Isaac's Essay on Jeeves in the 21st Century

The Evolution of Technology

Literature opens doors to vast worlds, times and places the reader will never visit or encounter in person, yet can know well through the vehicle of written word. When analyzing literature, students are encouraged to assess a variety of elements. However, once encountering P. G. Wodehouse’s unforgettable Jeeves in the Morning, the reader finds himself overwhelmed by the brilliant characterization, as well as the ever-amusing and suspenseful twists and turns of the ingenious plot. The other literary elements seem inconsequential given the strength of Wodehouse’s irrepressible characters and clever story line. Nonetheless, the setting of Wodehouse’s Jeeves in the Morning is truly a critical factor. Although never clearly stated,Jeeves in the Morning, like almost all of Wodehouse’s Jeeves collection, takes place in a timeless world based on an idealized vision of England before World War II. While charming and picturesque, life in early 20^th century England had its limitations. To prove how significant the setting is to the indefatigable humorous happenings of Jeeves in the Morning, one need only hypothesize how the plot might have differed had the novel been set in the early 21^st century, with modern technology. Although Wodehouse’s Jeeves in the Morning appears to be a timeless tale, if the irrepressible characters which inhabit Wodehouse’s novel had been equipped with 21^st century technological tools, they would have avoided the majority of the mishaps and misfortunes that make this novel so memorable.

Although the creation of the telephone by Alexander Graham Bell in 1876 was certainly lauded as a life-changing innovation, few could have imagined the dramatic effect having a phone on oneself constantly (“24/7” in 21^st century vernacular) would be to every day encounters. With the advent of “texting,” enabling communication using simple words sent from anywhere to any locale, communication changed, as did relationships. Given the impact of these inventions, one can only imagine how significantly their existence and common usage might have impacted the plot ofJeeves in the Morning. Awakened by Jeeves to learn that his dear friend Nobby had dropped by while he was asleep (7), Bertie may have had thedelectation of seeing her in person, had she texted him regarding her last minute trip, so he would have expected her visit. Later on, when Jeeves is forced to return to London to replace the lost brooch (85), armed with a cell phone, he could have instead just called the shop from the disastrous ruins of the Wee Nooke Cottage, and simply had it sent overnight via Fed Ex, thereby avoiding having the ever-valuable Jeeves absent. All of this could have easily been done right from his cell phone. After Bertie arrives in Steeple Bumpleigh, following his catastrophic encounter with Edwin, culminating in Wee Nooke burning down (71), he ventures on to see his old friend Boko. However, unaware of Bertie’s imminent arrival, and on-edge as a victim of Edwin’s “good deeds,” Boko is caught off-guard by Bertie’s sudden “coo” (49). If instead Bertie had been dropping in on his old friend in 2010, undoubtedly he would have avoided the china ornament whizzing by his head (49) with a simple text or phone call before arrival. Indeed, Boko insists, “I’d have killed the fatted calf” had he known of Bertie's impending entrance (50).  Stuck in early 20^th century, Boko and the entire cast of characters were once again left in the dark.

Despite the numerous benefits owning a mobile communication devise would have offered Bertie, given his obvious desire to live on the cutting edge, seeming at times motivated by a preoccupation with appearing “up-to-date” and “current,” one could easily surmise that Master Bertram Wooster would not have been satisfied possessing a mere cellular telephone. NO indeed, Bertie would have indisputably been the proud proprietor of a Smart Phone, and not just any Smart Phone. No, Bertie would have insisted upon the very best. Requesting of Jeeves to thoroughly research his options, Bertie would have confidently invested in an iPhone (once he had received Jeeves' endorsement). Invariably this purchase would have led to further expenditures, including numerous “visits” to the Apple Online Store, where Bertie would have invested in endless applications for his iPhone, as he possessed reasonable means of satisfying his hobbies. Once he was thusly outfitted, things would have gone differently. Hearing Jeeves’ request for the philosophy book by Spinoza, Bertie would have immediately searched his local zip code for a store carrying it, and headed in that direction. Rather, he ended up at “The Bookery,” which in the end, led to more than mere wasted time. In addition, had Bertie’s phone had a “Friend Finder” tracking his associates and acquaintances by global positioning software, Bertie might have avoided “The Bookery” all together. Knowing Bertie, he would have surely noted the whole “roster of females” (14) he had “nearly been engaged to” in his Friend Finder. Specifically, he might have set Florence to a special alarm, intended to loudly alert Bertie if her phone was ever within a mile of him. Yet still, if his alarm had failed, Bertie being the somewhat egocentric, while always sly socialite, would have bought the new "I-So-Busy" iPhone App. Upon suddenly being confronted with his ex-fiancé Florence, flabbergasted to be found holding her book (17), finding himself truckling as usual with Florence, Bertie would have put his new app to good use. Clicking the right button, Bertie’s “I-So-Busy” would have caused his phone to ring, appearing to have an incoming call, and therebyperorating an unpleasant situation. Later, when desperate to initially find a costume for Uncle Percy and subsequently Bertie (once he relinquished his precious Sindbad the Sailor suit (194)), Jeeves or Bertie himself might have used the Google Product Finder to search for any costume within the surrounding area, or alternatively, simply searched Craig's List for suitable adornment. Failing that, if Jeeves had texted Bertie once happening upon the police uniform (195), and said something to the affect of ... "Joy and rapture - found costume – sturdy constable uniform sitting right along the river ..." Bertie would have immediately realized it was Stilton's, having just witnessed him in said river, and halted Jeeves, thereby avoiding the whole resulting series of unfortunate events. Instead, possessing neither iPhone, nor the ability to even text Jeeves out on the riverbank, Bertie is later nearly arrested, a fate which surely would have been avoided had this been set in the 21^st century.

