Lucky Jim Society and Class Quotes

Bertrand implies here that he's a cut above painters who paint ordinary pictures. Notices his kind of disparaging mention of "trade unionists"? Aren't you glad you just had our history lesson? In other words, he's saying "I don't paint pictures for the common rabble; I'm a serious artist." He's trying to elevate people's perception of his social class.

Now Welch might just be your run-of-the-mill professor. But if the guy has a maidservant working for him, he's doing OK. This helps us to realize the difference between Jim's financial situation and Welch's, and why Jim's hoping for a permanent position at the college. He doesn't much like his field, but he needs a better income.

After explaining that he's gunning for a job as Mr. Gore-Urquhart's private secretary, Bertrand feels the need to show that he's not just going to be some assistant for the rest of his life. He wants people to know that first and foremost, he's a great artist, and that rich Uncle Julius is simply going to be a patron of his grand career.

Hoping to interrupt a fight brewing between Jim and Bertrand, Margaret steps in and tells Christine about what a great man her rich uncle Julius is for supporting the local arts scene. Hey, it pays to be rich, because people are always kowtowing to you and your relatives.

Even though she just complimented Mr. Gore-Urquhart for being a great supporter of the arts, Margaret adds a bit of nuance when she says that the man's generous because he can afford to be. In other words, Margaret's implying that if everyone had as much money as Gore-Urquhart, they might be just as generous. We're never really told where old G-U got his money.

In a rare political discussion, Jim shows that he supports taxing the rich to help the poor. Bertrand and Christine are having none of it, so Jim decides to use a simple example to talk about how it makes perfect sense to take a little bit from the people who have everything and giving it to the people who have nothing. Hmm—arguments about the redistribution of wealth? Some things never change.

Christine and Bertrand think the country's tax system is basically designed to "soak the rich." This discussion reassures Jim that he might be able to get over Christine's good looks since she's obviously not a compassionate person.

As far as Bertrand's concerned, the rich might decide to stop supporting the arts if the government takes their money and gives it to the poor. For Bertrand, the rich have to stay rich if artists like him are going to thrive. It's all about self-interest, which is what we're meant to see in this passage.

When it comes down to it, Bertrand just thinks that rich people are flat-out better than everyone else. He doesn't seem to realize (or maybe he does) that rich people are charming because they have the luxury of being charming.

What makes this social-class move surprising is that Jim's an important guest at this party, or he should be. It's his talk that's the reason for the party. Even that doesn't prevent the bigwigs from ignoring him.