward to this a lot. Lucky we ran into each other.”(68)Elizabeth is very shrewd woman. She realizes the attraction in Lewis’ mind for her. Lewis felt, ‘she impressed me rather as the most accomplished looking person I had ever seen.’(68) Chapter: 6 This chapter takes us to the country side pub scene. It is named as Queen’s Head, Liasili. Lewis and Mrs. Elizabeth go there. Some people named Bill Evans, Ion Cross, Paul Whetstone (the dentist) and some other people are seen in the bar. There are references to war. Obviously it is the World War II. Evans said,” War was the biggest mistake we ever made in our lives… we picked the wrong enemy for once, never stop regretting it.”(70) This is an important point to note from the Angry

7

Young Men movement. There is the incidence about Ivan’s car parked outside the pub. Lewis comes in difficulty but is helped by others when he was asked to move the car to some other place. He was unable to apply the brakes of the car. Lewis is thinking of his self. He is ‘John Aneurin Lewis, poet, visionary and wit.’(72)In the pub they happen to meet a newly married black couple named Angela and Pino. While in company of Elizabeth Lewis is informed about the four candidates for the post of Assistant Librarian. Elizabeth drinks and smokes freely. It is past ten at night. Lewis, when, was outside the pub at washroom listens a romantic melodious song ‘I am getting sentimental over you. He was alone there. Soon Elizabeth came .They were walking. Suddenly the distance between them shrunk and they kissed passionately for the first time. They enjoyed it. Both of them were willing to be together for more time. Chapter: 7 We are reported about the Dancing Party that Lewis has gone to attend along with Elizabeth. There he meets Ken Davies the notorious son of Mrs. Davies his landlady. There were some people like boxers, robbers, looters, etc. Lewis had four rounds of dance with Elizabeth. While in company with Elizabeth, Lewis watched her physical beauty from close. She kissed him during dance. It was at Queen’s Head, a pub.Lewis met some tall, broad boxer like men there. They didn’t approve of Lewis’ going close to Mrs. Elizabeth. They threaten him of throwing away from party. Elizabeth dances with some other men also which Lewis dislikes. While coming back walking to car she put her arms around him and kissed passionately. She even caught his hand and put on her breast. It clearly indicated her intension. They promise to meet next week. She leaves him on the road near his house. Lewis while returning thinks about everything that took place in the party. He didn’t like himself for what happened. While entering his home at late night, he vigorously rubs out the lipstick from his mouth. It was obviously of Elizabeth. Jean had put a dish of food prepared for him. He eats it. He feels guilty for his behaviour. He thought of writing down the thoughts in his mind. Chapter: 8 This chapter tells us about the normal marital relationship between Lewis and Jean. She wishes to spend that evening with Lewis. She complains that Lewis is showing too much interest in Elizabeth. “You are letting that woman depend on you

8

too much. How the hell does she manage to stick it, anyway? You’re always telling me she drives you up the wall.”(95) Jean has to go out for some time. While going out she came to Lewis and kissed him lovingly. Lewis was at home to take care of children. This shows that their marital relationship is quite good. They are happy even though, they have limited income. To pass the time Lewis reads a newspaper in which he observes photographs of some blonde girls. His daughter Eira was calling him out for something but he had not listened to her. Mrs. Davies cries out and blames him that he was not able to look after the children properly. John goes to his daughter’s bedroom, chats with and tells a story. When alone, his mind is occupied with the thoughts of Elizabeth. He remembers the dance hall session with her last night and the passionate kissing after that. His mind is wavering. Sometimes he feels that ‘ an affair with Elizabeth would be a bad bet, I felt, in the abstract, in the absence of any marital complications.”(105) After some time he feels ‘quite well what kissing her had been like’. (105)He makes a comparison between his wife Jean and Elizabeth. “I said to myself, made Jean seem not to exist, never to have existed, sort of; all that was real was the image of Elizabeth, sturdy, supremely determined, smiling with subtle offensiveness.”(106) John Lewis was like many others a non conformist. He had a wavering mind unable to do anything with proper thinking. He thinks, “Wasn’t I fussing too much, where in any case was the harm in a spot of the old adultery as long as you didn’t take it too seriously… I was so keen on vaunting to myself, where was the Lewis who was superior to things like sex, wasn’t I letting the ancestral Welsh nonconformist Puritanism make a crafty comeback in me after all these years of discredit?”(107) After only a few minutes, he listens the footsteps of Jean who had come back, rushes to her and embraces her. Lewis has completed some household works also. This chapter shows that Mr. and Mrs. Lewis have good marital relationship. They genuinely love each other. Chapter: 9 Lewis has gone with Elizabeth to see the performance of the play The Martyr written by Gareth Probert. It is a verse drama in two acts based on the Wales theme. It has been directed by Elizabeth. It is being performed in the Glendower Hall. Elizabeth herself had invited Lewis by telephone call. After some time they felt bored because it was purely a symbolical play. While sitting very close to each other in the theatre, Lewis felt that he should put his shoulders around her neck. But there 9

were some constrains as they were in public. Secondly, both of them were married. Elizabeth suggested that they should go out. Lewis was surprised because she had always supported Probert. They go by her car that reaches the residence of Gruffydd. It is a very big, old fashioned, rich house. Lewis being a man angry against social divisions thinks about the money spent on house and other amenities. Hesays, “I felt my role of proletarian spy slip away alittle.”(115)They took drinks together. While seating on sofa near Elizabeth Lewis thinks that he is being used to be in company of attractive women. He also remembers his wife Jean and his love for her. Lewis wanted to return to home immediately but Elizabeth insisted to stay. She even tried to arouse his feelings by pushing his hand at her breast. She informed that her husband won’t come back till late.”She showed some signs of wanting us to stop sitting and to do some lying down instead.”(117) Lewis found that she was the first woman that had aroused his ‘desire’ genuinely. He suggested, “Wouldn’t this be more fun in the bedroom?”(118)She replied, “I desire you utterly… I want all your desire.” (118) Meanwhile they heard the sound of an approaching car that was parked below. No doubt it was Vernon who had arrived. Elizabeth was nearly naked. She dressed up in hurry. She is very shrewd and calculated. She told Lewis that she was not going to allow him to take to bed that day. In fact she wanted ‘to get him started’ in which she had succeeded. Lewis was eager to have sexual pleasure from her. They kiss each other once again. She asked him to hide in a closet and got ready to welcome Vernon her husband. Chapter: 10 Lewis has hidden in a lavatory. Vernon along with some other people entered the house. They include Whetstone, Paulie, Probert, etc. They were talking about the performance of the play. Through Vernon’s speech it gets clear that he knew that Lewis had come to his home along with Elizabeth. He said, “…that librarian fellow of Elizabeth was here just now .but I rather fancy he has cleared off.”(124)When all the people depart Lewis gets up and starts to find a way to go out. He pretends to be a plumber when is found there by a servant. Then he enters the bedroom of Mrs. Elizabeth. He puts on her clothes which are unfit to him. It is the drapery of a Wales woman from the play. He looks absolutely odd and funny. Then Lewis jumps out from the window and runs away in direction of the bus stop. He tells himself, “Liberty at last and, by God, Lewis, you have earned it.” (129) He wants to through away the disguise but a policeman watches him. He gets suspected and follows him.

10

Lewis feels rather frightened. He has the fancy that he is arrested and sentenced six months imprisonment. In the guise of a lady Lewis runs away to the bus stop to Cwmhyfryd. It was dark outside. The people at bus stop watched at him curiously. He entered the double decker bus. A man considered him to be a lady tried to molest him. An old woman chastised him for wearing outfit that has colours of national flag. The conductor also found him to be strange. Finally he got off the bus at the stop when a person followed and hit him taking him to be a woman. Lewis was lucky that Mr. Davies came to his help who had travelled by the same bus. It is the funniest incident in this novel. Chapter: 11 This chapter starts with conversation between Lewis and Dilys Jones, a colleague in library. The latter makes complaint that the book on ancient costumes that was lend to Mrs. Elizabeth was returned to library but was not in good condition. It was late and the cover jacket was missing. This makes Lewis to remember her. They had not contacted since that day. She had neither come nor phoned him. Lewis shows willingness to pay the fine of the book. This initiates the discussion. Dilys mentions that because of Lewis’ close contacts with her he had good chances of getting the post. Lewis makes it clear that he has no connections with Mr. Vernon. This discussed continues and they speak about nepotism, corruption and the weaknesses of established system. These views present Lewis to be a member of Angry Young Men Movement. He is dissatisfied with the system that does not value loyalty, sincerity of a person. Dilys remarks, “Ah, Lewis, what a crazy old moralist you are, loading your chest up with this…you are carrying the sins of the world on those stock size shoulders of yours.”(141) After the library working hours, Lewis is returning to home. He feels to visit the pub at the corner near bus stop. While having drinks he feels restless. He remembers the strange behavior of his wife Jean who was not inclined to talk to him. She was trying to avoid him as possible. He also remembers Elizabeth. He knew well that she wanted sexual pleasure from him and he had hesitation to it. While engrossed in thoughts, he is shocked to see that Elizabeth had entered with Bill Evans in the same pub. Both of them were happy and surprised to see Lewis there. He complained that she had not contacted. She on the other hand enquires sympathetically why he was so sad. She is interested to know how he had escaped that day. She offers him strong drinks and cigarettes but he declines. Their conversation turns to the issue of Lewis’ job and the forthcoming interview. She

11

informed that she had told her husband about Lewis who was going to back him in selection. Lewis on the other hand does not expect such help. He wants the job but on his merit. He said, “Look… I want to get the job all right, but I don’t want to get it like that.” She assured him that Vernon will back him only because he was the best candidate on paper and he had to face interview nicely. When asked by Lewis why was she so interested in him, she replies, “You know what I really like to get from you.”(149)She suggests him that such things are not to be waited. Lewis departs from the pub. While coming out he saw that Elizabeth had her hand on Evan’s shoulder. She was laughing and telling him how it was wrong to wait in such matters. Lewis thinks about Jean, his wife. He pats himself for keeping himself away from Elizabeth. It was the consciousness in him that made him to think, “Well done, Lewis, this time you really have unfixed it. Stay under cover, Lewis, and you won’t get hurt.”(150)While returning home he happens to meet a group of people marching through road wearing some badges indicating their names and origins or home parish. Chapter: 12 This chapter takes us to the household of Lewis. Mrs. Jenkins has come to have a casual visit. Jean and Mrs. Jenkins have been in small talk. Lewis enters from and demands some tea to his wife but she neglects deliberately. She says, “You can get yourself a cup from the kitchen if you really want some.”(152) Lewis understood that it was her way to express disapproval towards his behaviour. Then he finds a recent letter from his father. His father who was living alone and was a widower used to send Lewis letters. Through it we get information about Lewis’ family. His father had retired from the check office of a small colliery. He father had four children in all. The eldest son died of wounds in North Africa in War. The second son was working as industrial consultant in Africa. The third, a daughter had been married to an Englishman. Lewis states that he was on his father’s side in case of domestic struggles. His father had certain political views. The letter expresses love and affection towards Lewis’ family. It also narrates some of the contemporary events. While reading the letter Lewis heard the sound of a car. It was most probably of Elizabeth’s car parked. Mrs. Jenkins hurried to go out. She expressed concern about the interview on next Tuesday for the post of librarian. Lewis assured her that Jenkins was the most suitable and needy candidate, he would certainly be selected. After Mrs. Jenkins departure Lewis tries to speak with his wife but she rejects him.

12

She asks him, “You’re not having an affair with her? … Do as you like; only don’t tell me about it… I know the look you get when you start fancying a woman.” (160) Lewis apologies and promises her that he would never get interested in any other woman. She tells him flatly, “What you do is nothing to do with me…It doesn’t interest me… I never even think of it, see? Just give me my housekeeping every week and stay out of my way and that is what I want out of you.”(160) This clearly shows that Lewis’ married life has been badly affected. She informs him neither to invite Elizabeth any more at home nor to invite Jean to any party. She expressed her anger by saying, “I told her to keep bloody clear of me if she knew what was good for her. Go on. Get out.” (161) This is a very serious situation in Lewis’ married life. He has no other option but to come out of the home. He came downstairs on street. He had a dilemma. A conflict raised in his mind. “What could I do in order to hurt myself? “Had Jean really meant that our marriage was off for good, except as a domestic arrangement? Or perhaps she’d only been angry, which of course I could… I made up my mind never again.” (162) Lewis went to a public telephone booth. He had only a few coins left in pocket. He was extremely angry with all. He dialed Elizabeth’s number and started to speak in the most abusive words. “This is just to tell you that I hate your guts…and your husbands’ guts…and I hate your friends’ guts too…And as for you, you stupid bitch…” (164) It is very shocking to know the intensity of anger in his mind. It is a fact that he was attracted towards Elizabeth’s beautiful body. It was merely a sexual attraction that he usually had for such women. But his anger is also remarkable. It is the mark of his Angry Young Man’s temper. It is very paradoxical that he was lucky that the button ‘A’ on telephone had not been pressed hence Elizabeth could not listen anything from Lewis’ side. He got number of coins back from the phone with which he went to drink at General Picton, a pub. Chapter: 13 This chapter takes us to the place of interview for the post of Assistant Librarian. There is a committee and four candidates who are to appear before the committee. They include Ieuan Jenkins, John Lewis, O.Killa Beynon and Mr. Howard. It has been declared that that the result of interview will be announced immediately after the end of interview. The candidates will be called by their names in alphabetical order. The candidates are in waiting room. They discuss the overall condition of unemployment, the scarcity of jobs despite having highly qualified candidates, etc. Merit is neglected and nepotism and other ill practices are followed.

13

Irrelevant and silly questions are asked to candidates, for example a candidate is asked, “Are you interested in films, drinking, American novels, women’s breasts, jazz, science fiction?”(171) Lewis sympathetically inquires about the health of Jenkins wife. She has been suffering from some mental illness and her sleep has been affected. Jenkins is in need of more money and hence a permanent job for her treatment. Lewis assures him that Jenkins deserved that job because of his merit and not for any other influence. This shows the innate goodness of Lewis and the influence of Angry Young Man Movement. These young men needed jobs which were not available. They had the required qualifications and merits. They wanted jobs on merit only. Meanwhile Lewis has been informed about a telephone call coming in that office. When he goes and attends it, he finds that it is from Elizabeth. She informs that she had talked to her husband who was the Chairman of the interview panel. Lewis is not willing to listen to her. She offers him an invitation to party that night. Lewis willingly accepted it. Chapter: 14 John Lewis is being interviewed in this chapter. Mr. Vernon is in the Chair because the regular chairman was away. The panel included Mr. Salter, Mr. Jones, Mr. Wynm and others. Lewis was asked different questions. The range of questions asked clearly show that almost all the members had divergent opinions and they differed from one another. Lewis confidently answered all questions. Mr. Gruffydd- Williams silently observed everything. Finally h told Lewis to leave. While coming out of the room, Lewis listened that someone had said, “No.” It meant that he was not selected by the committee. Chapter: 15 Lewis has gone to the night party as promised to Elizabeth with her. It is in a beach- hut away from Aberdarchy. There are only a few people that include the Dentist with his Mistress, Theo James, Old Arwel Jenkins, Stan and Margot Johns, Whetstone. The dentist’s mistress is pretty young. Elizabeth had gone with a tall person named Bill Evans for quite a long time. Lewis felt sympathetic to the dentists mistress who was over drunk had omitted before some time. When they were casually walking on the beach they kissed each other passionately. The dentist’s mistress told Lewis to leave Elizabeth and accept her. “You would be much better off with me, you know, than with that Elizabeth…I shouldn’t say this, you know but I’d

14

stay away from her if I was you. She’s no good to you.”(197) Lewis explains that he was not mixed up with Elizabeth as such. She asks him to ditch her. Lewis remained quiet. But these remarks by the lady help us to know the real nature of Elizabeth. Lewis had noticed that Elizabeth may have sexual relation with Bill Evans who used to get angry with Lewis’ presence with Elizabeth. The dentist’s mistress said, “That’s the way they get treated, see, when she’s finished with them.”(198)It clearly means that Elizabeth was a woman with excessive sexual passions and she used to keep such smart, physically strong men from whom she used to get her sexual hunger satisfied. She used men as male prostitutes and left the first when she got the next. But Lewis could not understand or he neglected it deliberately. After some time Elizabeth returned alone. She looked a bit cold when Lewis asked about Bill Evans. They got some food and drinks together. She suggested having a walk together on the beach. When they were away and alone, she kissed Lewis jovially. She suggested bathing in sea. They bathe together for a long time. There was no one to disturb them. It was too late at night. Elizabeth’s sexual passions were excited. She suggested having sex. So they had it on the beach itself. The novel says, “So at last we did it. She moved about in my arms and then, with a sudden deep breath, went taut and still.” She said, “That was good, wasn’t it darling? You’re quite a man… At least, of course I love it (sex), but I love you as well… I’m awfully glad we’ve got round to doing it in the end, aren’t you? I was afraid we weren’t going to, ever.”(204) Both of them agree that they had sexual attraction towards each other from the very first meeting itself. Elizabeth informs that Lewis should not be afraid of her husband Vernon. She says, “Vernon knows all about me, don’t worry. You must have guessed, haven’t you, that there’ve been other chaps before you.”(205)While speaking about her husband she says, “He is not interested in girls. No, he just makes money.”(206) All these remarks indicate that Mr. Vernon was pretty old compared to Elizabeth and he might not been able to satisfy her sexual needs. Or she may be such a woman having excessive sexual hunger that cannot be pacified by a single person. They returned to the beach-hut and join others. Lewis felt rather awful. Elizabeth told Lewis that Vernon had decided to select him. She said, “Now listen, John. It’s all fixed for you to get the job. Vernon told me last week.” (208)Thus Lewis was going to be an assistant to Rowlands, the Librarian at Aberdarcy.