Edwin is not a predictable chap, so one can not truly presume exactly what Edwin would do at any time, nor extrapolated what Edwin would have done, placed in the 21^st century with current technology. However, one could always hope that armed with a cell phone and possibility for text messaging, Edwin’s unceasing hebetude may at the least have been lessened. One envisions Edwin, a rather spoiled child, having affluent parents, carrying around his new iPad everywhere he ventured. Eager to always be finding “good deeds” (67) to earn scouting honors, Edwin would have uploaded his Scouting Manual to his iPad, thereby having it available to him at all times, whenever the urge to do a “good deed” should grip him. Perhaps, if he was having a good day, Edwin might have used his iPad to double-check his planned course of action, and intended tools for his “good deed.”  For example, one could hope that he would have investigated the propriety of using firecrackers to clean the soot out of a fireplace (72), before proceeding. If not, given his iPad’s search capabilities, he might have identified that pitch in a bucket looks quite different from water... But ... that may be assuming too much of dear Edwin. If he had proceeded in blowing up Wee Nooke, he would have had a chance for redemption when he found the brooch. IF upon his discovery, he had informed Bertie via text, rather than passing the brooch on to his sister “from Bertie” (141), he would have avoided the whole comedy of errors which caused Bertie to inadvertently become re-engaged to Florence (147). Indeed Jeeves too would have benefited from such an occurrence. In the story, set in the early 20^th century, upon Bertie realizing the brooch to be misplaced, immediately departs, hoping to help Bertie avoid the wrath of Aunt Agatha, the actual donor of the gift. Once Edwin found the lost treasure, Jeeves could have been rung up on his mobile, allowing his quick return. Indeed, Uncle Percy and Bertie at the least, but surely all of Steeple Bumpleigh, would have benefited had Jeeves not been “missing in action,” off retrieving the brooch in London. Later, Edwin took on the duty of finding and apprehending the so called “burglar” lurking around, but mistook Bertie to be said burglar, leaving Bertie with a significant painful remembrance of their encounter. Of course, had Edwin’s new iPad been sporting the “Friend Finder” app, which is a reasonable interpolation, given his desire to be connected with people, he would have known it was Bertie lurking about his house, and hopefully avoided the unfortunate ... meeting. Given the nature of Edwin’s sui generischaracter, it is a bit presumptuous to pretend to predict his activity in any given time period. Nonetheless, had Edwin been swayed by the appeal of modern technology, and made use of its possibilities, it may have indeed offered some relief to the many who fell victim to Edwin’s notorious “good deed.”

Expanding beyond mobile phone technology and iPads, one could presume that given Bertie’s motivation of sociability, had Jeeves in the Morning be set in 2010, he would have certainly been an avid Facebook user. While yet having grown apart since their days together at university, Bertie would have without a doubt been Stilton’s Facebook “friend.” (This assumption is made based upon the premise that Bertie would have indubitably been one of those sorry Facebook users who pretends to not care how many “friends” they have acquired, all the while expending tremendous energy seeking “friends.”) Surely Bertie would have reconnected with all his former college chaps, even in this rather shallow and superficial manner, happily claiming them all as “friends.” Though attempting to appear insouciant regarding Stilton's happenings, Bertie would have nonetheless invariably noticed long ago Stilton’s new metier decision. In addition, surely Bertie would have been alerted to his former fiancé's relationship status change, which would have once again switched from “single” to "engaged." In fact, all of this may have roused Bertie’s interest enough to have noticed that it was his old college roommate who was now the "lucky fellow" in Florence's life. Moreover, Stilton would have already known of Florence's former engagement to Bertie, being Facebook friends (allowing him the opportunity to silently stalk all his old acquaintances, as well as eligible women in his near vicinity), which would have caused him to be less suspicious of Bertie ... and perhaps a bit wiser about Florence. Despite the menace of Facebook and the poor perception it holds amongst many today, it would have unquestionably changed the dubious plot ofJeeves in the Morning.

Looking back less than a hundred years ago, the reader discovers daily life to be rather different from the way things are today. Dissimilar hobbies, food, and clothing are but a few areas where there are indeed significant disparities. Reading a novel set in early 20^th century clearly illustrates how tremendous the evolution of technology has affected the way people go about their daily lives. P. G. Wodehouse’s humorous novelJeeves in the Morning overflows with blundering characters whose lives might have been radically altered had they possessed the convenience of modern 21st century technology. Throughout the novel, the protagonist Bertie plus others encounter problems that seem insurmountable given the tools at their disposal, but rather simple for the current 21^st century smart phone owner. Searching for products nearby or simple communication with a friend informing them of an impending visit, are small things taken for granted by the modern 21^st century citizens. These seemingly minor conveniences, often underappreciated by modern users, would have transformed the whole plot of Jeeves in the Morning. Truly, one can not underestimate the significance of the element of time setting upon a novel; it has the ability to turn a hysterical tale of calamity and catastrophe into tiresome tranquility.