Volume 1
A Question of Upbringing begins at "School" (modeled on Eton College) in 1921. Jenkins rooms with friends
Stringham and Templer, and has his first encounter with Widmerpool.
Jenkins' Uncle Giles pays an unexpected visit to the house, and leaves
illegal cigarette smoke in his wake. The three boys tease Le Bas, the housemaster, with the "Braddock alias Thorne" prank.
Jenkins has lunch at the Stringhams', meeting, Mrs. Fox, Stringham's mother; Buster, her husband; and Tuffy Weedon, her secretary. Later, he visits the Templers' home, meeting Jean Templer, with whom he becomes infatuated, Sunny Farebrother, and Gwen McReith, with whom Templer is having an affair. He watches another character, Jimmy Stripling, try unsuccessfully to play a practical joke on Farebrother. Jenkins travels to a guesthouse, La Grenadiere, in France to improve his French. Widmerpool is already at there and shows his diplomatic skill by settling an argument between two Scandinavian guests. While there Jenkins falls in love with Suzette, but when he works up the courage to express himself, he accidentally finds himself speaking to the wrong woman. At "University," or Oxford, Jenkins attends the don Sillery's teas with Stringham, where they meet other undergraduates: Mark Members, J.G. Quiggin, and recent graduate Bill Truscott. Stringham leaves Oxford and goes to work for industrialist Sir Magnus Donners with Truscott. Two significant fallouts occur - Stringham and Templer's paths diverge after a car accident; and Stringham stands up Jenkins for dinner to go on a date. Unexpectedly Jenkins dines instead with Uncle Giles. |
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These are the major characters in this volume, organized by chapter: Chapter 1 Jenkins - the narrator Widmerpool - an unpopular student at Eton Charles Stringham - a schoolmate and friend of Jenkins Peter Templer - a schoolmate and friend of Jenkins Le Bas - Housemaster at Eton Uncle Giles - Jenkins' disreputable uncle Chapter 2 Buster Foxe - Stringham's stepfather Miss Weedon - Stringham's sister's old governess, now secretary to Charles' mother Mrs. Foxe - Stringham's mother Jean Templer - Templer's younger sister and Jenkins' love interest Sunny Farebrother - An associate of Templer's father Mr. Templer - Templer's father Jimmy Stripling - Templer's brother-in-law, a racing motorist Lady Gwen McReith - a Templer family friend Babs - Templer's other sister, married to Stripling Chapter 3 Suzette - Jenkins' French love Madame Leroy and Commandant Leroy - owners of La Grenadiere Mme. and M. Dubuisson - guests at La Grenadiere M. Orn - Norwegian tennis player, guest at La Grenadiere M. Lundquist - Swedish tennis player, guest at La Grenadiere Chapter 4 J. G. Quiggin - scholarship student at Oxford Mark Members - accomplished poet; student at Oxford Sillery - don at Oxford Bill Truscott - employee of Sir Magnus Donners Jimmy Brent and Bob Duport - friends and business associates of Templer |
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Luke Spears In A Question of Upbringing, Powell creates his world and begins, through a series of seemingly unrelated, random events, and the introduction of a group of diverse, interesting characters, to trace through it the lives of four noticeably different young men. Although it is a considerably short novel, and in some ways very narrow in its scope, Question manages to suggest a vast and unpredictable world. This vastness and unpredictability, the epic nature of the overall series, exists primarily because of the novel's host of eccentric and protean characters. Powell begins the weaving of a web of human relationships and personalities that will no doubt be continuously evolved and expanded throughout the rest of the series, and that form its foundation. There appear to be three different types of characters in this book - those who have some meaningful relevance to the plot and who will probably resurface in future novels, those who pass into the narrator's world for a time and then disappear forever, and the four main characters: Jenkins, Stringham, Templer, and Widmerpool. Together, these three types of characters create the sense of enormity that exists in Question, despite the fact that the novel is based almost completely on events that take place among a select group of English elite. The four "main characters" of the book are not easily identified as "main." Jenkins, though the narrator and perhaps the central character, is not truly the protagonist. We see little of his personal behavior, understandably, because he is always describing the situation at hand, and the little we do see of his behavior is in a different context from all the other characters. For this reason, while we may have a good sense of what Stringham and Templer and Widmerpool are like, we do not have this sense to such a degree with Jenkins. Overall, this novel does not seem merely to be the story of Jenkins' life; rather, it is the story of how he sees other people's lives. Though much of his own life is described in the process, his own experience is not central. As far as the two character categories beside the main one are concerned, it is difficult to say who belongs in which, namely because at this point we have only read the first of twelve books. It seems clear, however, that figures such as Uncle Giles, Jean Templer, and Le Bas will continue to turn up here and there. It is doubtful that someone like Professor Szczepanowski