15

Chapter: 16 In this chapter we see that Elizabeth has taken Lewis to a distant bitch hut away from Aberdarcy. It is the time of late night. This visit was unexpected to Lewis. He appears to be disappointed. He has been selected for the post of Assistant librarian. Elizabeth claims that he was selected not because of her but because of his merit. She assures him that he was in need of better job and he deserved it. Lewis is not happy because he thinks that he was selected because he had relations with Elizabeth. She makes fun of his notions as childish. She says, “You can take it from me that nobody ever gets any kind of job or position in this world completely on his merits. There’s always something else that enters into it. It may be politics, it may be having the right kind of face or education or background or whatever you like to call it, it may be, well, doing someone a personal favour.” (210)Elizabeth in this sense appears to be a sensible, mature lady who better knows the ways of world. Lewis on the other hand appears to be hyper sensitive, idealist and away from the world of reality. He thinks that Ieuan Jenkins was the better person than him for the post. He even feels ashamed of himself. When Elizabeth tries to convince that it was not a sort of prize but a job that affects a lot of people Lewis answers that , “But it is a fiddle just the same, and I don’t like fiddles…I have decided now I don’t agree I could do the job better.” (Fiddle means earning money by dishonest way.)He expressed that other candidates like Beynon, and Howard were more capable than he but the committee had selected him not on merit but because of something else.” He says, “I don’t care about any of that. It’s a dirty deal.”(212) At this point Elizabeth takes a very aggressive stance and asks him whether adultery was not a dirty deal? She rebukes him and makes him aware that, “Your trouble is you don’t think, not even for a second. You cannot see the most obvious things.” (212) She reminds him that his marriage has lost its value and secrecy. It has been broken. She points out his hypocrisy and double standard. Lewis gets angry and accuses that he should apologize for ‘raping’ her. Lewis realized that she was not only physically attractive but very tough and strong lady. He declares to end the relationship. “I didn’t want any of this to happen.”(213)He repents for his actions and declares to return to home of his own. He leaves her alone and starts to walk. After passing some distance he saw Whetstone with the dentist’s mistress there. No doubt, they were together at such time for sexual satisfaction. It is thus a world of people

16

who are engaged only for such reasons. While speaking to Whetstone Lewis agreed that Bill Evans was a better ‘companion’ to Elizabeth than he. While returning back on foot across the rough beach, Lewis saw Aberdarcy at distance, hidden behind a clump of cliff. He saw that someone had approached him in great hurry. It was Elizabeth again. She held him by arm and asked him to come to her car. Lewis felt the energy and decisiveness in her personality. While walking with her Lewis thought that Whetstone was angry with him because he may also have relations with Elizabeth earlier. Lewis was his competitor. She forced him to get into car and started to drive rashly. Lewis thought that there was possibility of collision at any time. He heard the loud noise of brakes, swerving of car that finally dashed with something. They had met an accident. Elizabeth was seriously injured and was unconscious. After only a few minutes another car came there and a person came to help them. He was Mr. Vernon. Lewis was shocked to see him there. Lewis had received some injury also. They took her carefully out of the damaged car and put her in Vernon’s car. While in car Lewis thought of Vernon as ‘a man who lets his wife go her own way and doesn’t care.’(219) He did not appear to be detached or irresponsible but a very loving and careful husband…then why Elizabeth was so unfaithful to him? While travelling back Vernon warned Lewis, “There’s a good deal I could say, but I’m only going to say this. Don’t ring up or call in to see how she is, or make any attempt to get in touch with her. Ever. Is that clear?”(219)The car left Lewis on the road near his home and went away. It was late at night. Lewis saw that in his sitting room the lights were yet on. While going upstairs he meets Mrs. Davies anxiously waiting for her son Ken who had not returned yet. He had gone to a public house for drinks. She requested Lewis to go and see him on road but Lewis was sorry for being too tired. When he entered his home he saw that Jean was in her night dress and dressing gown where as Old Probert was also there. Though fully dressed, he appeared to be a bit ill at ease to Lewis. Chapter: 17 This is an important chapter. It is continuation of the earlier one. While looking at Probert so late (1.00 a.m.at night) in his home Lewis becomes restless. He suspects whether they had an affair or were having sex at that time. He thought that the time he had been talking with Mrs. Davies was enough for them to wear clothes. Probert

17

denies any such allegation by saying that “there was nothing to be very quizzical about there, is there?”(222)He gives the explanation that while going by the road he had come to visit them but finding Lewis away he had stayed to give company to Jean who was waiting for Lewis. Lewis had gone for interview at early morning and had not intimated anything to Jean. Lewis thought that Probert was an expert in acting because being an artist. When he looked at Jean he thought, “I could visualize exactly the look on her face, her chin raised, her eyes half-closed and blinking rapidly, her lips showing their full thickness.”(223) He was sure about what had happened. Jean, on the other hand was determined and without expression or interest. She was tired. Lewis and Probert get on the verge of fight but is avoided and Probert is asked to leave. While asked by Jean about the interview, Lewis makes it clear that he may not get it. He tells that Elizabeth had called him but he rejected her interference in job. He told her that Ieuan needed that job more than him. Jean gets angry with him and tells that they also were in need of job and money “What has got into you so you start turning down jobs? I don’t know who you think you are, turning down bloody jobs.”(226) Lewis replied that it may be good for other but not for him to get job through any dirty practice. When further inquired by his wife Lewis accepts that he had gone with Elizabeth after the interview and they have had sex for first time. Jean gets extremely angry with him and accuses him to be a liar and hypocrite. Didn’t he remember that he was married and his family needed money? When Lewis requests her forgiveness her anger bursts out. She says, “I don’t care a damn about you and Elizabeth… It isn’t that at all. I have got to the stage now where I don’t care if you sleep with all the women in Aberdarcy and come back asking to be forgiven afterwards… I will forgive you every time you do it, too. But I’ll never forgive you for throwing away that job.”(227) This angry remark clearly shows the intensity of job problems at that time. No doubt Jean was angry with Lewis because he had preferred Elizabeth to her. There is heated argument between the couple regarding the true meaning of marriage. To Jean it is very sacred and bound by truth and faith. She knew that Lewis had the nature of chasing round after other women but now, “… it is over. There is nothing left of the whole bloody issue.”(228)When he tried to kiss her, she smacked him hard on the cheek and went away. She warned him not to come to her bedroom any more. She later on told Lewis that he she had no objection if he continues the affair with Elizabeth again but get the job back. “I don’t care how

18

do you do it, but make sure the affair is on … and then tell her you want the job after all, see?”(229)Jean even accepts that she had sexual relation with Probert. “To night wasn’t the first time, by the way. There was that other time you were out with yours.”(230) This boldness and frank acceptance by Jean is very shocking to Lewis. But she is very cold and plain about it. Lewis is totally devastated. He couldn’t sleep and came to street at such late night alone. He felt very much frightened and started to run downstairs to the sea. It was dark and too late at night. There was no one on roads. He felt completely disturbed. He started to blame himself for everything. He had no courage to go to Elizabeth any more. He was walking with great speed towards sea. He may be thinking of committing suicide. A man on road suddenly caught hold of him. This man was heavily drunk and was asking for someone named Hayden. Lewis was shocked to know that the other person was Ken Davies who had received head injury and had blood on his neck. The man didn’t allow Lewis to go away any more. Ken Davies had gone for drinks and was injured after having heavy drinks. He complained of Haydn Morris who was with him in the pub. Lewis takes him back to home with great efforts and care. Mrs. Davies was yet waiting for her son. She expressed sincere thanks to Lewis for his help. Lewis forgot his personal sorrow and agony while returning home. The good job done by him made him relaxed. It gave him opportunity to think about contemporary problem of the differences between the Welsh and English people. It was the problem of rich, upper class British people to look down upon the Welsh. His conscience told him that he himself was insincere and immoral. A conflict raised in his mind. He felt that there were two conflicting things pulling him on. At one side, he had the feeling of going by the wrong way in life. It refers to his amoral relationship with Elizabeth which he had snapped out. On the other, he felt his duty to feed his family through ‘consistency and stability’ in job. Even though he wanted to be away with Elizabeth, he couldn’t because he needed the job. Chapter: 18 This is the last chapter of the novel. It presents Lewis, his wife Jean and their two children at Lewis’ father’s home in Fforestfawn, a town in Wales. Lewis has felt his job of Assistant Librarian in Aberdarcy and had returned to his home town. In fact he had received the letter of appointment as the Sub-Librarian in The Public Library, Aberdarcy but he had refused it. Hence the post was given to Ieuan Jenkins. 19

To save his marriage as well as self dignity as an educated, liberal and independent human being, he had decided to leave the job, the city life and has returned back. He has received another job in the office of a colliery manager. This job also provides as much salary that he used to get as assistant librarian. The novel describes the routine work at a coal mine. Lewis and Jean are seen with some other families of coworkers. Fforestfawn is comparatively a small time that has some facilities like café, cinema, club house etc. Lewis while walking remembers some of them. Jean tells Lewis that she never had any affair with Probert. “John I’m sorry I lied to you about Old Probert that time. Christ, I’d never have let him come near me, let alone…I shouldn’t have lied to you, though.”(245) Lewis is not willing to dig out those unpleasant memories of Aberdarcy. They express that they were really happy here. Their running away was not a retreat like army but it was well thought, sensible decision. They meet many people at a public place. The people greet Lewis and Jean genuinely. There was no excessive show of affection but real passions. The drinks and food served to them is simple and made of local resources. There is much difference between the aristocratic, but hypocritical behaviour of upper class Aberdarcy people contrasted against the simple, casual, normal people here. In a pub Lewis meets a couple named Mr. and Mrs. Watkins. Mr. Watkins is a person who has lots of dreams of social change. He is an idealistic person where as his wife is a Londoner. She had been at Oxford before her marriage. Mrs. Lisa Watkins is a very beautiful and attractive lady, say like Elizabeth. Lewis notices her physical charm and praises her. She offers an invitation of party that same night to Lewis. This is again a trap to Lewis. But he tactfully avoids her by telling a lie. When asked by Jean, Lewis replied, “That woman. I had to get away from that woman. So I got away from her. Crude but effective, you know. So I got away from her.”(254) Lewis has thus succeeded in avoiding such women who induce him often. The novel ends with Lewis taking hand of his wife Jean and moving across with other colliers. Some of them were coming from shift completing their duty. The last line is very symbolical and meaningful. It reads, “To anyone watching it might have looked as if Jean and I, too, were coming off shift.”(254) In fact they have also come out from their different kind of like spent in Aberdarcy. They have started a new kind of life that is simple but based on faith and loyalty with his wife.

20

2.2.3Major Themes: 1950s was an important decade in European society because it marked many upheavals in all spheres of life. The contemporary literature tried to voice the wide spread sense of frustration with the complacent leadership of a tradition bound and politically oriented establishment. The writers tried to express the social protest and its nature through their works. Writers like Kingsley Amis, John Braine, Alan Sillitoe had major contribution in this area. The new kind of protagonists come from lower middle class or working class but are university educated and have the aspirations to succeed in life. They protest against the richer section of society because it securely possesses all that these middle class young men desire. The major themes present in this novel may be summarized as follow. Man –woman relationship: Kingsley Amis’ That Uncertain Feeling published in 1955 aptly highlights the contemporary culture of 1950 s.It shows the complex man-woman relationships that were based on hypocrisy and dissatisfaction. Marriages were no more a sacred commitments but had turned into adultery outside marriage. Through the life of the protagonist John Lewis, the novelist attempts to present the true traits of contemporary society. He is representative of that sort of males who are never satisfied in sexual lust. But at the end he comes to the realization that it is only his wife Jean who gives him warmth and comfort besides physical satisfaction. He makes a new beginning in life with this kind of realization. He realizes that running after any woman outside marriage is a futile exercise. He retunes to his family after having some sexual adventures with other women. Like Henry Fielding, the famous 18 th century novelist Kingsley Amis teaches some moral values through this novel. John Lewis’ female counterpart, Mrs. Elizabeth Williams, the heroine is a woman who traps younger men to satisfy her lust. She tries any young man who she thinks can give her full pleasure. John Lewis, a twenty six years old and physically strong youth is working as an Assistant Librarian in the Public Library, Aberdarcy. He is married to Jean who is very beautiful, has two children and is very dutiful and careful housewife. They are extremely happy as a couple and genuinely love each other. John has the habit to loiter behind other women which Jean knows well. She has warned him in that case. But John has the weakness to get attracted to any woman who he feels is seductive.

21

He has succeeded in controlling his passion after marriage. He himself agrees, “It wasn’t just that women were a thing that had made a profound impression on me; no, also to betaken into account was the fact that I found women attractive, especially attractive women… why did I like women’ s breasts so much?” Such a person meets an elderly, attractive and seductive lady Mrs. Elizabeth in the library who provokes his desire. “I felt an old and hateful excitement to stir in me.”John admits that it is unfair and need to be avoided but he fails or he is rather trapped by her tactics. John is caught in an inward conflict. He wants to avoid her but he is also fond of her. He is unable to guess what is there in a woman that attracts him so much. He could not resist the temptation and starts to respond her by all means. Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Elizabeth are school mates. The Lewis attend a rich party given by Elizabeth at a night in her home. They flatter each other and decide to continue the relationship further and decide a meeting on phone. Lewis is in confused state. He is aware of Jean’s love to him but could not resist the temptation also. For him it is woman’s body that is important and he discards the morality of man- woman relationship. Adultery had become very common in contemporary society. But John is constantly made aware of the purity on man – woman relationship. John also is aware of his immoral behavior but he cannot resist the temptation and advances made by Elizabeth who pulls him and showers kisses in darkness. Lewis is caught in conflict between morality and immorality. He is unable to make distinction between love and lust. He takes Elizabeth’s advances to be a mode of sexual satisfaction. He repents after every meeting with Elizabeth. He rubs out the lipstick from his lips. “I got indoors, vigorously rubbing off my mouth with my handkerchief.” But he agrees to meet her again. It is the force of sexual lust that he makes him to continue the illegitimate relationship. Then while visiting the playhouse to watch the play The Martyr written by Probert, Lewis is completely interested in Elizabeth’s body. He puts his hands around her neck and wants to advance but realizes that they were in common place. “More than once I’d found my arm, as if demonically possessed all on its own, getting ready to move around her shoulders. I made it go back, but I could tell it didn’t want to.” Elizabeth pretended to becold but she was very delighted inwardly. She took him out of the theater, drove him to her house. They had several drinks together that made them jovial. Lewis felt tempted by her body language. They wished to have sex 22

on the sofa itself but Lewis suggested that it would be better if they go to the bedroom. He was excited by the thought of having sex with this physically rich woman. He had the twin feelings of fear and excitement. But this fun is disturbed with arrival of a car parked beneath. It was of Elizabeth’s husband Vernon. Lewis thus becomes a victim of her desire. He said, “She was the only girl ever to ‘desire’ me, whether utterly or not.”Elizabeth is an elderly and experienced woman. She knows it well how to trap a man like Lewis? How to make him ‘start’? She herself agrees that, “I wanted to get you to commit yourself. And you’ve done that now, haven’t you?” To avoid meeting Her husband, John hides in a lavatory and later on jumps from a window disguised as a Welsh woman. On the day of interview, John has never remembered Elizabeth. But she makes him a telephone call and invites for a night party at the sea shore hut. There he meets the Dentist’s mistress. She is also attracted to John and gives him open offer to ditch Elizabeth and to accept her. She tried to tell him what kind of treatment men get from Elizabeth. She tells, “That’s the way it gets treated, see, when she has finished with them.” It meant that she used men to satisfy her sexual hunger and threw them away. This remark was about Bill Evans who disapproved of Lewis’ presence there. It also means that Elizabeth had used him before John came in her life. She herself reveals it that ‘there were other chaps before him’. Later on they go for sea bath at night which is followed by the sex act for which both of them were eagerly waiting. They do it with full capacity and get satisfied. Elizabeth tells John that he was ‘quite a man’. Mr. Vernon knows the nature of his wife and she isn’t afraid of him. She is a nymphomaniac woman who always remains sexually hungry. In the next meeting when Elizabeth tells that John was selected for the post in library. He feels it to be a dirty deal and decides to leave her forever. Elizabeth is so shrew and frank that she tells him, “If you go now, that is the end of it as far as I’m concerned. It’s finished.” John is determined to leave her and returns alone. She follows him, forces him to sit in her car. She drives the car rashly that collides with a rock. She is seriously injured but assisted by her husband immediately. While returning in car Elizabeth’s husband strictly warns John not to call or meet her again. As a husband Vernon is very careful and dutiful. He has given freedom to Elizabeth but she has defiled the sanctity of marriage. She is fatally injured in accident but is saved by her husband itself. In this way John Lewis the protagonist of this novel that he cannot control his desire for women outside marriage.

