# Stirring Times on the Common explained — Psmith in the City

> Chapter companion for Psmith in the City by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Psmith and Mike accompany Mr. Waller to a Socialist meeting on Clapham Common. Mr. Waller's energetic speech attracts a crowd, but his temperance remarks turn the audience hostile. When a man named Bill picks up a stone to throw at Mr. Waller, Mike tackles him, leading to a physical fight. Psmith watches nervously, ready to intervene if Bill's friends join in.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Performance and Identity

Mr. Waller's theatrical speaking style and the crowd's reaction highlight how public performance shapes identity and perception.

### Humor and Absurdity

The absurdity of the meeting—with Prebble's unintelligible speech and Waller's hopping—is played for comic effect.

### Resilience and Adaptation

Mike's quick action to tackle Bill shows his ability to adapt to a threatening situation, despite his initial reluctance.

## Character check-ins

### Psmith

Accompanies Mike and Mr. Waller to the meeting; expresses interest in oratory and keeps watch during the fight.

### Mike Jackson

Reluctantly attends the meeting; tackles Bill to prevent him from throwing a stone at Mr. Waller, then fights him.

### Mr. Waller

Speaks passionately at the meeting; his temperance remarks anger the crowd, leading to hostility.

### Bill

A thickset youth in a cloth cap who picks up a stone to throw at Mr. Waller; fights Mike after being tackled.

### Comrade Wotherspoon

One of the speakers at the meeting; his audience dwindles as Mr. Waller attracts the crowd.

### Prebble

Another speaker at the meeting; his speech is hard to understand due to a palate defect, but he draws laughter.

## Key lines

> Comrade Waller means well, but if he shoots it at them like this much more there'll be a bit of an imbroglio.

Psmith warns that Mr. Waller's aggressive speech will cause trouble.

_Psmith's understated comment foreshadows the violence._

> The first thing to do is to ascertain that such a place as Clapham Common really exists.

Psmith jokes about the difficulty of finding Clapham Common.

_Psmith's characteristic humor before the meeting._

> I may possibly say a few words, if the spirit moves me. Who am I that I should deny people a simple pleasure?

Psmith hints he might give a speech at the meeting.

_Psmith's playful threat alarms Mike._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters/xv-stirring-times-on-the-common
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/psmith_in_the_city_se/chapters