will reappear. Still, the possibility that any character in the book could pop up at any moment, and the fact that some will, makes the world all the more realistic. Also, the influence of time in Question on the characters should not be neglected. It seems to pass very quickly, and sometimes disproportionately - Powell devotes an equal amount of pages to Jenkins' entire Eton career as to one summer in France. Consequently, the changes we see in different characters, at least in this first book, take place quickly and surprisingly. We have already seen significant changes in the reclusive yet self-content Widmerpool, and in the very friendship between Jenkins and Stringham and Templer. The way Powell handles the characters of this book - from their constantly changing personalities and relationships to their fluctuating involvement in the plot - contributes greatly to the realism and vastness of this novel. Jenkins, as narrator, supports these effects by describing a world that is not - unlike those of many narrators - centered around his own life. |
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Jason Myung In A Question of Upbringing we repeatedly come across a character known as Widmerpool. He appears to be the stereotypical outcast of school society, being the target of jokes and pranks. However, he reveals traits that we would not expect him to have: resolve and determination. Throughout the story, there are scenes in which Widmerpool is ridiculed and made fun of. Despite all this, he remains silent and does not complain. His lack of reaction makes us wonder what he is really thinking. We might say that he has something great and devious planned, a sort of "Revenge of the Nerds" idea to show the world what he can do. On the other hand, we could just as well argue that Widmerpool is just trying to get by in life without any trouble. We find a situation that stimulates the debate over Widmerpool's curious behavior in the first chapter. The incident, which involves a banana getting squished into Widmerpool's face, is a fine example of the qualities that many may not see in him. Instead of making a scene, he decides to take off his glasses, wipe his face, his glasses and his clothes. He mutters that it is "quite all right." And while this may have very well infuriated Widmerpool internally, the ability to suppress anger and embarrassment externally to this degree is astonishing. Is he being calm and cool about the incident because he truly doesn't mind? Or is he is quietly plotting a nasty revenge? A scene where Jenkins and the reader actually do get a view of the hidden side of Widmerpool occurs in France, while Jenkins is studying at La Grenedierie. Here Widmerpool solves a dispute between two men, Orn and Lundquist, who have been at odds for as long as one can remember. After hearing of this great show of diplomacy on Widmerpool's part from Widmerpool himself, Jenkins retorts with a witty remark: "Did you tell them not to be such bloody fools?" While one would probably think that Widmerpool would normally retreat from such a comment, Widmerpool does something surprising: he stands up for himself. Widmerpool goes on to discuss Jenkins' poor manners in the situation and points out all the things that are seemingly wrong with him. He starts by being very blunt: "Jenkins, do you mind home truths? . . . First, you are a great deal too fond of criticizing people: secondly, when a man's self esteem has been injured he is to be commiserated with, not blamed. You will find it a help in life to remember these two points." Such strong comments show that Widmerpool may indeed be gaining the confidence he needs to perhaps pursue the great goals and ambitions that he has set for himself. Such ambition is seen in Widmerpool for the first time by Jenkins, even if he does not necessarily agree with Widmerpool's choices of career: business and politics. Widmerpool is definitely one to be watched very carefully in this novel. His determination and resolve may take him far in life. While he may not be much right now, he could become someone that Jenkins will look upon with great respect. |
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Travis Pantin One important theme throughout A Question of Upbringing, and indeed, throughout the entire Dance to the Music of Time, is movement. The meetings, separations, and changes that take place for each of the characters in A Question of Upbringing embody the motion of the "dance" that Powell has created. However, during Question, one character remains fixed amidst the change; like a rock surrounded by a flowing stream. Widmerpool, the character who has no friends, changes little, and "lives a life of abnegation," does not take part in the dance, and thereby defines the tempo and direction of those about him. It is against this fixed point that the swirling eddies of Question are expressed; against this constant that the many human variables are defined. From the beginning, Jenkins describes Widmerpool as radically different, as a creature "[marked] out from the rest of mankind." People around him seem to find something disturbing in his existence; creating scandals about things as unremarkable as overcoats "insomuch that an element in Widmerpool himself proved indigestible to the community." Though Widmerpool appears in few of the scenes in Question, Powell undoubtedly chose to make him and his actions vital in our understanding of the other main characters. The first