23

John returns to home at late night. He is shocked to see that the lights in his flat still going. Mrs. Davies stops him for some time mid-way. He is shocked to see Old Probert there with his wife Jean. He gets a strong doubt that they also had sexual affair. Jean gets irritated and answers that they (Jean and Probert) did the same what Lewis did with Elizabeth. But later on she confesses that it was never like that. Jean was always faithful to her husband though he was an adulterer. At one time she tells her husband that she will not bother his having illicit relations if he gets a good job as money is required to sustain the family. She tells John to return to Elizabeth and secure the job of Sub Librarian. She fails to understand his mental trauma. Her concerns are only with money that can give her social status. It shows that man – woman relationships were bound by economic conditions also. It was a new social order based on money and position. But the novelist rejects this materialistic attitude of Jean. He upholds the sanctity of man –woman relationship in marriage. In this way the novel criticizes the perversity of man –woman relationship. They are threatened but ultimately restored, but not without damage. John Lewis realizes that it is the true love of Jean, his wife that he needs and not the lust of Elizabeth. They leave Aberdarcy and return to their home town. There also an upper class woman named Lisa Watkins tries to seduce John in a party but he wisely rejects her by telling a lie. John and Jean are determined to have a new beginning in their married life. John resigns from the library job, returns to his hometown and accepts a job in the office of a coal mine. They walk in sunshine together and meet the jovial colliers that symbolize their happiness and optimism in life. Class Conflict: Class conflict or class consciousness is also a major theme in this novel. The European society in 1950 s had class distinctions. The aristocratic high class people used to invite the lower class people to show off their wealth and superiority as well as to make the other people feel down. Mr. Vernon Williams, his wife Elizabeth as well as Mrs. Watkins represent the higher class society. Whereas Mr. and Mrs. Lewis, Jenkins, Bill Evans, Mrs. Davies, etc. belong to the lower class community. John Lewis does not like the attitude of the upper class people. In fact he hates them. When Lewis first meets her; he observes that she had the habit of showing her superiority. They tried to impress the lower class people with their wealth and house hold property. They try to prove themselves much better than others.

24

The people of higher society used to drink and smoke a lot in parties. It is way to show that they are something different. It is the status symbol for them. Elizabeth says, “I don’t like people not drinking at my parties”. John thinks that such people are ‘the new privileged classes of Aberdarcy”. In fact they are hypocrites, cultural snobs and do not know the original cultural traditions. They leave no stone unturned to look down upon the people of lower class. On the other hand John realizes warmth and comfort in the party given by Edith Rhys. Most of the people there are from lower class. He criticizes Welsh people who are trying to be Anglicize themselves. He believes that ‘if Welsh remain Welsh perhaps they will remain human’. Class consciousness among the protagonists was a major literary theme in 1950 s.With the spread of education and scholarships youth from lower or working classes went to universities and got degrees. They expected to get jobs and social status on their merits and not on their birth. That is why John Lewis is not ready to accept his new job as Sub librarian when he realizes ‘the dirty deal’ behind it. Elizabeth, the member of upper class society advices him that jobs are not earned on the basis of merit. “There is always something else that enters into it. It may politics, it may be having the right kind of face or education or background or whatever you like to call it, it may be. Well, doing someone a personal favour.” But these youth were not accepted by the elite society on their merits. Mr. Vernon’s decision to select John Lewis as the sub librarian is not on merit but something else. This socio- economic and cultural conflict gives way to a newly formed ethics based on money and position. Every one becomes a victim of it. That is why Jean who does not approve of her husband’s adultery suggests him to continue his affair with Elizabeth and get the good job. John’s father on the other hand thinks that money is important but not more than ‘values’. Man –woman relationships are also controlled by class conflict because John thinks that Elizabeth ‘really loves’ him which is unreal. The fact is that she wants to ‘use his manliness’ to satisfy her hunger. His ‘innocence’ is trapped in the labyrinth of upper class society where his manliness is exploited and humiliated. But at the end John realizes the truth and decides to leave the elite society and its morals. As a writer Kingsley Amis was a moralist. He has portrayed what he saw and experienced in contemporary society which had lost moral values. For him human dignity was more important that money, status or anything else. Hence it has been restored at the end. It is the morality which wins over immorality of society. It is a

25

kind of picaresque novel that portrays the journey of its protagonist which is tedious and full of incidents. 2.3 Exercises Check your progress 2.3.1 Answer the following questions in one word/phrase/sentence each. 1. When was the novel That Uncertain Feeling published? 2. What is name of the protagonist in That Uncertain Feeling ? 3. Who is the most important female character in That Uncertain Feeling ? 4. What is the profession of John Lewis? 5. Where did John Lewis work? 6. What is the name of Lewis’ wife? 7. What is the name of the play written by Old Probert? 8. Why was Elizabeth Williams interested in Probert’s play? 9. Who is Mrs. Davies? 10. In which disguise does Lewis run away from the bedroom of Mrs. Elizabeth? 11. What advice does the Dentist’s mistress give to Lewis? 12. What is the name of Mrs. Elizabeth’s husband? 13. What positions does Mr. Vernon Williams have in Aberdarcy? 14. Who is Bill Evans? 15. For which post did Lewis and Jenkins apply? 16. To whom does Lewis help at a late night? 17. Which class of society do the Williams represent? 18. Which social class does John Lewis come from? 19. What was the relation between Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Elizabeth? 20. Name two major issues discussed in this novel.

26

21. Who was the chairperson of the interview committee for the post of Sub Librarian? 22. Where does the sex act between John Lewis and Elizabeth Williams take place? 23. What does Lewis do with his job in the library? 24. Where does Lewis go after leaving the job in The Public Library? 25. Which job did Lewis get at the end of the novel? 26. What does Lisa Watkins wish from Lewis? 27. Who is with Lewis at the end of the novel? 28. Who gets the post of Sub Librarian in Aberdarcy? 29. How many children do the Lewis have? 30. What type of novel is this? 2.3.2 Answer the following questions in about 600 words each. 1. Describe That Uncertain feeling as a social novel. 2. Explain the man- woman relationship in That Uncertain Feeling . 3. Explain the class consciousness in That Uncertain Feeling . 4. Explain John Lewis as a representative protagonist of novels in 1950s. Answers to check your progress. 2.3.1 Answer the following questions in one word/phrase/sentence each. 1. 1955 2. John Lewis 3. Mrs. Elizabeth Gruffyd-Williams 4. Assistant Librarian 5. The Public Library, Aberdarcy 6. Mrs. Jean Lewis 7. The Martyr 8. Mrs. Elizabeth is the costume designer of the play.

27

9. The land lady of the apartment where Lewis lives in Aberdarcy 10. Lewis disguises as a Welsh woman 11. She advises him to ditch Elizabeth and accept her as mistress. 12. Mr. Vernon Gruffyd-Williams 13. He is a member on the Council as well as the Library Committee 14. Sexual partner of Mrs. Elizabeth 15. Sub Librarian 16. Kate Davies, the son of Mrs. Davies 17. The upper, rich class of society 18. The lower middle class or the working class 19. Mrs. Lewis and Mrs. Elizabeth were classmates 20. Class conflict, extra marital relations 21. Mr. Vernon Williams 22. on the sea beach 23. Lewis resigns the job in library 24. Lewis returns to his home town named Fforstfawr. 25. In the office of a coal mine 26. Mrs. Lisa Watkins wishes to seduce Lewis. 27. Lewis goes with his wife Jean. 28. Iruan Jenkins is appointed as Sub Librarian 29. The Lewis have two children. 30. It is a comic- satiric novel. References: Amis, Kingsley: That Uncertain Feeling ; London, Penguin Books; 1955. Patil, M.R Fictional World of Kingsley Amis, A Depiction of Material and Moral Forces ; Latur, Indotech Publications Pvt.Ltd.2012.

28

Green, Martin: The English Novel in the 20th Century ; London, Routledge & Kegan Paul, 1962. McEwan Neil: The Survival of the Novel: British Fiction in the Latter 20 th Century ; London, Macmillan; 1981. Zachary Leader: The Letters of Kingsley Amis , London, Harper Collins; 2000. JJJ

29

Unit-3 I Like It Here (1958) - Kingsley Amis

Contents 3.0 Objectives 3.1 Introduction 3.2 I Like It Here : Summary and Analysis 3.2.1 Section I 3.2.2 Section II 3.2.3 Section III 3.3 Terms to Remember 3.4 Characters 3.5 Answers to Check Your Progress : 3.6 Exercises 3.7 Books for Reference 3.0 Objectives: After studying this unit, you will be able to: a) understand Kingsley Amis as one of the significant writers in English b) know the contribution of Amis to the literary world c) interpret the novel I Like It Here d) analyze the plot of the novel and its development e) sketch and comment on the characters f) point out significant themes in the novel 3.1 Introduction: The present unit deals with the assessment of the novel I Like It Here (1958) written by Kingsley Amis. Kingsley Amis is one of the significant novelists in the

1

history of English literature who has written numbers of novels, poetry collections, short stories, anthologies, essays, television scripts and critical books on literature which have influenced the literary circle and fetched the attention of commentators who always seems to be in difficulty while making a definitive statement about his achievements. He was born on 16 th April, 1922 at Clapham in South London to William Robert Amis and Rosa Annie. He was firstly admitted to City of London School in 1940 on a scholarship and then moved to St John’s College, Oxford, again on a scholarship, in 1941, where he became friend with Philip Larkin – the friendship which shaped his formative years of literary as well as social activities. During the same year, he joined Communist Party of Great Britain and in the subsequent year he received a call in July 1942 for the national service; hence, he left Oxford and joined Royal Corps of Signals. After the three years of service, in October 1945, he returned to Oxford to complete his education and earned his degree in 1947. Meanwhile he met Hilary Bardwell in 1946 and fell in love with her; the affair resulted in the marriage in 1948. Amis joined University College of Swansea in 1949 as a lecturer in English and worked there till 1961. During the period, he became father of three children namely Philip, Martin and Sally. He broke away with the communist Party of Great Britain in 1956 after he came across with the criticism of Nikita Khrushchev, a Soviet leader, on Joseph Stalin’s speech on On the Cult of Personality and its Consequences . During 1958-1959, he began visiting United States as a Visiting Fellow in Creative Writing at Princeton University. In 1961, he left University College and joined Peterhouse, Cambridge where he soon became disappointed with the social and academic environment of Peterhouse. In 1963, he resigned from the post with the intensions of moving to Majorca, but failed to leave London. In the same year Hilary discovered Amis’ affair with Elizabeth Jane Howard, the novelist, which resulted in the divorce of the couple. Amis married Elizabeth in 1965 and moved with her to North London in 1968. However, the marriage came to an end in 1983 in the form of divorce with Elizabeth, finally leading Amis to settle with Hilary once again with her third husband. In 1995, he received a stroke and died on 22 nd October at Pancras Hospital, London. Amis has written twenty seven novels out of which twenty five novels have been published whereas the first novel entitled The Legacy (1948) is unpublished and the last novel entitled Black and White , which was written in 1995, remains

2

unfinished. Almost all of his novels provide a commentary on contemporary socio- political, economical situations that mark the development of a plot from a verbal jokes and masquerade to a hostility, sexual abuse, violence and self-destruction. Accordingly, his novels can be divided into three phases. The early phase covers the novels written during 1950s and early 1960s; the second phase covers the novels written during late 1960s, especially with the publication of the novel The Anti-Death League in 1966, and 1970s; and the last phase covers the novels written after 1980 that marks his shift in the broader themes leading to the investigations of relationships in human life. Amis’ first published novel Lucky Jim (1954) won him Somerset Maugham Award for fiction in 1955for his presentation of angry young men movement through the depiction of secret but comic life of its protagonist Jim Dixon, who neither reacts nor protests openly against the injustices in his life. His next novel That Uncertain Feeling (1955) presents the life of John Lewis, the frustrated and bored librarian in South Wales; I Like It Here (1958) depicts the journey of Garnet Bowen who goes abroad in order to earn money by writing articles; Take a Girl Like You (1960) projects the story of twenty years old girl Jenny Bunn who is courted by every man she meets; My Enemy’s Enemy (1962) presents seven different stories; One Fat Englishman (1963) deals with the alcoholic life of English publisher Roger Micheldene; and The Egyptologists (1965) presents the story of Egyptologists society. All these novels belong to the first phase of Amis’ career, which is, in, fact, the reflection of angry young man movement. His next novels which can be included in the second phase of his career are The Anti-Death League (1966), which presents the story of Army Unit preparing for Operation Apollo; I Want It Now (1968), which deals with the adventures of Ronnie Appleyard; The Green Man (1969) is the story of a ghost through the narrative of Maurice Allington; Girl, 20 (1971), presents symbolically the collapse of values through the story of Douglas Yandell; The Riverside Villas Murder (1973) is a detective novel; Ending Up (1974) sketches five old people in a country cottage who die in the end because of plots and schemes against one another; The Crime of the Century (1975) is a detective serial finally published as a novella which deals with serial killing of women; The Alteration (1976) presents the story of ten years choirboy who attempts to escape from his fate; Jake’s Thing (1978) deals with the attempts of an impotent Jake Richardson who tries to restore his libido through sex therapy; and Russian Hide-and-Seek (1980) is a

3

science fiction which depicts the future England invaded by Russians. His novels which can be included in the third phase are Stanley and the Women (1984), The Old Devils (1986), Difficulties with Girls (1988), The Folks That Live on the Hill (1990), We Are All Guilty (1991), The Russian Girl (1992), You Can’t Do Both (1994), and The Biographer’s Moustache (1995) where Amis assesses the intricate relationships between men and women who seem to be intelligent but are unable to cope up with the situations of life including marriage. 3.2 I Like It Here : Summary and Analysis: Section I Amis’ I Like It Here is his personal travel account to Portugal which was serially published by Punch and then came out in the form of a novel in 1958. The novel opens with the deportation order arriving one morning in the month of April where the telegraph boy asked for Garret Owen. Garnet Bowen, the protagonist of the novel, sensed that the telegraph means a road towards sum of money. He knew that it was the result of his discussions with an opulent American magazine which he had last month, where he described the new kind of travel article he had pretended to think desirable. He is surprised when he comes across the huge amount of money which is offered for his task. He enters into the kitchen with a smile to inform his wife who was dressing their littledaughter Sandra in the accompaniment of a song sung by Frank Sinatra. As his wife could not hear what he had been saying, he returned to the front of the house to turn off the gramophone which is playing the song ‘ You came, you saw, you conquered me .’ He comes back to the kitchen and reads the telegraph aloud once again to his wife who always wanted to go somewhere abroad. He thinks that his mother-in-law would give him money to travel abroad which he will return with the publications of articles on new matters that he will witness in his journey; and, at the same time, he will get a chance there to complete the unfinished play. A couple of years ago, he was supposed to be a novelist supporting his family with the help of journalism, wireless talks and lecturing; but in the last six months, he supposed himself to be a dramatist supporting his family with journalism, wireless talks and lecturing. The opening of the novel highlights the situation of the protagonist Garnet Bowen who seems to be in financial crisis as he expects a huge sum of money from a popular American magazine which has assigned him a task as a result of whatever he

4

had pretended about the new kind of travel article in the party last month. The telegraph boy pronounced the name of the protagonist as Garret Owen that misses the letter ‘n’ in Garnet and ‘b’ in Bowen, which highlights that he is not very popular writer but he supposes himself to be a journalist, novelist – for a while and then – dramatist and lecturer. He supports his family by writing articles to the magazine and through the radio talks, and now he looks for more permanent source to look after his family. The song on gramophone entitled ‘You came, you saw, you conquered me’ sung by Sinatra is very much significant in this context here which signifies two things, i.e. – the way he conquered the favour of American magazine and his affections towards his wife. In the first place, it can be viewed as his success in convincing the American magazine to promote him to write that article. Secondly, his wife expects an abroad tour, but he does not like going out of London; hence, the magazine is providing him an opportunity to satisfy the needs of his wife. Thus, the initial introduction to the familial background of the protagonist reveals that the novel is the mouth piece of Amis, who has dedicated the novel to his children Philip, Martin and Sally. Barbara, Garnet’s wife, always wanted to go somewhere abroad and now he thinks that it is an opportunity to take his family out. So he discusses with her various places where they can go but all those places seem to be very uninteresting for him. He does not like to go to France where there are mountains and very expensive seashores – where only rich people go. He does not like Spain as there are bullfights with which he does not want to cope up and as the Spaniard always feel very proud; and he also does not like Italy because of all the rotten old churches, museums and art galleries. Finally they both agree that they will decide the place later on as now Garnet thinks that it is time to visit Bennie Hyman who invited him for lunch. He takes three books under his arm which he intends to return to the library. The books are translated works of three French nationals on whom he has been lecturing recently. In the library, while he pays the fine, he thinks briefly about his play which he has left unfinished with the intention that he will return to the manuscript with a fresh look after some time. He does not have any problem sketching his characters off stage but the real problem is that he does not have any theme to complete the play. Garnet meets Bennie Hyman, who after a casual talk advises him to go to Portugal which is warm and the cheapest place to visit. As Garnet hesitates, Bennie

