# XII: “We, the Undersigned—” explained — A Prefect’s Uncle

> Chapter companion for A Prefect’s Uncle by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

The Bishop intervenes to stop Monk and Danvers from bullying Wilson in the senior day-room, leading to a confrontation that humiliates Monk. Later, Monk organizes a mass meeting where the Mob votes to strike against field-outs and signs a round-robin demanding Gethryn's resignation as House captain. A deputation approaches Reece to join their cause.

## Themes in this chapter

### Bullying and Power Dynamics

Monk and Danvers bully Wilson with a walking-stick, but Gethryn's intervention reverses the power dynamic, humiliating Monk.

### Authority and Leadership

Gethryn uses his authority as head of house to stop the bullying, but later faces a challenge to his captaincy through the round-robin.

### Friendship and Loyalty

The Mob's collective action against Gethryn contrasts with the loyalty expected in house teams; Reece's potential signing tests allegiances.

### Sportsmanship and Competition

Monk's selfish attitude toward cricket and the strike over field-outs highlight tensions between individual glory and team discipline.

## Character check-ins

### Mr. Gethryn

Intervenes to stop the bullying of Wilson, confronts Monk, and later becomes the target of a round-robin demanding his resignation as House captain.

### Monk

Leads the bullying of Wilson with Danvers, is humiliated by Gethryn, and later organizes a mass meeting and round-robin against Gethryn.

### Wilson

Victim of bullying by Monk and Danvers; rescued by Gethryn.

### Danvers

Assists Monk in bullying Wilson and later joins the deputation to recruit Reece for the round-robin.

### Waterford

Proposes the round-robin idea and joins the deputation to Reece.

### Reece

Approached by the deputation to sign the round-robin.

### Perkins

Ornament of the senior day-room; his complaint about Wilson triggers the bullying incident.

### Bishop

Alias for Gethryn; intervenes in the bullying and later reflects on the incident.

## Key lines

> In the centre of the group was Wilson, leaning over the study table, not so much as if he liked so leaning as because he was held in that position by Danvers. In the background stood Monk, armed with a walking-stick.

Wilson was forced over the table by Danvers while Monk stood ready with a stick, clearly the aggressors.

_Describes the bullying scene that Gethryn interrupts._

> The Bishop began to look dangerous. This had all the outward aspect of a case of bullying. Under Reynolds's leadership Leicester's had gone in rather extensively for bullying, and the Bishop had waited hungrily for a chance of catching somebody actively engaged in the sport, so that he might drop heavily on that person and make life unpleasant for him.

Gethryn saw the bullying and was eager to punish the perpetrators, having long sought such an opportunity.

_Reveals Gethryn's determination to stop bullying in his house._

> A mass meeting of the Mob was called in his study, and it was unanimously voted that field-outs in the morning were undesirable, and that it would be judicious if the team were to strike.

Monk convened a meeting where the Mob decided to protest the early field-outs by going on strike.

_Shows the organized resistance against Gethryn's captaincy._

> Let's sign a round-robin refusing to play in the House matches unless Gethryn resigns the captaincy and the field-outs stop.

Waterford proposed a signed petition demanding Gethryn's resignation and an end to field-outs.

_The round-robin becomes the central conflict of the chapter._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters/xii-we-the-undersigned
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/a_prefect_s_uncle_se/chapters