Jeeves Takes Charge (Characters)

Characters

Aunt Agatha

Although Bertie Wooster’s Aunt Agatha never actually appears in “Jeeves Takes Charge,” the details Bertie reveals about her as he narrates the story suggest that she disapproves of him. Bertie mentions in the beginning that his Aunt Agatha thinks that he is too dependent on Jeeves, going so far as to call the butler Bertie’s “keeper.” After Florence discovers that Bertie was unsuccessful in preventing his Uncle Willoughby’s book from being mailed to the publisher, she breaks off their engagement and informs him that his Aunt Agatha discouraged her from marrying him.

Mr. Berkeley

Mr. Berkeley is an unseen character who leaves Sir Willoughby’s estate before Bertie arrives. Edwin convinces Sir Willoughby to pretend that Mr. Berkeley has left a cigarette case in Bertie’s room as an excuse to search for the stolen book.

Edwin Craye

Edwin is Florence’s devious 14-year-old brother. He is a mischievous tattletale who feigns innocence as he torments Bertie throughout the story. Bertie describes him as a “ferret-faced kid, whom I had disliked since birth.” Nine years earlier, young Edwin led Lord Worplesdon to the spot where Bertie was sneaking a cigar, which caused “unpleasantness.” Bertie suggests to Florence that Edwin is a perfect candidate for the role of thief in her scheme, but she won’t allow it. Edwin, ever the diligent Boy Scout, uses black polish on Bertie’s brown shoes. He catches Bertie trying to hide the stolen book. Bertie nearly loses his inheritance when Edwin tries to convince Sir Willoughby that the book is in Bertie’s room.

Florence Craye

Florence Craye is Bertie’s pushy, snobby fiancee. Bertie has grown up around her family. She forces Bertie to read boring volumes of philosophy in an effort to “mold” him properly. She is staying as a guest of Bertie’s uncle, Sir Willoughby, while Bertie isin London hiring Jeeves as his new butler. She is shocked when Sir Willoughby reads her his memoirs, mainly because the book details the boisterous, drunken follies of her father, Lord Worplesdon, in his youth. She fears embarrassment for her family and bullies Bertie into stealing his uncle’s manuscript before it can be mailed to the publisher. Ultimately, Jeeves sabotages her scheme as well as her engagement plans.

Lord Emsworth

Lord Emsworth is one of several people Florence thinks will be scandalized by being mentioned in Sir Willoughby’s memoirs.

Lady Florence

See Florence Craye

Aubrey Fothergill

Aubrey is Bertie’s unseen friend in the story. At the beginning of the story, Bertie proclaims that, unlike his friend Aubrey, he will not let his valet run his life. The irony is that he does indeed end up like Aubrey when he lets Jeeves take charge.

Sir Stanley Gervase-Gervase

Sir Stanley is another person Sir Willoughby gossips about in his book.

Jeeves

Jeeves is the sly and droll butler of the title. Jeeves is hired by Bertie Wooster after Bertie catches his old butler, Meadowes, stealing socks. As Bertie is narrating the story after the fact, he has already learned his new butler’s value. He claims that Jeeves is a genius — “From the collar upward he stands alone.” It seems that Jeeves instinctually knows what Bertie needs; he immediately proves his worth after he first arrives when he fetches Bertie a hangover remedy without being asked. However, Jeeves is unafraid to show when he disapproves of Bertie — if not vocally, then in his tone and manner. Bertie is at first suspicious and defiant, but Jeeves twice saves him in the story. First, he removes Sir Willougby’s manuscript from Bertie’s drawer to cover up the theft and saves Bertie’s inheritance. However, he promptly mails the manuscript despite Lady Florence’s wishes. Bertie fires Jeeves when she cancels the engagement. Although Bertie doesn’t immediately realize it, Jeeves has saved him again, this time from a miserable marriage. Bertie rehires Jeeves after some consideration. He finally gives in to the same impulse that guides his friend Aubrey, allowing the butler to take charge and graciously disowning the suit that Jeeves has already given away.

Meadowes

Meadowes is the thieving butler replaced by Jeeves. He is fired when Bertie catches him stealing socks. Bertie tries to blame him for his uncle’s missing book, but Sir Willoughby points out that he was already gone when the book disappeared.

Oakshott

Oakshott is Sir Willoughby’s butler.

Sir Willoughby

See Uncle Willoughby

Uncle Willoughby

Bertie Wooster is financially dependent on his uncle, Sir Willoughby. The old man is insistent on publishing his memoirs, “Recollections of a Long Life.” He and his friends, now respectable gentlemen, were apparently quite rowdy in their youth. The stories scandalize Lady Florence and she devises a scheme in which Bertie reluctantly steals his uncle’s manuscript. Florence’s bratty brother Edwin spies Bertie with the book and informs Sir Willoughby. Bertie’s uncle is at first skeptical, but Edwin convinces him to search Bertie’s room. Jeeves removes the book before Sir Willoughby can find it and sends it to the publisher.

Bertie Wooster

Bertie Wooster is the likable but hapless narrator of “Jeeves Takes Charge.” Bertie is a young man of the leisure class who is financially dependent upon his Uncle Willoughby. The story is an introduction to his remarkable butler, Jeeves. Bertie admits at the very beginning that he has become hopelessly dependent on his valet. Jeeves displays his ingenuity soon after he arrives and saves Bertie from his fiancee Florence and her ridiculous schemes. Bertie is seemingly oblivious to what Jeeves recognizes immediately: Florence is a shrew. She is a snob who forces him to read dry philosophy that makes no sense to him, and she puts him in a difficult predicament when she insists that he steal his uncle’s manuscript. Bertie foolishly agrees to her plot, even though he knows that it could lead to financial ruin if he is caught. Bertie is not only helpless against Florence; he is bedeviled by her sneaky younger brother, Edwin. The boy leads Sir Willoughby to the scene of the crime, but Jeeves removes the evidence before they can find it. Bertie’s admiration quickly goes sour when Florence breaks off their engagement after the manuscript is published despite his efforts. Jeeves has of course determined that it was in Bertie’s best interests if the manuscript was published. Bertie fires Jeeves, but after some thought, he realizes that Jeeves was right. Bertie, although somewhat dim, is modest enough to admit his dependence upon Jeeves.

Lord Worplesdon

Lord Worplesdon is the eccentric father of Florence and Edwin Craye. Sir Willoughby writes of his youthful friendship with Lord Worplesdon in his “Recollections of a Long Life.” Florence is scandalized by the revelation that her father, after consuming a quart and a half of champagne, and Sir Willoughby were booted from a music-hall in 1887. This leads to the theft of Sir Willougby’s manuscript. Bertie notes that a few years after the events of the story, Lord Worplesdon leaves his family for France after one too many servings of eggs.

Media Adaptations

• Stephen Fry and Hugh Laurie played Jeeves and Wooster in Granada’s production of several Wodehouse stories on British television from 1990 to 1993. Many episodes were broadcast in the United States on PBS as part of the Mobil Masterpiece Theatre series. All of the episodes are available on videotape.
• There have been more than 50 audio-tape versions of P. G. Wodehouse’s stories recorded, including a tape featuring eight stories from Carry On, Jeeves read by Martin Jarvis.