5

reveals his real motive behind sending him abroad. He says that he has listened to the talk of Garnet which he delivered in the place of Cyril who could not speak as he was ill on the twentieth anniversary of Rapid Falcons. He further asked Garnet his opinion about Wulfstan Strether whose all five novels Bennie’s firm has published. His last novel This Rough Magic was published in 1946 after which he is supposed to have retired from the art of writing like Prospero of The Tempest . In the 1950s, it was rumoured that Strether is dead. Hiscock, one of the employees in the Firm, was in touch with Strether regularly and addressed his letters. However, all the correspondence between them was secret as Strether wanted to hide his identity. When a couple of years ago, Bennie become member of the board of directors of magazine, he could not get a chance to ask Hiscock about Strether as he passed away suddenly. Now he received another manuscript called One Word More from Strether that leads him to suspect about the real identity of its author. Therefore, he expects the proper investigations in the matter and wants to confirm the identity of Strether. In this relation, he thinks Garnet is a suitable person who can make investigations in the field. He further says that he will give a good amount for the article Garnet writes in his journey, bear all the expenses of the tour and promise a job with him in the magazine. He also says that he will give Garnet the cheque of twenty-five dollars when he makes his decision. Thus, the places he discusses with his wife seem to be very uninteresting for him as he loves to stay in his homeland forever. His affections towards his homeland can be visible when he only thinks about it instead of meditating on the discussions between him and Bennie who even offered him a permanent job in the magazine if he accepts the proposal of visiting Portugal. Even his wife knows about the prejudices of Garnet who says that he cannot live with his prejudices about abroad; and, in fact, for a person like him, it is essential to know about abroad which will be helpful in his speeches as people would love to listen how well he knows about abroad rather than how well he knows about London. It is significant here to note that he does not intend to travel outside London, but wishes to be a successful writer which seems to be difficult for him. Garnet returns home with the thoughts of homeland which begins to dominate him. As he senses a children’s party in the flat, he directly goes to his study room upstairs. There he thinks of Graham Greene and wishes that Greene would die soon. He has nothing personally or aesthetically against Greene, but he does not like to add

6

things to his lecture every eighteen months or so that results from the new writings of Greene. He even wishes to switch to E. M. Forster than the new Graham Greene which is extraordinarily about abroad. It is interesting to note here that Garnet mentions the names of Graham Greene and E. M. Forster, but only refers to the novel Finnegans Wake written by Irish writer James Joyce. In fact, he himself acknowledges that he suffers from the prejudices about abroad. As he muses, Barbara comes in with a tray of tea, and asks him about his meeting with Bennie. He thinks that he should not disclose his mission directly and plans steps to tell her the real motive behind foreign trip. Hence, he tells that Bennie has suggested him to plan a trip to Portugal. However, he is surprised to see her approval for the place. Then she reveals that she had lunch with Olivia where they talked about Portugal. She further says that Olivia will arrange for their trip with the help of A.A. and the friend of Olivia’s in-laws will help them in Lisbon to fix up everything including accommodation. She even advises him that he cannot live on his prejudices about abroad. According to her, he cannot talk about how well he knows London but he can talk about how well he knows abroad. Finally Garnet accepts the proposal and decides to go to Portugal. On his way to dockyard, Garnet’s elder son David asks him different questions about how big is the ship which is taking them to Portugal that irritates him. So he forbids his son to discuss the ship and other issues such as whale and tiger. He now begins to think that despite the help he had from Bennie Hyman in fixing up the trip, he has much more to do than whatever he has expected. In their cabin, they meet Bennie Hyman who greets and tells them that he is there to see them off. He hands over the letter of introduction to old Buckmaster – the name which is given to mysterious man Strether in the office. He also gives Garnet proof of One Word More and a copy of This Rough Magic in case he needs comparison and analysis. Garnet tries to hide the reality from Barbara so he made signs to Bennie Hyman. However, Barbara thinks that they are talking about Strether only because he is a writer. In the end, Bennie says to Garnet that he is going on holiday therefore he should not worry much about this Buckmaster business; rather he should enjoy his holiday and if he requires any help he can call to the lifeline where their agent in Lisbon will help them. As the ship started sailing from Cherbourg, Garnet began to read the novel This Rough Magic . The novel is about an old painter, who thinks to stop painting as he is doing worse, his wife and a young man. He remembers the time when he was invited

7

to Birmingham to address the topic Contemporary British Novelist: Graham Greene, where after lecture, there was talk of the views, attitudes, observations, and values of Grim-Grin. His thoughts, however, are disturbed by elderly and ferocious looking American man who sits beside him and tells that the place where they are going is Madeira which is bad enough as people of the place are only interested in money making. According to him, like France, people in America are most ignorant, vulgar, immoral, godless, materialist, greedy and small minded. On the other hand, British are laziest people on the earth; hence he thinks to settle down in Lydney in Gloucestershire. However, Garnet says that Welsh people are in power all over England. He is now well drunk and as the American man takes leave; he goes downstairs where Barbara and children are still in bed. As soon as he switches on the light, Barbara asks him about what exactly Bennie was mysterious this morning. However, he tells her that they will discuss it next morning. Check Your Progress: 1. Amis’ I Like It Here was serially published by ...... a) Penguin b) Punch c) Knopf d) None of these 2. The telegraph boy pronounced the name of protagonist as ...... a) Garret Owen b) Garnet Bowen c) Garnet Owen d) Garret Bowen 3. The song sung by ...... was playing on gramophone a) Barbara b) Rosie Oates c) Frank Sinatra d) Madrigall 4. Garnet does not like ...... because of all the rotten old churches, museums and art galleries a) Spain b) France c) London d) Italy 5. Garnet delivered talk in the place of ...... on the twentieth anniversary of Rapid Falcons. a) Cyril b) Bennie c) Strether d) Greene 6. Strether retires from the art of writing like ...... a) Prospero b) Fielding c) Proust d) Austen 7...... has sent the manuscript called One Word More to publishing firm.

8

a) Graham Greene b) E. M. Forster c) James Joyce d) Wulfstan Stretcher 8. The novel Finnegans Wake written by ...... a) Graham Greene b) E. M. Forster c) James Joyce d) Wulfstan Stretcher 9...... had lunch with Olivia where they talked about Portugal. a) Bennie b) Barbara c) Garnet d) Mrs. Knowles 10. Garnet reads the novel ...... in his journey from Cherbourg. a) One Word More b) This Rough Magic c) Finnegans Wake d) I Like It Here Section II: After 60 hours of journey, the ship reaches Portugal. Garnet is very much irritated as neither C. J. C. Oates, who was going to arrange everything for them in Portugal has come to receive them nor the foreign A. A. chap, the representative of ‘Automovel Club de Portugal’ is present there. Garnet looks for Oates everywhere but could not find him so he calls the baggage porter and passes the customs office. He asks Barbara again why Oates did not come to receive them; so she says that he might have gone to the wrong dockyard. However he is sure that there must be very few ships called Rio Grande arriving this morning. Barbara asks him to look again for Oates while she bends to take their daughter Sandra into an appropriate portion on her lap. The way he deals with the entire scene after arriving at the harbour of Portugal gives the impression that he is forced to join abroad trip. Instead of looking for the safe passage towards the accommodation, he is relied on Oates for further arrangements. After a while, Oates appears who asks excuses for being late and then drives them to their accommodation which he has arranged for 185 dollars for two months. It is very cheap accommodation as there are two bedrooms, one sitting room, one maid living in, and another maid by the day. The only trouble for him there is that he has so little to write about. Garnet begins to enjoy the Portugal trip since he entered the house – eating and drinking. He also continued working on his play. However, Garnet begins to spend much more time in the house with his children. His attitude towards abroad seems to be changing in the course of time as he experience ease in the accommodation facilities. Sometimes he and his family handle the sentiments about homeland with American film song ‘Three Coins in the Fountain’. On the other hand, according to Oates, only awful people like this sort of 9

a song. He further said that Portugal is not a rich country, but things are now improving there because Salazar, the Prime Minister of Portugal, manages the budget balance. Unlike Franco, the Spanish General, who is dictator and conceited, having parades and things the whole time, Salazar is hermit and lives very quietly. Next day, Garnet and his family start their journey to Buckmaster’s house. On the way, Garnet remembers the greetings of his mother-in-law Mrs. Knowles who told her daughter to keep ‘Garnett’ up to mark. Her greetings remind him not only the laughing moralistic vigour but also of her taunt by misspelling his name. Then he begins to think about beer while the car passes from among some big trees and flowering shrubs on one side and some squat bushes arranged as if for ease of cultivation at the other side. Garnet feels if he could know the names of trees, shrubs and bushes, he could enjoy it. He also sees the houses of the peasants here and there scattered and the groups of people working in the fields. As they come to the signpost ‘a casa inglesa,’ Barbara turns the car to another track leading to Buckmaster’s house. He wondered what he had told Barbara about Strether when he had been discussing with Bennie on the day of their departure. He told Barbara that he was going to gather information which would help Bennie to launch a difficult book and he would also get information for his possible article. Meanwhile, Barbara stopped the car in a small paved courtyard of the house, which is raised off to the ground by wooden pillars and painted in white. The man comes down the wooden steps and introduces himself as Wulfstan Strether. He is a sixty years old, tall, slightly stooping person with almost white hair and hawk-like, sensitive, piercing eyes. He wears a white hat and damask extra-zonal shirt. His dialogues remind Charles Morgan – the statutory reedy tenor of his voice and older speakers’ upper class accent. He takes them to the room which is Maugham-like with wooden images, magazines and novels. Garnet feels at the moment that Buckmaster will produce some letter or other objects within a few moments to prove his identity as Wulfstan Strether. Buckmaster offers drinks to Bowen family and goes inside to take ice while Garnet glances along the pinkish wooden unvarnished bookshelves where the copies of The Customs of the Country , Under Western Eyes and Portrait of a Lady are kept. Meanwhile Buckmaster returns and asks Garnet if he has seen something amusing on the shelf. Garnet says that Portrait of a Lady reminded him of the comments of James on the shadow-play, which leads Buckmaster to ask further questions.

10

Buckmaster then expresses his feelings of gratefulness towards Garnet’s kindness of being there. He further says that he has performed what he intended and in the end he wishes to visit London to closely study the circumstances. However, it will be personal study as he is not concerned about it. He has left the practice of writing – broken his staff and liberated his Aerial – and with the publication of One Word More destroyed all letters and documents that connected him with the past. Now there are only his published works along with the books of Jane Austen, George Eliot, Hardy Conrad, James Conrad, Stendhal, Flaubert, Proust and other Great Russian writers. Garnet tries to extract some concrete information as a proof but fails in his mission. Barbara enters and suggests Garnet to take leave of Buckmaster who says that he is going to Coimbra on Friday and will return after ten days; so they will meet again when he returns. On their way back, Barbara suspects something secret behind Garnet’s meeting and comes to know that he is there to spy on Buckmaster. Barbara talks of integrity which is necessary in a man and therefore her husband should refuse to spy on Buckmaster and write it clearly to Bennie. In the evening, Barbara stopped talking about integrity when they reached the cafeteria. Soon after their first drinks, the man called Gomes arrived at their table as he listened to the talks about London. Gomes had been educated at Oxford and therefore he could not resist when he listened about London. He asked Garnet if London had changed since he left it. He occasionally reads the post-war changes in London and asks if Socialist Party still rules there. As he belongs to the Conservatives, he believes that Socialist will not bring any more changes in London. In comparison to London, Portugal is much more developing. Their discussion indirectly leads them to compare how things are improving in London as well as in Portugal. After a couple of days later, Garnet starts to work on his play. He settles the typewriter down on Oates dining table and begins to work on the ‘final first’ draft of the play, which is different from the earlier one. He begins to revise the draft only because he has time as he is not forced to participate in a game of a ball or he does not have to watch Sandra chasing. Another reason could be that the idea of the play has started to interest him. He has entitled his play as Teach Him a Lesson , which is about a nasty man on whom nasty practical jokes are played by his friends with nasty consequences. The play is similar to all other artistic creations of Garnet in which he expects to expel his mother-in-law Mrs. Knowles from his world. In fact, having his

11

way with Mrs. Knowles on paper was becoming an obsession with him and provided the sole possible reason for getting divorced from Barbara. He continues to work on the play with the hope that some real foundations to his vague suspicion that someone had used his teach him a lesson idea before. Meanwhile, he picks up the letter from his landlord who intends to know whether he is returning to his room or not. The thoughts of living in a room of rent in London and the thoughts of his mother-in-law begin to disturb him which also affects his relations with Viscount Knowland. However, as there is nothing to do until lunch, he starts reading to pass the time, where he assesses the character of Frescobaldi and feels that he has failed to justify the character on the grounds of clarity, common sense, emotional decency and general morality. Alternatively he meditates on the works of Strether that leads him to raise the question – was there really a Prospero tie-up in the works he had been reading. According to him, the unconscious Prospero thing in One Word More suggests that its Arthur is also the author of This Rough Magic which, logically thinking, relates Buckmaster with Strether. However Garnet can never be sure right now about its real author. Meanwhile the sound of Morris’ coming reminds him of his wife’s existence. He thinks that Barbara must not be allowed to prevent him from doing what he feels he wanted to do about Buckmaster. Bachixa invites Garnet to see his motor-bike which is an English machine. In Portugal, English machines are very good especially in terms of power when they are older. In fact, people are envious of Bachixa for owning English motor-bike at the Lisbon shipping office where he works. According to him, the English scooters are more spacious and sedate in comparison to German models and the Italian motor scooter, which are also favoured in Portugal. He offers Garnet a scooter for a test drive, but Garnet refuses as he could not know the gears and other things of the bike. He remembers his last motor-bike ride when he was in the Army where he has to ride the massive Army machine which has unseated him at 10 m.p.h. and then try to roll on him. Meanwhile Bachixa’s friend de Sousa appears who also begins to scrutinize the bike which is of course not liked by him. After some time Barbara arrived there and then Garnet and others stopped talking about the motor scooters. Bachixa and de Sousa appear early to the house of Oates to join the dinner party where Bowens are invited as guests. Garnet met Alec and Edit Merchant, the couple from Essex at Rio Grande , who have been hosting a party for Bowens. Garnet then added Oates, Bachixa and de Sousa in the dinner party.

12

There is usually fair in the summer months in Portugal which is in favour of the poor. As the place is crowded, Garnet fails to find Alec Marchant, so Rosie puts an announcement on the mike for Alec. Meanwhile Garnet speculates the people in the fair and finds their readiness for meeting that evening. There are Bannions who helped Marchant’s to settle in Portugal, and Parrys who are not much important but come to attend the party. These all people show consideration for each other which seems, for Garnet, to be lacking in English people. As Bowen’s family go inside, they find that Alec and Edith Marchant are waiting for them in the garden who further introduced them to Isabella Bannion, bespectacled Goanese lady in a splendid scarlet-and-green sari who created the impression of inextinguishable good-nature. She welcomes Garnet and Barbara and makes them very comfortable with her pleasing tone. After she starts to attend other guests in the party, Edith tells Garnet that Bannion are the friends of their friend, who started showing Portugal immediately after meeting them for the first time without any regard for trouble or expenses. Even they had recently attended an expedition to Fatima, where the religious festival had been on. Edith further says that Isabella Bannion is a very devout person who has done a great deal of work for the Church in Goa and received personal commendation from Salazar. She now continues her activities from the little town on the south coast of Portugal called Armacao. Meanwhile, Harry Bannion, the husband of Isabella, joins the discussion and shows his interest in listening to the impressions of Garnet about Portugal. It has now been dark in the party and plenty of lights can be seen round an area where lots of men and women are sitting at small tables. Harry Bannion stands on a table and begins to recite The Charge of the Light Bridge written by William Makepeace Longfellow. However, de Sousa begins to laugh at the performance of Harry which Alec does not like; consequently, he asks Garnet about de Sousa as he has not seen him before or he has not invited him to the party. Garnet tells Alec that de Sousa always laughs like it and it is a sign of his friendliness. At this moment, Oates tells Garnet that he will not meet Garnet next morning as he is going to receive his mother-in-law who takes care of their daughter. He further says that she is a woman of good nature when she gives favour to anyone otherwise she flies into terrible rages with the persons she does not like. It is here Garnet realizes that Oates is no longer going to be their host in Portugal and he has to make alternative arrangements for further trips.

