# The Romance of a Bulb-Squeezer explained — Mr. Mulliner Stories

> Chapter companion for Mr. Mulliner Stories by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Mr. Mulliner tells the story of his cousin Clarence, a fashionable photographer who becomes entangled in a bizarre international intrigue. After a notorious assault case involving the Mayor of Tooting East, Clarence is kidnapped by the Mayor and forced to photograph his daughter. Using his wits and hunger-induced determination, Clarence chews through his ropes to escape.

## Themes in this chapter

### Absurdity of Modern Life

The chapter satirizes the ridiculousness of international politics and the vanity of clients, as seen in the kidnapping plot and the Mayor's obsession with having his daughter photographed.

### Appearance vs. Reality

Clarence's professional duty to photograph beautiful women contrasts with his personal disdain for them, and the masked visitor's claim of being handsome is undercut by his need for secrecy.

## Character check-ins

### Clarence Mulliner

The protagonist, a fashionable photographer who is kidnapped and forced to photograph the Mayor's daughter.

### Mr. Mulliner

The narrator, who recounts the story of his cousin Clarence in the bar-parlour of the Anglers' Rest.

### Sir Joseph Bodger

The barrister who successfully defends Clarence in the Biggs v. Mulliner case.

### Biggs

The Mayor of Tooting East who sues Clarence for assault and later kidnaps him.

## Key lines

> Statistics show that the two classes of the community which least often marry are milkmen and fashionable photographers—milkmen because they see women too early in the morning, and fashionable photographers because their days are spent in an atmosphere of feminine loveliness so monotonous that they become surfeited and morose.

According to statistics, milkmen and fashionable photographers are the least likely to marry: milkmen because they see women too early, and photographers because they are overwhelmed by constant exposure to beautiful women.

_Mr. Mulliner explains why photographers often remain unmarried._

> I am entering the dining-room of my club... I have selected roast duck with green peas and new potatoes... The waiter is now bringing my order. I have taken up my knife and fork. I am beginning to eat.

Clarence imagines himself at his club, ordering a lavish meal, to trick his mind into chewing through the rope binding him.

_Clarence uses autosuggestion to free himself from captivity._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mr_mulliner_stories_se/chapters/the-romance-of-a-bulb-squeezer
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mr_mulliner_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/mr_mulliner_stories_se/chapters