13

Check Your Progress: 1...... is the representative of ‘Automovel Club de Portugal.’ a) C. J. C. Oates b) A. A. c) Harry d) Afilhado 2. Oates arranged Bowen’saccommodation for ...... for two months. a) 187 dollars b) 180 dollars c) 182 dollars d) 185 dollars 3. Mrs. Knowles told her daughter to keep ...... up to mark. a) Garnett b) Garnet c) Garrett d) Garret 4...... dialogues remind Garnet of Charles Morgan. a) Oates’ b) Bennie’s c) Strether’s d) Afilhado’s 5...... reminded Garnet of the comments of James on the shadow-play. a) Portrait of a Lady b) The Customs of the Country c) Under Western Eyes d) One Word More 6...... is going to Coimbra on Friday. a) Oates b) de Sousa c) Buckmaster d) Bachixa 7...... is educated at Oxford and belongs to the Conservatives. a) Bachixa b) Gomes c) de Sousa d) Oates 8...... provided Garnet the sole possible reason for getting divorced from Barbara. a) Rosie b) Emilia c) Isabella d) Mrs. Knowles 9. As Garnet fails to find Alec Marchant, ...... puts an announcement on the mike for him. a) Barbara b) Rosie c) Isabella d) de Sousa 10...... has done a great deal of work for the Church in Goa. a) Isabella b) Rosie c) Barbara d) Emilia

14

Section III: The arrival of Oates’ mother-in-law leaves Bowen family in search of new accommodation. At this stage Bannions come to help them and offer rent-free accommodation in a chalet they owned in the mountains that overlooked the coastal plain. Today, before lunch Harry has arranged a boating party for Garnet in the company of Afilhado, whereas Barbara is sent to shopping with Isabella, while Sandra is kept in the care of their maid. Afilhado takes Garnet to the harbour where he shows him some of the ships of sardine fleet in which the fishermen are restoring nets after their voyage. While doing so, they sing a sea shanty which enables them to regulate the movement. He further says that in the North and central Districts of the Portugal sardines are called as cod. Sitting in a sailing boat, Garnet feels very much impressed with the scene but at the same time he begins to wonder about abroad where there is nothing to do unless you went on the route marches round foreign Towers of London and Hampton Court. At this moment, Affilhado points to the different ship in the harbour on which ‘Suomi’ is painted on its side which means Finland in Finnish language. He further tells that the captain of the ship was murdered by its crew members when the ship was sailing from a port of called Morocco. Then the crew members sailed the ship to the present harbour, confessed their crime and surrendered themselves to the authorities. They were taken to Lisbon and then to the Finland where they experienced trial for murder. The father of the dead captain came there with intention to sell the ship but he did not know that the different kind of ship is not useful even for fishing purposes to the people in Portugal. So he experienced the number of difficulties while selling the ship. As he had no money to return he started to live in the ship itself and began to work in the fish market now. As they pass by the ship, Afilhado shows Garnet the father of the dead captain which reminded him of Mr Binns. Garnet feels that it is a marvellous story for someone older writer than himself like W. Somerset Maugham and Lars Ericsson who could tackle it satisfactorily. As they landed on the beach, Afilhado tells the joke of the Father and his old trusted servant Jose who deceived him the next day which provokes Garnet to the laughter with a man with whom he is not very much familiar. He was in fact not familiar either with the de Sousa or Bachixa but he was comfortable in their company. As they head towards the house of Bannions, Afilhado tells that Portuguese is derived from Latin and is a very pure language than Spanish or French. 15

Portuguese and Spanish are closely related languages but they are different. It is possible for the Spaniards to understand the Portuguese language because the accent is very clear, but it is not possible for the Portuguese person to understand Spaniards as their accent is very bad. After some time, they reach to the terrace of the Bannion’s house where all the necessary things related with eating and drinks are kept under a capacious umbrella. Barbara returns with the shopping that includes food for the family, clothing and footwear for herself and children and a large bottle of drink for her husband. Isabella has also bought presents for all the five Bowens. Bowen family finish their lunch at Bannion’s house and then move to the chalet where after reaching Barbara goes into the village in order to collect letter, if any, from her mother. Garnet takes the responsibility of the house now including pumping the water from the well and taking care of other animals – piglet, stray cat and stray dog that Barbara adopted – the kind of job which he liked. He goes into the sitting- room where his article for See magazine and two others are lay in drafts, a 1200 word review of a work on the Bloomsbury group sent to him, his Teach Him a Lesson which is on page 35, and a couple of sheets of jotting about Buckmaster. Meanwhile, he listens to the distant but approaching sound of horsemen and comes out only to find Barbara who tells that there is no letter from her mother. She thinks that her mother may have sent a letter at Oates’ place, but Garnet believes that Oates would have definitely given it to them. However, she does not trust on Oates as he has taken extra money from them which create his impression of being a nasty person. As Barbara diverts her attention to Sandra, Garnet opened the letter which was sent by Oates containing the message of Oates who writes that he was out at the week-end and Rosie did not know the address, so the letter sent by the neighbour of Garnet’s mother-in-law is delayed, which carried the message that Barbara’s mother is very ill and they should return immediately. Garnet arranges the return trip of Barbara and children with the help of Hyman’s agent in Lisbon, who, as he feels, is the combination of de Sousa and Bachixa. After the departure of Barbara, Bannions invite him with the intention to support his stay there, but as he reaches to them, he finds that they are, with profuse apologies, going to Northern Island for a month’s stay. However, they have made alternative arrangement of his stay at Afilhado’s priest’s place; but it becomes difficult for him to live in a cell, so he thinks of alternative way in the form of Pensao Familial which would cost money. His wallet is already running out of money due to Oates’

16

depredations and now he has to depend upon Harry Bannion for his return airline ticket. At this moment, Buckmaster who intends meeting Garnet again, comes to know his move and invites him to his house. Sitting in the veranda of the house, he thinks of his mother-in-law whom he has seen before ten days with his children when she came to see off them from London and who has arranged for their tickets of abroad trip including arranging transport of the car at Portugal. He thinks that it is the news of her ill health that leads him to arrange for Barbara’s return trip. The thoughts of Barbara are sometimes interrupted with the thoughts of Buckmaster that leads him to promise himself ‘(i) never to reveal anything that might damage Buckmaster’s claim to be Strether; (ii) if that claim was finally upheld, never to publish a word of his now-voluminous notes on the old boy without his consent.’ Buckmaster joins Garnet on the veranda before he could switch his thoughts to Barbara and asks how he would rate the literary critics. He begins to wonder why Buckmaster has initiated the discussion on critics. Buckmaster further tells that criticism is a creative act but he personally views it as an activity of a lower order than a creative work. Hence, he instructed his publisher to do not send him the copy of reviews on his work. The reason was that he did not expect the false praise which might mislead him with regard to his merits and no abuse which might discourage him.It is now very hot in the afternoon, so he goes inside to bring the beer for them. His views regarding critics and criticism raise many questions about his real identity in the mind of Garnet. Just then, a man with a girl stops car near the house that startled Buckmaster. Garnet notices the nervousness of Buckmaster with the arrival of the man who greets Buckmaster as John and then introduces his girlfriend, the name which Garnet understands as Emilia or Amelia. Buckmaster takes them to the veranda where Garnet is sitting presently and introduces the man as Dr. Lopes. Garnet feels that the whole thing may be settle down in the couple of minutes now. But Buckmaster requests Garnet to go down in the bar with Emilia/ Amelia to whom he calls sehnorita ; so Garnet moves down with Emilia. He begins to wonder that definitely Buckmaster is not Strether as Dr. Lopes greeted him with the name of John and as the way he reacted and asked Garnet to leave them alone for a while. He asks Emilia whether she knows Strether, but Emilia does not understand English and therefore could not get what he asks her. After some time Dr. Lopes finds them in the bar, takes Emilia with him and departs from the place. Garnet sits there for a while and begins to think of Barbara.

17

He begins to feel isolation there as he has never lived alone without Barbara since their marriage. He then goes upstairs towards Buckmaster humming a song She Was Poor But She Was Honest . Buckmaster tells him that Dr. Lopes had a claim on him and he becomes abusive when Buckmaster questions it. Therefore he has asked Garnet to withdraw from their company. He also hands over some letters from Oates, Bannions and Barbara. Garnet opens the letter of Barbara and starts reading where she states that her mother is alright now, but doctors have advised her complete bed rest as nerves of her stomach are overstrained. In his reverie, Garnet begins to think of his mother-in-law who becomes suddenly ill and feels sorry for Barbara who has to abort her abroad trip in order to take care of her mother. He also meditates that their neighbour should admit Mrs. Knowles in the hospital instead of informing them so that they may have continued their trip together. The next part of the letter deals with the situations in London where Barbara talks of the same sort of the people who meet in London, their cocktail parties and similar kind of talk which she does not like. Here he feels that she is attacking for first time on the people of London and their way of living. He thinks that London is stuffed with the people who do not like London as well as its cocktail parties, but, on the other hand, he likes London and those cocktail parties.Barbara concludes the letter reminding him that he will take right decision in the case of Buckmaster, finally informing how well his sons are doing and how she misses him there. He meditates here over her stylistic equivalent serious talk of face and posture. As he glances over the other letters, he finds the letter from Baron Knowland, the owner of his flat, who informed him that his agreement is at an end with effect from the last day of this month and he should see for alternative accommodation from the next month as new tenants will move their on the same day. There are only five days remaining to end the month and then his furniture will be on road; he thinks how Barbara could arrange everything and then informs about it to Bennie. Next morning, Garnet begins to wonder sitting on a chair in the shade of the tree that he has to spend four more days to sail towards his destination where he can meet once again to his family. He will have nice lunch in one of the best restaurant with Buckmaster who is busy with his a couple of business calls and then they will return to Buckmaster’s place where he will retire early to the bed. He wishes he could find if Buckmaster is genuine or not only for his own satisfaction and for that he still remembers what Emilia had said to him in Portuguese. After some time, Buckmaster

18

joins him and says that they will go to see Fielding’s tomb before lunch as Lisbon trip is incomplete without visiting it. So they move along the beautiful pavement where every stone is shaped, fitted and levelled by hand. They pass through the statues on cobbled streets, where Buckmaster suddenly stops and rings up the door bell. A girl opens a door and before Garnet gets anything, Buckmaster asks someone called Harry Grainger, which may be a password, according to Garnet, to let them in. As they step in, Garnet finds that it is a very quiet and lonely churchyard thickly planted with trees and tall shrubs. In a few moments, they reach in front of the white stone sarcophagus raised on a platform with a good deal of Latin inscription. Buckmaster becomes silent for a few moments in front of the tomb, while Garnet tries to read some of the inscriptions on it. Then, Buckmaster tells Garnet that though he pays reverence to this assured master of picaresque, he is unable to consider him (Fielding) to his equal. In the field of novel, Fielding is indeed the colossus of the eighteenth century, but he cannot feel that posterity will place Fielding beside the colossus of the twentieth century. It is here, Garnet is struck to what Emilia had said to him; and now, there is no need of investigating who is Buckmaster as Garnet clearly views it as a sign of revealing the identity of Buckmaster as Strether. Garnet and Buckmaster finish their lunch after the visit to the tomb and then move towards the point where Buckmaster has arranged a car to pick them up to the house. Garnet notices that since they stepped in the car, Buckmaster and the chauffeur are having a difference about something that causes Buckmaster to react violently towards the chauffeur. Finally they reach to the house where Garnet writes a short letter to Barbara and sent it along with a completed article and other material. After having dinner, he retires to his bedroom and begins to dream that Bachixa had been made Pope; but his sleep is disturbed by the outside voices that give impression of the argument between Buckmaster and another person. Soon he listens Buckmaster shouting for him and gets out only to find the fight between Buckmaster and chauffeur causing Buckmaster to be injured severely leading to fall the false teeth and break the leg. He gives support to Buckmaster to move on the veranda and then goes to call the doctor. Buckmaster guides him to find the address of doctor called Madrigall who knows Buckmaster as ‘ o senhor ingles .’ When he goes to the place of doctor, a woman opened a door, who is unable to understand what he says; therefore, he returns again to Buckmaster, takes a note from him in Portuguese and then succeeds in arranging doctor to nurse Buckmaster.

19

On his way back to the house in London, Garnet meets Bennie Hyman in the restaurant and reports about his abroad trip, especially Buckmaster. He confirms that Buckmaster is no one but Strether and then provides the incident at the tomb of Fielding that proved the identity of Buckmaster as Strether. Furthermore, Lopes and Emilia’s visit supports, according to him, in confirming the identity of Strether. He then has another look at the photograph in which Buckmaster is showed some twenty years younger with an inscription in ink mentioned John Wulfstan Strether. He asks Bennie about his job, but Bennie tells that he will not get a job with the magazine as old Weinstein, though is delighted with the investigations of Garnet, has promised to explain the whole thing to him in his personal letter. However, Garnet does not mind about job as Bennie has settled his problem of accommodation with the landlord when he writes him, but Bennie reveals that it was old Levine who helped in this matter. He tells Bennie that he require little refreshment to continue his writing as he likes it here as there is no difference in countries except the government and aristocrat people. He then takes leave of Bennie and takes a bus towards his house, where he thinks of his Teach Him a Lesson which he reads on the boat for once and then tears it up. He thinks to write something about a man who was forced by circumstances to do the very thing he disliked most and after doing the same, he remained as he was before. With these thoughts, he reaches to his house and feels relieved when meets to Barbara. Check Your Progress: 1. A boating party for Garnet is arranged in the company of ...... a) Afilhado b) Harry c) Strether d) Madrigall 2. The father of the dead captain reminded Garnet of ...... a) Strether b) Mr Binns c) Oates d) Affilhado 3...... are going to Northern Island for a month’s stay. a) Bowens b) Oates’ c) Bannions d) Hymans 4...... views criticism as an activity of a lower order than a creative work. a) Garnet b) Fielding c) Alec d) Buckmaster 5. Buckmaster calls ...... as sehnorita . a) Emilia b) Barbara c) Isabella d) Madrigall 20

6. Doctors have advised complete bed rest to...... as nerves of her stomach are overstrained. a) Barbara b) Rosie c) Mrs. Knowles d) Isabella 7. Lisbon trip is incomplete without visiting...... a) harbour b) chalet d) Suomi ship d) Fielding’s tomb 8. Fielding’s tomb has inscription in ...... a) Portuguese b) Latin c) Spanish d) English 9...... injured Buckmaster severely leading to fall his false teeth and break the leg. a) Dr. Lopes b) chauffeur c) Madrigall d) Garnet 10...... nurses Buckmaster when he is injured in a fight with chauffeur. a) Dr. Lopes b) Emilia c) Madrigall d) Garnet 3.3 Terms to remember: Opulent: ostentatiously rich and luxurious or lavish Frank Sinatra: Popular American singer, actor and producer The Tempest : a play of William Shakespeare Prospero: the protagonist of The Tempest Chalet: a wooden house or cottage with overhanging eaves, typically found in the Swiss Alps. Suomi: Finland (in Finnish language) a casa inglesa: An English House Aerial: a slave of Prospero in The Tempest 3.4 Characters: Garnet Bowen: Garnet Bowen is the protagonist and narrator of the novel, who puts forth the account of abroad trip in his life as well as all other characters from his own perspective, sometimes explaining and commenting on the events and judging other

21

characters who meet him in the course of journey. He is middle-aged, well-educated, clever, thin-skinned person married to Barbara and has three children named David, Mark and Sandra. In the opening of the novel, a telegraph boy mispronounce his name as Garret Owen, which indicates that he is not much popular person or widely known in the locality. He is introduced as a freelance writer who supports his family with journalism, radio talks and frequent lectures on new Graham Greene; but he seem to be not much successful as a professional writer as he barely earns the livelihood for his family. His financial position is further exposed when he thinks of borrowing money from his mother-in-law for the arrangements of the abroad trip which he will return eventually when he finds material abroad to write the articles that will earn him some money. Apart from that initially he started writing novels and then switches to write plays, but here also he fails to present a suitable theme and therefore decides to stop the writing for a while so that he may return to the manuscript after some time with fresh ideas. In the end of the novel, it is seen that he has tore the manuscript of his play and decides to write about a man who does not like things he is doing. When the American magazine firm promotes him for the abroad trip in order to write the travel article, he sees it as an opportunity to work for the publishing firm permanently. Garnet does not like to go abroad and gives different reasons for his dislikes. He does not like France where there are mountains and very expensive seashores – where only rich people go. He does not like Spain as there are bullfights with which he does not want to cope up and as the Spaniard always feel very proud; and he does not like Italy because of all the rotten old churches, museums and art galleries. However, all these reasons are his prejudices about foreign countries and love for his homeland that is London. Here, Amis seems to be mocking the disregard of English people for foreign lands. Even Garnet’s wife knows about the prejudices of Garnet who says that he cannot live with his prejudices about abroad; and, in fact, for a person like him, it is essential to know about abroad which will be helpful in his speeches as people would love to listen how well he knows about abroad rather than how well he knows about London. He has also recognized some unreasonable facts for disliking foreign nations such as unwillingness for change, dislike of fixing up complicated arrangements, and fear of making a fool of himself. As a result, he accepts the proposal of Bennie only when he promised all the expenses and help in Portugal and when Barbara revealed him that Olivia is going to make arrangements

22

of their accommodation. However, he becomes irritated when he does not find Oates or A. A. who are going to make their trip comfortable. Garnet’s meeting with Wulfstan Strether throws light on his revelation that except the government and rich people, the foreign countries are similar to his homeland. He has been sent on a mission of investigating the real identity of Strether who is known as Buckmaster. In the first, meeting it is difficult for him to know whether Buckmaster is Strether as there are no strong evidences to prove that they are two separate persons or one. The logical development between the two novels i.e. This Rough Magic and One Word More points out that Buckmaster is Strether; but Lopes-Emilia episode creates doubt in his mind. However, he finally succeeds in his mission as the scene in Fielding’s tomb present his understanding of Buckmaster’s identity as Strether. Here, he succeeds to judge the character of Buckmaster, but, on the other hand, he fails to judge the character of Oates who has cheated him and extracted extra money for the accommodation. It is his wife, who points him out how Oates is a nasty man and has made him fool. Barbara: Barbara is the wife of Garnet and mother of three children named David, Mark and Sandra. She is dutiful woman and takes care of the family very well. She is pretty, little and dark woman with strong hands and big wondering eyes. She supports her husband and never complains about his irregular employment. In fact, she believes in him and motivates him to do his work freely. She loves to go abroad and seems to be very excited when Garnet tells her about the proposal of American magazine to write a travel article. She even talks with her friend Olivia who suggests her to visit Portugal and promises to look for further arrangements with the help of a friend of her in-laws. She is better at being practical than her husband and, hence, she advises her husband to shed off his prejudices against abroad. She drives the car for Garnet in Portugal. She suspects about something mysterious between Garnet and Bennie on the day of departure. When she asks for the second time while going to the house of Buckmaster, he told her that he is going to gather information which would help Bennie to launch a difficult book and he would also get information for his possible article. On their way back, she becomes doubtful about Garnet’s meeting and comes to know that he is there to spy on Buckmaster. Hence, she talks of integrity which is necessary in a man and advises

23

her husband to refuse to spy on Buckmaster and write it clearly to Bennie. She also points out how Oates had cheated him by taking more money for the accommodation. She aborts her foreign trip in the middle as her mother becomes very serious and returns to London with children. David: Elder son of Garnet and Barbara. He asks questions about whale and tigers before their journey which irritates Garnet. Mark: Younger son of Garnet and Barbara. Sandra: Youngest daughter of Garnet and Barbara. Bennie Hyman: Bennie Hyman is a member of board of directors of American magazine called See . He is very young having an athletic figure and Nordic face and, though looks unlike a successful young publisher, is successful person in the field of publications. He persuades Garnet to visit Portugal in order to write a travel article and promises to look for all expenses as well as a permanent job in the publishing firm. When he finds that Garnet is reluctant, he reveals his real motive and wishes that Garnet should visit Strether and confirm his identity as the writer was supposed to be dead few years ago, but before few days, he has received another manuscript from him for the publication. He also helped Garnet to settle the problem of his residential accommodation with his landlord in London. Olivia: Friend of Barbara who has arranged for Bowens accommodation in Portugal. Charlie Oates: He is also known as C. J. C. Oates. He helped Garnet in Portugal to find cheapest accommodation and entertains him for a while in his mission. Rosie: Oates’ wife Bachixa: Garnet becomes his friend. de Sousa: friend of Bachixa Alec and Edith Marchant: A couple who met Garnet and family at Rio Grande . They invited Garnet to the party where they introduced them to Bannions. Isabella Bannion: A lady from Goa who lives with her husband Harry in Armacao, a coastal village in Portugal. She did a lots of service to church and therefore received a special attention of Salazar. She and her husband helped Marchants to

24

settle down in Portugal and served them free of cost. When Garnet and family meet her first time, she makes them feel comfortable in the party with her pleasant warm tone. She also helped Garnet by providing a rent free accommodation at their chalet when Oates showed his inability to entertain them with the arrival of his mother-in- law. Harry Bannion: Husband of Isabella. He intends to know the impressions of Garnet about Portugal when he first time meets him in the party hosted by Marchants. He and his wife arranged for the accommodation of Garnet’s family when Oates showed his inability. He has arranged a boating party for Garnet in the company of Afilhado, whereas Barbara is sent to shopping with Isabella, while Sandra is kept in the care of their maid. He has also made alternative arrangements of Garnet’s accommodation in the place of Afilhado’s priest when he and his wife have to leave Portugal for Northern Island for a month’s stay. Afilhado: A priest whom Bannions have adopted. Dr. Lopes: Friend of John Wulfstan Strether. Emilia: Girlfriend of Lopes. She does not understand English and when Garnet tries to know about Buckmaster from her, she speaks in Portuguese except one phrase ‘Let us drink.’ Wulfstan Strether: Wulfstan Strether is a novelist who has sent all his novels for the publication to the American publishing firm where his only contact was with the editor named Hiscock. He does not expect his identity to be revealed, therefore Hiscock kept all the correspondence between them secret. Therefore, he is also known as Buckmaster in the office. His last novel This Rough Magic was published in 1946 after which it was rumoured that he is dead. However, after a few years another manuscript of 120,000 words entitled One Word More was sent to the American magazine under his name that leads the board member to investigate his real identity by appointing Garnet under the disguise of writing travel article. When Garnet meets him, he finds him as a sixty years old, tall, slightly stooping person with almost white hair and hawk-like, sensitive, piercing eyes. He wears a white hat and damask extra-zonal shirt. His dialogues remind Charles Morgan – the statutory reedy tenor of his voice and older speakers’ upper class accent. He lives in a house which is raised off to the

25

ground by wooden pillars and painted in white. The front room is Maugham-like with wooden images, magazines and novels. He provides shelter to Garnet when Bannions left for Northern Island, where Garnet secretly tries to investigate his real identity. When Lopes comes to meet him, he sends Garnet down to the bar with Emilia as he does not want to involve him in the matter which creates doubt in Garnet’s mind. He discusses his views about critics and criticism with Garnet and tells that criticism is a creative act but he personally views it as an activity of a lower order than a creative work. Hence, he instructed his publisher to do not send him the copy of reviews on his work. The reason was that he did not expect the false praise which might mislead him with regard to his merits and no abuse which might discourage him. He takes Garnet to visit Fielding’s tomb without which the Portugal trip is incomplete where Garnet realizes that Strether is Buckmaster. Strether has an argument with the chauffeur which leads him to be wounded severely causing to break one leg. Garnet helps him to rescue from the chauffeur and calls for doctor in order to nurse the wounds. 3.5 Answers to Check Your Progress: Section I 1. b) Punch 2. a) Garret Owen 3. c) Frank Sinatra 4. d) Italy 5. a) Cyril 6. a) Prospero 7. d) Wulfstan Stretcher 8. c) James Joyce 9. b) Barbara 10. b) This Rough Magic Section II: 1. b) A. A.

26

2. d) 185 dollars 3. a) Garnett 4. c) Strether’s 5. a) Portrait of a Lady 6. c) Buckmaster 7. b) Gomes 8. d) Mrs. Knowles 9. b) Rosie 10. a) Isabella Section III: 1. a) Afilhado 2. b) Mr Binns 3. c) Bannions 4. d) Buckmaster 5. a) Emilia 6. c) Mrs. Knowles 7. d) Fielding’s tomb 8. b) Latin 9. b) chauffeur 10. c) Madrigall 3.6 Exercise: a) Answer the following questions in about 400-500 words. 1) Discuss in detail the major themes in the novel. 2) Elucidate the journey of Bowen family to abroad. 3) Comment on the role of material forces presented in the novel. 4) Write a brief note on the socio-political situations articulated in the novel.

27

5) Explain in detail the prejudices of Garnet about foreign nations. 6) Write a brief note on the moral forces depicted in the novel. b) Write short notes in about 100 to 150 words. 1) Sketch the character of Garnet 2) Comment on the financial crisis of the protagonist 3) The character of Barbara 4) The character of Wulfstan Strether 3.7 Bibliography: Amis, Kingsley. I Like It Here . London: Penguin Books Ltd., 1987. Print. McDermott, John. Kingsley Amis: An English Moralist . London: The Macmillan Press Ltd, 1989. Print. Patil, M. R. Fictional World of Kingsley Amis: A Depiction of Material and Moral Forces . Latur: Indotech Publications Pvt. Ltd., 2012. Print. https://astrofella.wordpress.com/2015/06/13/i-like-it-here-kingsley- amis/#:~:text=1958%20I%20Like%20It%20Here,resurfaced%20with%20a%20new %20novel%20%E2%80%93 https://www.enotes.com/topics/like-here/themes https://readingbug2016.wordpress.com/2018/11/01/book-review-i-like-it-here-by- kingsley-amis-1958/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kingsley_Amis JJJ

28

Unit-4 ‘I Want It Now’ by Kingslay Amis

4.0 Objectives: After studying this Unit, you will be able to: 1. Understand the novel ‘I Want It Now’. 2. Understand the Plot of the Novel. 3. Understand the characters in the novel. 4. Understand the story of the novel. 5. Understand the theme of the Novel. 6. Understand the Rich society and the Apartheid. 4.1 Introduction: Sir William Kingslay Amis is regarded as the Angry Man in mid twenty century in England. He was born on April 16, 1922 in London and died on October 22, 1995. He is a prolific writer having more the 40 books to his credit including 20 novels, 6 poetry collections, collection of essays, a memoir, short stories, radio and television scripts. He was educated at the city of London school and St. John’s College, Oxford. He took his B. A. Degree in 1949 and his education was interputted during World War II as he joined as Liefenant in Royal Corps of Signals. ‘Lucky Jim’ is his first novel published in 1954 and filmed it 1957. This first novel earned him great fame. He is known for his satirical comedies and he is a comic writer. He is a serial adulterer for much of his life. He was a great drinker. He was married with Hilary Ann Bardwell, a daughter of a civil servant. He had two sons from Hilary, Philip Amis a graphic designer and Martin Amis, a novelist and a daughter Sally Amis who died in 2000. His first marriage with Hilary broke and he married with Elizabeth Jane Howard. He lived with her from 1965 to 1983. He had no issues with Elizabeth Jane and the marriage broke in 1983. He reunited with Hilary Ann who was her third husband. The novel by the title appears that it is all about sex and enjoyment. However, after going through the novel, it appears that, though sex is at the background, it is 1

about the Rich class in England and Europe. The novel delineates how the Rich class spend time and money on drinking and costly parties. It is also about the hypocrisy of this rich and their apartheid. The novel is set at four parts; the first part is in England, the second is in Greece, the third in the USA and the last is again in London. The hero of the novel is Ronnie Apple yard, an unflappable cool. He is a television moderator for ‘Insight’ who is particularly interested in his own self advancement and the gratification of the bed. He meets one Simon Quick that is unmanageable daughter of overpowering Lady Baldock at a party. She is a frigid nymph that is more of a handful than an armful in Bed. Ronnie decides to teach Simon about love in every sense of the word. However, he finds that her reclamation is the some as his own. Characters / Cast : Major Characters : 1) Ronnie Apple yard : He is 36 years old, a TV performer and the hero of the novel. He wants to be rich and is after money. 2) Limon Quick : She is 26 years old. She is out of hand for years, she has unbalanced mentality. Her mother can’t control her. She is the heroine. 3) Lady Baldock : She is the mother of Simon Quick from her first husband. She married thrice and presently she is the wife of Lord Baldock. Before that she was Mrs. Aristo Phanou and before that she was Mrs. Quick. 4) Lord Baldock : He is a super rich man and is celled Chummy. He is mean. He is the step father of simon and hates her and makes to do all things and makes her to stay with people. He goes to the parties and is interested in going abroad, to concerts, races. Minor Characters : 1) George Part : Employed by Baldocks to give good time, make Simon Laugh. 2) Bill Hamer : He is a high-profile TV show man, 53 years old. Conducts TV programme on ‘The Rich’. 3) Kyril Vassilikos : Exporter of antiquities machine. Given party to 80 people in Greece ‘Rich are invited’.

2

4) Adrian Reich enberger and (Antonia his wife) : He is a barrister and first class advocate. Gives party to TV show producer. 5) Susan : She is a producer of ‘Monday Playhome on BBC and flat mate of Ronnie. 6) Student Mansfield : Fiance of Limon, son of Senior Mansfield the friend of Lady Baldock. 7) Sir Cecil Saxton : a rich man, and friend of Lady Baldock. Section-I Plot/Summary of the Novel Part-I – London : The first part of the novel takes place in London, a heart throb place. The story begins in the studio, where the TV show ‘Insight’ being produced. Ronnie is taking the interview of the junior Minister Mr. Phil Gibson and the opposition member Sir Thomas about National Health Prescriptions. Ronnie takes about spending money on the unproductive things on presence of military oversees or the H-bomb and keeping old people on or around subsistence level. The talk stops and the show will be back as usual on Wednesday. The show is produced by Bill Hamper who was the star and Chairman of the Bill Hamper Programme. He is 53 years old and thought the Ronnie is a threat to his position as the best-known and highest-paid performer of his type on any network and so he disliked Ronnie. After this both Bill Hamer and Ronnie go the the party hosted by Andrien Reichen berger, the first class advocate in the evening. In fact it is the party of Antonia. Mrs. Antonia welcomes the heartthrob Ronnie. There are number of people from various fields in the party, the artists, actress, army officers, writers etc. Ronnie is not much interested in alcohol but in two fields self- advancement and sex. He started his search for something worth in the party. Then he noticed Simon Quick. He doubted her as a boy or girl. Her breast was not discernible from the sweater. No makeup, but the face was very attractive. She was tall, had short haircut, harrow hips, colour as sallow grey hair. She was tall, Ronnie wondered about this girl who she was. The girl orders scotch with water and no ice. Afterwards Ronnia gives to the girs and introduced himself and asks her name. She tells that she is Simon Quick. Ronnie wonders that Simon is the name of the boy and doubts about her sex. He says that Simon is the name of the boy and asks her what

3

she was christened, she tells him that she is called Simon and should not bother about her christening. By looking at her dull dark brown eyes he thought she might be under some drug and asked her whether she is ill. The girl told him that she is all right and always so. Ronnie asks her about some kind of now with the chap a minute ago. She tells that the chap was mad and wanted something her to do which she refused and hence the chap loft. Ronnie feels that the chap may be her husband but she tells that she has no husband. Then Ronnie asks her what the chap wanted to do. She tells that the chap wanted her to go to Sardinia and not sex, just go and stay there and go on the beach and go out all the time. She then asks Ronnie what work he does. Ronnie tells that he is a writer and a broa caster, gives talks on Television and runs a show ‘Television’. She immediately asks then whether he knows Bill Hamer. Ronnie now realires that Bill is a great adulterer and his rival. He doesn’t what Bill noticing him with the girl of his acquaintance. He suggests her to go out from here and have dinner somewhere. But the girl says that she would rather go to bed. Ronnic Says that if she is tired, then some food will perk her up. However, Simon tells him that she does not feel tired and she means sex. Ronnie admits this and asks her to go to his flat in a taxi. Simon tells him that she can’t wait and fells him ‘I Want It Now’, I can’t wait, she says that there are ample rooms here and will go, ask Antanio for the room. Simon goes and tells Antonia that she wants the room to have sex with Ronnie. Mrs. Reichenberger comes with fury and retovts Ronnie remarking how he dared so. Upon this Ronnie says that he did not do anything. In fact she, on her own, asked for the room. When Mrs. Reichanberger was told that he also wanted to. Ronnie did not hesitate to admit it but told that if he takes her in a room half-an hour he would cheer herup. Mrs. Reichenberg then tells Ronnie that she is an unhalanced girl and has been completely out of hands for years. Her mother can’t control. Ronnie exprened his request over this. Mrs. Reichanberger calls her husband Adrian and asks him to send Simon to her home. Advice takes the girl out of the hall to send \Simon home. Ronnie got away without seeing Bill Hamer, thinking to meet his flat mate fat susan. He was near the taxi park area when he suddenly heard a sound from behind him. It was simon. She told him that while Advian was on telephone for calling a texi, she escaped from him. Ronnie asked her to go home but she refused, she told him that she didn’t have money, He offers her money. Then she would do anything he wanted to do and would be very quiet and would go the moment he told her to. She asks him to take her to his home, Ronnie takes her to his home in a taxi. He presses her breast white in the taxi but could not feel breast but only ribs. The 4

reach the home which is a small flat. Reaching the flat she asks him to have sex and pulls him over her body. He wants her to undress but she asks him to put off light. Ronnie puts off the light but still her was street light coming through the window. So she asks him to pull the curtains of the window. Then he starts the sex. She is very fast than Ronnie. He touches the soft part of Simon to have sex, but she is in haste. She asks him to love it immediately. Suddenly he stops and wants to go out to bring cigarettes. He asks her that she should leave the flat before he comes hack and asks her to take the money for the taxi. Before suson comes she must go out. He goes to the pub brings cigarette and returns home. He finds Simon still in bed. He pulls sheet over her body and hotices her beautiful body. He is attacted by her physical body. Simon goes in the bathroom and comes hack to go hime. She tells him that to she will walk to her home which is at Eaton Square. It is a pent house owned by her mother and she had not less than eight thousand a year net. This information induces him and decides to follow Simon had earlier asked Ronnie why he was not married. Ronnie tells that he didn’t know. In fact he wants a wife from rich family. He had found one but she was not attractive. Simon had also asked Ronnie why people have wives and husbands. Ronnie also tells that he did not know. Simon tells that her mother has a husband called Chummy. He is mean, hates her. He is just a husband, step father. He makes her to do all kinds of things, staying with people, going to parties, abroad etc. They are all terrible things for her. This information gains sympathy for Simon. Now Ronnie doesn’t want the girl to walk out of his life who is rich and suffering from sexual compulsiveness. So he tells her that he will go with her to her house. Both are going in a taxi, when Simon informs him that her mummy is called lady Baldock now. Before that she was called Mrs. Aristo phanon and before that she must have been called Mrs. Quick. She could not remember her Daddy, who was an American. Starros Aristophanon was Greek. The present step father chummy is horrible who hates her all the time. Ronnie also asks her whether she is virgin. Upon this she says that she has slept with hundreds, forty four, that is the count. Ronnie then asks her why did she do this with him in the flat. She says that she wanted him. This makes him to think over her virginity. Then they go and meet Lady Baldock. Ronnie finds that the party is going on which is attended by proprietor of a football, editor of Newspaper, businessman, builder etc. They are all drinking and smoking. Ronnie meets Lady Baldock and she welcomes him as he has brought home her problem child. She praises him being on television show. She offers costly whisky and asks the butler to call in Chummy, and he should not bring in George 5

with him. Lady Baldock says to Ronnie that Simon is the sweetest child in the world but she gets into silly scrapes. She has disastrous taste in people of she is grateful to Ronnie for bringing her home she says Simon does very much need what you maybe can give her. Upon this Ronnie says that the root of the trouble of Simon is that she has her work out keeping with her (i.e. with mummy). Then Lord Baldock is introduced to Ronnie. Lord Baldock asks him about his profession. He is offered whisky. Simon joins them and asks for whisky with water. Lady Baldock tells her husband that Ronnie is TV performer. Upon this Lord Baldock asks Ronnie Welther he knows Bill Hamber. At this time George notices Ronnie and catches his shirt and asks him how he daref to come here. In the evening at Reichenberiges party Simon refused to go with, George and goes with Ronnie. George is stopped by Lord Baldock. George charges that Ronnie is hanging around Simon. Simon also says that she found the man in Ronnie of her farey. George is asked to go out by Baldocks. Ronnie is invited to a small party on Friday by the Baldocks. The first part ends here. Section-II Part-II Malakos Poustos (in Greec) Now the scene shifts to Greece from London. It is at Malakos Islands in Greence. There is a villa of Baldocks. Lady Baldock incited Ronnie to this Villa to Cheer them up especially a Wayward girl Mona. He accepted the invitation of the Baldocks and is at Malakos by plane and ship journey. They all reach Malakos. By that time Luncheon party of Greek business people, who were friends of Lady Baldock’s Greek husband, is going on. This part of the novel is a sative on the rich. This rich class spends lot of money on parties which include costly Liquor and food. The dining tables are full of variety of drinks and food items, Ronnie and Simon do not go to this Luncheon party. On the other hand they go to bed to enjoy sex. This time Ronnie tells Simon that she of should not do anything herself in the coition. He tells her that he will do everything. She should do things when she honesty couldn’t stop herself. She should not do anything on purpose. She undrenes herself. Ronnie starts his intercourse slowly. He elicits from her the fact that although she has slept with many men, she has not enjoys sex. On the other hand, when men tried to mate with her, she was traumatized. Hence she is virgin. Ronnie starts touching slowly and gentle in safe areas and arousing sexual instinct in her body. He then unites with her physically and the thirst of sex of Simon, is satisfied for the first time. She is gratified and satisfied. 6

Then is the evening they go to the party which is arranged by Vassilikos, an exporter of machine-made antiquities and the friend of Lady Baldocks. There is an American couple called Van Pup and youngling fat lone American called Mansfield. Van Pup had a business of crab-meat and became rich. Mansfield was just rich. The party is on the islands of Poustos. Then Lord Baldock charges Ronnie that he is hanging about the chisel meaning Simon and blames him that he is after her money than love. He tells Ronnie that he has been brought here for the sake of Simon to make her laugh. His job is to give her a good time in bed and anywhere and taking her out of herself. And he is not taking the job very seriously and that makes him to cross with Ronnie. Upon this Ronnie remarks that se is a difficult girl and thinks in his mind that Baldock had failed to understand her. Lord Baldock tells Ronnie that he wants Simon to be happy. He would be grateful to him if he does this. She is bored, irritable, depressed and that must disapper from her. There must be marked improvement. By this Ronnie is Shaken. Kyrilvassiliko’s launcheon party not a big one just 70 or 80 old friends. Gins, whisky, champagne Cocktails, purplish drinks full of fruit are stood ready for the persons. Lady Baldock introduces Ronnie to Vassilios as the television programme. The Vassilikos asks him whether he knows Hammer. Where Ronnie answers in the positive. Then he informs that Hammer was maming a film on his louse but never happened. He also tells that Hammer is helping them to be better and makes them to remember that there are many things in the world which nobody can buy and sell, that is truth, love and friendship. But he himself makes lot of money. They had inch which is full of variety of items. There is one honv left for going to Malakos. We place there to rest. So Simon & Ronnie decide to go for a walk on the mountain. During this walk Simon tells Ronnie that her mother is a high class call girl from Athens and tells him that Ronnie can have her it he wants. She would give a good time. Everybody says she gives everybody a good time and she doesn’t know way Ronnie does not want her. Upon this Ronnie tells her that he does not want her but he wants Simon. This shows the life of high rich clan people. Amis is criticizing this life of the Rich. Then both Ronnie and Simon go to the temple on the mountain which belongs to Vassilikos. Ronnie now talks about his love for Simon. He admits his love not that she is rich but beautiful. Simon says that she is not beautiful having a slim body with no tits. Ronnie says she is really beautiful with her but later go away from her. Ronnie says that next week he has to go to London for work and it means not

7

going away. Then Simon asks him why he did not have sex with her. Ronnie tells that he will have sex with her if she acts as he fells. He tells her that he will start exciting sex in her and when she is excited sexually then she will have what she wants. For sexual intercourse both must be ready. Then she will have otherwise not. Earlier she was in a hurry for sex and the other was not ready for sex. So she could not have the sex in the real sense. Simon admits to act according to his action. They return to Malakos from poustos. Ronnie starts his sex with Simon and she passively participates in sexual act. He gently touches her body and satisfies her thirst of sex. She admits that she has slept with 40 men but she is virgin. She has horrible experience from these men as she always was aggressive and men were not. Now she enjoys what she wanted meaning sex. Student Mansfield is a young boy and son of Senior mans field and Lady Baldock’s friend, mans field wanted to maroy Lady Baldock but she married did not want. Now Lady Baldock wants Simon to marry with student Mansfield and he is after her. During the party Lady Baldock wants discussion on the problems of youth. She says that young people under 25 years are going into some sort of trouble with the authorities. Student Mansfield says that they are talking about youth in England. Ronnie says that the situation is some in all the developed countries and worse in the United States. Student Mansfield and other kept silent. But Lady Baldock continues. She says that youth are rebel and revolt and just not went to behave. They refuse to take responsibilities of being adult. She says that is what the problem with Simon, a problem child is. She has emotional immaturity. She has always been backward meaning not mentally backward and she asks Ronnie about his opinion. Ronnie asks whether it is about delinquents or about Simon. Lady B. Says about both. Saxton says that about delinquents, it is due to relaxation of parental discipline. Then Lady B. asks what about Mona. Saxton says that there is something in it. Lady B. says something is her whole sickness. She needs discipline, needs someone who will run her life and see she does exactly what she is told. Student Mansfield says that Mona needs to be disciplined. But Ronnie does not agree. Lady B. is angry by the answer of Ronnie and remarks whether she doesn’t understand her child. Ronnie replies that she really does not understand her daughter. He says that Simon needs continuing kindness and sympathy and affection. Lady B. asks whether they are treating Simon brutally locking her up and beating her. Ronnie tells that Lady B. does not agree. Lady B. is angry by the answer of Ronnie and remarks whether she doesn’t

8

understand her child. Ronnie replies that she really does not understand her daughter. He says that Simon needs continuing kindness and sympathy and affection. Lady B. asks whether they are treating Simon brutally, locking her up and beating her. Ronnie tells that Lady B. does not know what Simon wants and advises not to talk now about this. Lady B. continues and asks Simon about it. She agrees to Lady B. upon this she asks Ronnie to apologize. She tells that she brought Ronnie here, fed him and he repaid her, about her duty in public. She feels that she is insulted by the remark of Ronnie. Lady B. asks Ronnie to pack his inggage and leave the place immediately. Afterwords that night he had sex with Simon and it was wonderful intercourse. Section III Part-III for Charles – (USA) This part of the novel shifts to fort Charles in the USA after three months. Lady B. invites Ronnie to her other house in Deep South of America at Fort Charles. Ronnie has been invited to make contacts with his colleague Bill Hamper a high profile TV show than Ronnie. Hamper has been planning a TV show about the ‘Rich’ and Lady B. wants to appear in the show. She has invited him to rub his hose before Hamper and Simon who has been affianced with students Mansfield. Ronnie saw George Parrot, Simon, Mansfield Lady Baldock at the house. He meets George who taunts him that Simon is not in his love-Ronnie was after her money. Now she has no money, Her mother has made a trust and all the money are in the trust, Ronnie admits that in the beginning he was after money but now he is in love with her. George also tells Ronnie that Lady B. wants simon to marry student Mansfield, the son of her former lover. Ronnie tells Simon that her mother really does not want to marry her. She wants to keep with her and bully her. Her mother calls men and makes them sleep with her knowing that they will not satisfy her. That is the rich Lady Baldock’s attitude to her daughter. Ronnie tells Simon that her mother wants a sexual son who doted on his darling mum and not sexual daughter. So he advises her to escape from her. He is going back to London and she should sheak away without packing suitcase and just take passport. He promises he will make her happy all the time. All people gather for the party. The affianced student Mansfield to simon gives a long leather on America there by showing their discrimination to the Negros. He says America keeps its traditional way of life. He says that they have solved the

9

Negro problem. There is no problem of Negros, except keeping them down. They’re inferior, they always will be interior, This shows that Amis is criticizing apartheid. Mansfield says the only way to keep the Negro in his place is by fear and lash them. Upon this Ronnie comments that and also have ‘balls with Negros. This remark of Ronnie makes Lady Baldock angry and asks him to leave the place immediately and a taxi will be ready. Lady B. charges Ronnie that he has stolen three quarts of whisky and orders Burk Smith the butler to search the room Ronnie. The butler comes out empty hands. He leaves the place in the taxi to go to London, However, he is chased by a car and sees Simon coming out of the car. It was the car of parrot George. Simon has taken to go with Ronnie. She does not comes with her passport as it is kept in lock by her mother. Simon would like to take Ronnie to the place called old Boulder state park, where they will spend the night. Simon felt hurt when her mother asked him to leave. So she comes to Ronnie and tells that her mother hates him. They reach the place and both Ronnie and Simon admit their love for each other. Though both love other men and women, they were not mally in love with each other. Ronnie tells her that he did not marry with his previous girls because they more not rich. He further says that he started her loving as she was rich but now he is not going to marry with her as she is rich but because she is really beautiful. Both Ronnie and Simon purchase food and clothes and went to the old Boulder state park for the shelter. They cooked, ate food and rested for the night. In the morning, they heard the knock on the door, When he opened the door, Ronnie saw Lord Baldock with police. He told Simon that he has come to take her back but she refuses to go with him. Lord Baldock asks the police, Mr Field to explain the case in case Simon refuses to come with him. The police tells Ronnie that he will be arrested under the suspicion of taking away Simon from her recognised parental house an offence under a statute of fotheringay county of which fort Charles is a part. He will also be charged for taking false name and taking a female for immoral purpose. The police also informs Ronnie that Lord and Lady Baldock are mighty respected figures all over the Fortheringay country and doing wrong to them will not be liked very well. The police threatens Ronnie that his reputation will be spoiled and this will not be liked by his arrest and his charrer will be spoiled. Ronnie tells the police that they are taking terrible risks and tells them that he will get a lawyer, he has got friends in the press. He will appeal, bring actions. The police informs Ronnie that he is under misapprehension and he will invoke the statute. The police asks Ronnie that he will

10

give some time to think over this and to give back Simon to Lord Baldock and no action would be taken against him. Ronnie and Simon shut the door to think over this matter. Ronnie then asks why she gave information about the place to her parents. Upon this she told Bish, the second wife of her uncle the widow now as Lady Baldock got upset and heart problem and other things. Then Simon asks Ronnie to fight the case if he is arrested. He should not give up. Ronnie tells her that in that case his career would be finished because producers don’t like their people facing moral charges in the US when they are broadcasting in London and it is more likely the end of his career. Simon tells him that it is only an old job. Ronnie tells her that television is a horrible job but it is the only one he has got and doesn’t want to give it up. Simon suggests him to write books. Ronnie doesn’t listen to her. He packs the bag of Simon and hands over the bag and Simon to Lord Baldock. He opened the door and said ‘Now bugger off’. Simon went with her father. He drank whisky, ate food tried to sleep but could not. He paid the bill and next day he was in London. Part IV – London The fourth and the last of the novel takes place in London. It is after a fortnight Since Ronnie’s arrival in London from the USA. Ronnie is the studio working on the television programme ‘Insight’. The shooting is over. Ronnie could not forget Simon. She is in his head. He tried to contact her. After the shooting, Ronnie goes to the Hospitality party. He meets bill Hamer in the party. Hamer tells Ronnie that he has organized a TV programme called ‘The Rich’. Lady Baldock wanted the programme on the rich and it is a discussion with four people. The guest will be the expert on the rich, her Greek Billionaire friend, Kyril Vassilikos, Lady Baldock and the editor of the Financial observer Lord Ward, and the last-minute surprise, incisive commentater Ronnie. Bill says that he owes something to Ronnie for ‘Insight spot : Ronnie tolls Bill that Lady Baldock will refuse as soon as she sees him. Bill tells Ronnie that she will appear as she is crazy to be on the box in his programme. Bill will tell Lady Baldock that the fourth member of the discussion panel dropped out at short notice and that he asked his colleague Ronnie to help him out at the last minute and together, they will stitch her up. Ronnie asks Bill Hamer why he is doing all this. Bill tells him that he got to have sex with Lady Baldock in America, despite this she described Bill as a filthy upstart and jumped-up no body. And she is evil. He wants to humiliate her.

11

Ronnie agrees to the offer of Bill Hamer. He goes to the studio at nine o’clock at night as decided by Bill Hamer. Lady Baldock sees Ronnie. There was a gracious smile on her face instead of hostile astonishment. She says that nobody gave her any idea that he was going to be on the show tonight, thought studio is his natural habitat. She welcomes Ronnie. Bill explains her that he had a trouble filling the fourth chair at short notice and thought Ronnie is the only man to fill the fourth one. Ronnie then meets Vassilikes and they inquire about each other. Lord and Lady Upshot, Sextons, Mansfield are present. Ronnie tries to find out Simon in the audience. Neither was Lord Baldock. He thought they would be with Mac Bean, the producer of the Show. Then Lady Baldock comes on the scene. Ronnie asks her whether her daughter would be in the audience. She tells that Simon felt too tired and she would not be here. She and Lord Baldock would see the programme on the television in their house. Ronnie enquires about Simon and asks her that he heard Simon is going to marry. Lady Baldock tells him that Simon is fine, he heard right. Simon is getting married on Tuesday before Christmas at St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge. A very small affair, just the family and friends. The live discussion on the television on ‘The Rich’ started. Bill opens the discussion saying that our civilization has grown up on and around the making of money and where there is money, there are rich people. It is a fascinating crowd. He suggests to go on takings about them, who they are, what they are, what their lives are like, what part they play in their culture, The Rich. Ronnie says that under capitalist system some people are much richer than others, under feudal system a small number of people have got all the land, and under a fascist system some people got power. Anthony sparks presented some statistical data about the rich people. Bill them says that the rich, they are not a calls, are they. He asks Ronnie about them as he is not rich, like him and he has run into the rich. Ronnie knows Lady Baldock, met Mr. Vassilikos and others. Ronnie says that the rich are like human beings like ourselves. Upon this Hammer asks Ronnie to clarify., Ronnie says that the rich are different from us. They are worse by nature, they are opportunist. They have opportunities for power without responsibilities. There are plenty of horrible rich people, especially step fathers. Lady Baldock takes this attack of Ronnie personally and warns Ronnie that she will defend herself, she tells that she is not a forl not to understand the attack on her. Ronnie says that he is speaking generally. But she says that he is hiding behind this word. Vassilikes tells her that the sap is putting his point

12

of view about the rich. However, Lady B. warns him not to let her down., She got up and looking at Ronnie said, ‘you, you, you. Always you.’ Bill asks Ronnie to continue his discussion. Ronnie says that their behavior is bad, they abandon reason, justice, good manners whenever they feel. If they want to smoke, they smoke but they don’t like other people to smoke. They don’t feel at home with people who are not rich, they are afraid that they may be after their money. Lady B. asks Bill that he is giving chance only to Ronnie and she is not given. Bill says that every one will get the chance to speak. She says that she is insulted by Ronnie and Bill. Kyril is also insulted. But Kyril says that nobody is insulted. She starts her attack on Ronnie. We rich people have incited you and we are good enough. We give our food and drink. You should feel a bit ashamed of a busing the hospitality. She also tells Ronnie that she invited him to her home and gave him a free holiday in Greece and the USA. Then Bill asks Lord Upshot about his opinion and Lord upshot says that he does not agree with Ronnie. Saxton then tells him that he is not like that but half of rich people are like that like Lady Baldock. Lady Baldock doesn’t hear what sexton said and asks student Mansfield about it. Student says that she is just like that Ronnie says, according to Cecil sexton. She got up to answer but Hammer in tervened her again. Lady Baldock in high tone says that they are in conspiracy against her and asks for the reason. Vassilikos says that she is thinking everything is she, the world is she. Then Lady B. asks him whether she is like that Ronnie described. Vassilikos then says that she is like that. She behaves like some tyrant. She is not humble. She does not have a feeling about their duty in this good world. They are not good persons as god has wished. Lady Baldock starts her turn now. She starts criticizing Ronnie who had expressed his opinions on Rich people. She says that Ronnie has no manners. He has eaten food and drank her drink. He has been her house guest more than once. She has a daughter who is unmarried and, world, be rich some day and he is after her and money, Hamer intervenes and asks Ronnie to move on general interest. Ronnie Charges Lady B. that she is the most ruthless egoist in England. Again Lady B. Criticizes Ronnie who thinks of nothing but getting his hands on to money he hasn’t earned. He wants to be rich not easing if he breaks their hearts Ronnie refutes her charge and says that she is wrong and wouldn’t touch her bloody money with a barge-pole, not even she went down on her knees and begged him. MacBean the producer of the programme comes and says that it is enough, and close the show. But Lady B. says that she wants to say what she likes. MacBean agrees and says that it should be upto a point and no personal attacks and advises to maintain 13

ordinary standard of public debate. Lady B. does not give assurance of this and macbean asks her to leave the studio. She refuses to leave the studio. The producer threatens her to be removed. She challenges him to touch her and calls student Mansfield. The police inspectors come and one of them put out his hand to take Lady B. by the arm. Student Mansfield emerges and pulled him away. The other police seized Mansfield’s shoulder. Mansfield hit him and fell over then Mansfield was doubled up thoroughly. Lady Baldock made her way towards the door. Thus the programme comes to an end. Amis thoroughly exposes the sham of the rich through Lady B. Ronnie went to his flat thinking of the incidents and of Simon. Then he suddenly saw Lord Baldock at his flat. Before this he was warned by the producer that Lady B. would she him or set fire on his flat. Lord R. asks Ronnie to go to nearby pub as he is not safe in the place. They come down and Lord Baldock shows the car in which Simon in sitting. He asks Ronnie to marry with her. He takes him to the pub and expresses his regret over the cabin incident in the USA where Ronnie was chased by him. He thought Ronnie was after the money, so student was the choice. Ronnie asks him why he was not safe in his flat. Simon tells him that when she does not turn up the house and when she finds lot of clothes are gone she will realize that and that is why he was not safe. Lord Baldock asks them to go and get married, get a special licence and bribe the register to keep his mouth shut. Ronnie asks what could she do as Simon is not minor. Then Lord Baldock tells Ronnie that last night got his message that even if Lady Baldock beggar to him, he would not accept money. This made him realive that Ronnie is not after money but really in love with Simon. He takes out a small pad of pound notes and hands over to Ronnie as a wedding gift. Section IV I) Kingslay Amis criticism on the Rich people, their sex, their apartheid, and luxurious life. Kingslay Amis in the novel ‘I Want It Now’ criticizes the life of the rich people in America and in England. The writer criticizes their life, their attitude to the Negroes, their sex and their lavishly spending money on the parties with drinks. The rich people do not have any ethics of sexuality. They are after carnal enjoyment. This is clear from the very beginning of the novel. Ronnie Apple yard, is a TV show performer working on the show 'Insight', After the shooting in the studio, he is taken

14

by Bill Hamer to the hospitality party given by the advocate Richen berger. In the party there is Simon Quick, the daughter of a rich parent. She is unbalanced girl who is after satisfying physical thirst. Her male friend George parrot cannot satisfy her sexual thirst. She meeting Ronnie Appleyard and expresses her desire of sex. Ronnie tells her that they should go to his flat. But she refuses to go to his flat and says 'I Want It Now' here. She says Mrs. Richenberger house is very big and goes to ask for the room. Adrian Richenberger notices her bad habit of sex and gives to ring to her mother. Simon escapes from the place when Richenberger was on the telephone. She notices Ronnie at the park and asks him to takes her to his house. They come to the flat. The moment she comes in the house, she falls in the bed and pulls Ronnie over her body. Ronnie asks her to undress but she asks him to put out light. Ronnie puts out the light. Still, there is light coming through the window. She asks to pull the curtain. Ronnie does accordingly. Then he tries to mate with her. But Simon is in harry she wants it immediately but Ronnie can't do it. He got up and goes out to the pub for the drink and Cigarette. He does not like the haste of Simon. He ask her to go to her home and places money on the table for the taxi. When her returns he still finds Simon in the bed. He asks her to leave the house. She says that her house in nearby and would walk along with him to her house. Ronnie goes to her house and meets her parents. The party is going her house. Ronnie is provided whisky as a favour to him because he has brought their unbalanced daughter home safely. Even they invited him for the small house party next. They even invite him to Malakos and Poutos in Greece. Lord and Lady Baldock feel that Ronnie would give Simon a good time in bed and anywhere else, talk to her and make her laugh. Ronnie's job is taking out Simon, who is a difficult daughter. He should understand her ins and out. He should make her happy. Simon is irritable and depressed and Ronnie should make her happy within 48 hours. This is the reason, why Ronnie is invited to Malakos where there is house of Lady Baldock. In Malakos, there is again party in the house of Lady Baldock. There Ronnie satisfies the sexual thirst of Simon. He takes initiatives for the mating. He asks her not to take lead in the sexual act. He would take it and gently torches her the party of her body to excite her sex. She is excited sexually and there is mating of them and satisfaction of Simon. This is repeated again and again. Hence the sex is the main concern of the rich. This is also true with Lady Baldock. Lord Baldock is her third husband. Her first husband was Lord Quick and Simon i.e. Mona is from her first husband. Her second husband is Stavros Aristophanes and Lord Baldock is the third husband. Inspite this she has male 15

friends. Kyril Vassilikos is her friend and he gives a rich party at poutos in Greece. Cecil Sayton is her another friend. Mansfield is another male friend whom she loved. She also enjoyed sex with Bill hamer and Hamer himself confesses this to Ronnie. Even she later on wants to marry Simon with student Mansfield. Simon herself tells Ronnie that Lady Baldock i.e. her mother wanted a sexual son loving mother and not the husband for Simon. This all shows the sexuality of the rich. Then the rich people have different attitude towards the Negroes. There is discrimination against the black i.e. Nagroes. Ronnie is invited to fort Charles in the USA where there is also her house. Ronnie is invited by Lady Baldock to make contacts with his colleague Bill Homer who is planning a TV show about the 'Rich' and Lady Baldock wants to appear in the show. Lady Baldock wants to rub Ronnie's nose before Hamer as she has been insulted by Ronnie regarding her treatment with Simon. In the party student Mansfield affianced with Simon gives a long lecture on America. He says America keeps its traditional way of life. They have solved Negroes problems. There is no problem of Negroes except keeping them down. They're inferior they always will be inferior. The only way to keep Negro in his place is by fear and lash them. This Cleary throws light on the Apartheid. Through the month of Student Mansfield, the writer exposes the white people, Ronnie remarks on the Lecture of student Mansfield by saying that they should have 'balls' with Negroes. The world "ball" means sex. This enrages Lord Baldock and Ronnie is asked to leave the place immediately. Accordingly, he leaves but Simon is also goes with him. Then they are chased by Lord Baldock and Ronnie is threatened of arrest on the charges which are false. Aims also criticizes the rich class. Through Ronnie Appleyard, he targets the attitude of Rich people. Bill Hamer has organised TV programme on 'The Rich'. Lady Baldock wanted the programme on the 'Rich' and she would appear in the show. It is a discussion of four people. Ronnie was not in the panel. But Bill Hamer invites him by telling Lady Baldock that the fourth member dropped out at short notice and has asked Ronnie to help him out at the last minute and together they will stitch her up. Bill also tolls him that he got to have sex with her in America. Despite this she described him as a filthy upstart and jumped-up nobody. She is evil. Bill opens the live discussion on 'the Rich'. He says that over civilization has grown up on and around the making of money and where there are mondy, there are rich people. It is a fascinating crowd. Bill suggests to go on taking who they are, 16

what they are, what their lives are, what part they play in their culture. Ronnie says that the some people are rich and they have got all the money, power and land. They are like human beings our selves. Bill Hamer asks him to clarify this point. Ronnie says that the rich are different from us. They are worse by nature. They are opportunist. They have opportunity for power without responsibility. There are plenty of horrible people, especially stepfathers. Lady Baldock takes the attack personally and challenges to defend. She warns him not to let her down. She got up and started shouting at Ronnie. Ronnie says that the behaviour of rich is had, they abandon reason, justice, good manners when they feel. If they want to smoke, they smoke but they won't allow others to smoke. They don't feel at home with people who are not rich. They are afraid that the people not rich are after their money. Lady Baldock starts her attack and says that rich people invited Ronnie and they are good enough. They give food and drink and he should feel a bit ashamed of abusing hospitality. She invited him to her house in Greece and gave him a free holiday both in Greece and America. Saxton also agrees with Ronnie. Lady Baldock in high tone says that they are all in conspiracy against her. Vassilikos says that she is thinking everything is she, the world is she. Vassilikos says that Lady Baldock is like Ronnie described. He further says that she is like a tyrant. She is not humble. She does not have a feeling about their duty in this good world. They are not good persons as God has wished. Lady Baldock attacks Ronnie by saying that he has eaten her food and enjoyed costly drinks. He does not have manners. He is after her rich daughter he wants her money. Ronnie says that Lady Baldock is the most ruthless egoist in England. He says that he would not touch her bloody money with a barge - pole not even she went down on her knees and begged him. Mac Bean sees that the discussion is going far and he closes the discussion. Amis through the month of Ronnie Apple yard criticizes the rich and Lady Baldock is the representative of this class. Thus kingslay Amis throws light on the life of the rich, their attitude, their sex and extravaganza on the dinner parties. II) The Characterization in 'I Want It Now'. The novel 'I Want It Now', is a short novel with limited characters. There are not hosts of characters in the novel. The characters in the novel can be grouped as Major and Minor Characters. The major Characters are Ronnie Apployard, Simon Quick, Lady Baldock Lord Baldock and Bill Hamer. The minor characters are George

17

Parrot, Kyril Vassilikos, Cecil Saxton, Student Mansfield, Andrian Reichen berger, Susan. 1) Ronnie Appleyard and Simon Quick : He is a young man, 36 years old. He is a TV performer and connected with the show Insight and the 'Rich'. He is looking for marrying with a girl who is very rich. Once he found a rich girl but could not find her very attractive. He meets Simon Quick in the hospitality party hosted by advocate Adrian Richenberger. He notices that Simon and Parrot are in quarrel mood. Simon tells him that she wants sex there on the spot and Parrot refuses to do so. George parrot wants her to take outside for a Walk. However she tells Ronnie that she want it now. Ronnie takes her to his house. He tries to sleep with her but she is in a haste for sexual intercourse, Ronnie wants slow and steady sex. So he asks her to go to her house. She is unbalanced girl. She taken Ronnie to her house. The parents of Simon, i.e. Lord Baldock and Lady Baldock are happy to see their daughter home. Lord Baldock is her step father. Lady Baldock is her mother and Lord Baldock is her third husband. Simon is from her first husband Lord Quick. As a favour to Ronnie for bringing the wayward daughter home the Baldocks invite him for a holiday at in Greece and the USA. They want Ronnie to make Simon happy and to do everything, do what she wants. He satisfies her sexual Instinet during the holiday party at Greece and the USA. Simon is quite satisfied by Ronnio's sexual act and wants to be married Ronnie in the beginning was after her as she is the daughter of rich parents. But Later on he really falls in love with her and not after her money. But both Lord and Lady Baldock do not want Simon to marry. Lady Baldock wants a loving son and not a loving husband. However Lord Baldock is transformed by the show 'Rich' on the TV where Ronnie declares that he would not accept money from Lady Baldock even if she begs of. He takes Simon in the car to Ronnie and asks them to go marry. He even gifts a pad of pounds for the marriage ceremony. The events in the novel more around Ronnie and Simon. Hence they are the hero and heroine. 2) Lady Baldock and Lord Baldock : Lady Baldock is the mother of Simon Quick. The daughter is from her first husband. She married thrice and Lord Baldock is her third husband. Simon is his step daughter. Lord Baldock does not freat Simon well. He hates her and makes her to do all things. He makes Simon to meet different people and sleep with them. He does not want her to marry. As a result she is unbalanced and way ward. The Baldocks have employed George parrot to make Simon happy. However he would not make her Lappy. When Ronnie Appleyard

18

brings Simon home, the Baldocks invite him to holiday party at Malakos and poustas in Greece. However they charge Ronnie that he is after the money of Somon and not in love with her. They ask Ronnie to leave the place. When Simon leaves after Ronnie, Lord Baldock chases him and threatens to arrest him if Simon does not return. To save Ronnie, Simon returns with Lord Baldock. When the television talk on 'The Rich' is going on, Ronnie criticizes the rich class saying that they are opportunist for power without responsibility. There are plenty of horrible rich people. Lady Baldock is also participant in the talk and she takes the charge of Ronnie personally. She attacks Ronnie saying that she invited him for holiday party gave food and drink and he should be a bit ashamed of abusing hospitality. He is after rich daughter, wants her money and she would not give him any money. Ronnie tells her that he would not touch her bloody money even she want down her knees and begged him. The show is concluded seeing that the discussion is going out of hands. Lord Baldock was not present in the studio when the television discussion was going on. However, he was watching the discussion at home., He listens to the thoughts of Ronnie and is transformed totally. Hither to he was against Ronnie. Now he is changed and goes to the house of Ronnie with Simon and asks Ronnie to marry with Simon. Even he gives a pad of pounds as a wedding gift. 3) Minor characters : Bill Hammer, George parrot, student mansfield, kyril Vassilikos, Sir Cecil Saxton, Adrian Richenberger are the minor characters. They play the supportive role in the development of the plot of the novel. They don't have much role to play. In short the novel and limited characters in the novel. The main characters are Ronnie Appleyard, Simon Quick, Lady Baldock and Lord Baldock. Section V Exercise - Check your progress A) Answer the following questions in one world/Phrase/sentence 1) Which television show is Ronnie connected with? 2) Who is the flat mate of Ronnie? 3) Who is the producer of television show 'Insight'?

19

4) Who is Adrian Richenberger? 5) What is the real name of Simon? 6) What did Simon want in the party of Richenberger from George Parrot? 7) Where does George Parrot want simon to go to? 8) Who is the writer and a broadcaster? 9) Who says 'I Want It Now', I can't wait? 10) What did Simon Want it Now? 11) Who is Antonia? 12) How does Mrs. Richenberger describe Simon? 13) Where do Lady Baldock and Lord Baldock live? 14) What is the income of Lady Baldock a year? 15) What is Lord Baldock called? 16) What does Simon tell Ronnie about her step father? 17) Where does the Second part of the novel take place? 18) Is Simon Virgin? 19) What desire of Simon does Ronnie Satisfy in Greece 20) Who offers the party at Poustos in Greece 21) What is the business of Vassilikos? 22) What is the business of Van Pup 23) What is the job of Ronnie towards Simon? 24) While in Poustos, what does Simon tell Ronnie about her mother? 25) What Whom Lady Baldock Want Simon to marry? 26) What according to Ronnie does Simon need? 27) Where does the part third of the novel take place? 28) What is union of student Mansfield about Negroes?

20

29) Which remark of Ronnie about Negroes make Lady Beldock angry and ask him to leave fort charles? 30) Where does the last part of the novel take place? 31) Who is the producer of the television programme 'The Rich'? 32) How many participants are in the programme 'The Rich'? 33) Why does Bill Hamer take Ronnie in the show 'The Rich'? B) Answer the following questions in about 600 words each. 1) Kingslay Amis is criticizing the rich people their life style, their attitude towards the Negroes 'Explain'. 2) How does Kingslay Amis expose the Rich people. 3) Comment on the plot of the Novel 'I Want It Now' 4) There are limited major and minor characters in the Novel 'I Want it Now'. Explain. C) Write short notes on the following in about 200 worlds each. 1) Ronnie Appleyard 2) Simon Quick 3) Lady and Lord Baldock 4) The discussion on the rich people in the programme 'The Rich' 5) The event in Ford charles in the USA. Key Andwars to Question A check your progress 1) Insight 2) Susan 3) Bill Hamer 4) first class advocate 5) Mona 6) Sex with George Parrot 7) Sardinia 8) Ronnie Appleyard 9) Simon 10) Sex 11) Wife of Adrian 12) Unbalanced girl, out of hands for years 13) Eaton Square 14) not less than eight thousand a year. 15) Chummy 16) he is mean, hates her and makes to stay with people 17) Malakos and Poustos in Greece 18) yes 19) sex 21

20) Vassilikos 21) exporter of machine-made antiquities 22) business of Crab meat 23) make her laugh, give good time in bed 24) a high class call girl of Athens and gives good time to everybody 25) Student Mansfield 26) Continuing kindness, sympathy and affection 27) fort Charles in the USA 28) They are inferior 29) have balls with Negroes 30) London 31) Mac Bean 32) four 33) to take revenge on Lady Baldock References : 1) Kingslay Amis, 'I Want It Now', Jonathan Cape Thirty Bed ford square, London (1968). 2) Neill, Diana S. A Short History of the English Novel, London, Jerroid's Publishers (1971) 3) Patil M. R. Fictional World of Kingslay Amis, Latur, Indotech Publications (2012) 4) Green, Martin, The English Novel in the 20th Century, London Routldge and Kegan Paul (1920). JJJ

22