mention of Peter Templer is in the relation of a story concerning Widmerpool. While telling this story, Stringham discloses how Widmerpool looks to him by presenting the first example of an "exquisitely Templer phrase": "He's so wet you could shoot snipe off him." Before Templer even enters the room, the reader rightly develops a portrait of Peter as bawdy, critical, and aloof. The reader's first meeting with Stringham is also centered around Widmerpool narrative-telling. While relaying stories of the "overcoat incident," "banana incident," and "the Ackworth incident," Stringham reveals himself, through his opinionated interjections, as slightly detached, cynical, and aristocratic. Later, his comment that "[Widmerpool] will be the death of me," obviously foretells Powell's intention to bring the two together again later down the road. Jenkins, the narrator, reveals to the reader that "it is not always easy... to judge others by a consistent standard." This seems evident insomuch as his descriptions and criticisms of Widmerpool, and others as well, often change tone. However, if we also understand Jenkins' statement: "the changes in Widmerpool... emphasized the metamorphosis that had happened within myself," we begin to see that Jenkins' fluctuating descriptions of Widmerpool, and indeed other characters, are not normally evidence of their changes, but rather instabilities in the character of Jenkins himself. Powell makes no effort to create in Jenkins an honest, objective, or trustworthy narrator. Yet, through Widmerpool there emerges a disclaimer that Jenkins is "a great deal too fond of criticizing other people"; this, taken with Jenkins' admitted inability to "judge others by a consistent standard," prompts the reader to take his criticisms with a grain of salt. At times in A Question of Upbringing, Powell provides Widmerpool as a tool with which the reader might dissect the main characters. From the start of the book, Powell chose to place much emphasis on Widmerpool, especially on his extreme deviation from the norm. What we find in Question are a series of relationships between Widmerpool, the deviant, and the other main characters that take part in Powell's dance. However, by the end of Question there is not yet enough information revealed about Widmerpool for these relations to yield much insight. In later books however, as Widmerpool the character gets fleshed out, these relationships will increasingly bring light to the inner workings of those who surround him. |
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Douglas Presley Despite Uncle Giles' repeated disappearances throughout the first book, he nevertheless permeates the story. He is regarded by Jenkins as an eccentric abnormality in life, someone out of touch with the world, and clueless as to how society works. Yet, upon closer analysis, Giles seems truly to have a deeper understanding of how the world operates, and the more that Jenkins thinks about his uncle, the more respect he seems to gain for him. By first portraying Giles as an extreme end of the human spectrum, then slowly revealing that he is not so odd after all, Powell demonstrates that opportunities to learn can come from even the strangest of sources. Upon first meeting this interesting character, we are presented with the image of a sad, irresponsible figure. "Even those who [had] known him for years sometimes found difficulty in estimating the lengths to which he could carry his lack of reliability" proclaims Jenkins, still unsure of how to properly classify his uncle (65.) He elaborates that "Uncle Giles had been relegated by most of the people who knew him at all well to that limbo where nothing is expected of a person" (16.) Both of these comments, along with the many other disparaging remarks made by Jenkins, serve to establish the extent to which Giles does not fit into society, in the eyes of the narrator. He is irresponsible; he shows up uninvited, and then disappears without any contact, as if he never existed. Our first encounters with Giles set him apart as a someone completely out of touch with society. The argument that Uncle Giles hardly exists is not hard to make: later in the book, Stringham has no recollection of him, even though his visit is portrayed as a major incident in the mind of Jenkins. Giles's prolonged disappearances serve as a haze, blocking him from view. We are also presented with the fact that Jenkins does not know his uncle all that well. There had been a "severance of relations" (22) between his father and uncle, and Jenkins questions whether his uncle has "quite a lot of fun" or if he "lives in perpetual hell" (25), demonstrating a void of information about his uncle. As Jenkins grows older, wiser, and is exposed to Giles more frequently, his uncle seems more and more normal. During the tea at Sillery's, Jenkins ventures so far as to state that "Uncle Giles untiring contortions before the altar of the Trust, when considered in this light, now began to appear less grotesque than formerly" (173). We also know that Jenkins does not understand his uncle clearly yet, for as he says himself "[he] did not in those days see [Giles] with anything like this clearness of vision" (17). At the time Jenkins does not know his uncle well enough fairly to pass judgment on him. While Jenkins fails firmly to establish his uncle as "unreliable," Giles manages to portray himself, now and then, as quite astute. Though he seems to act outside of the spectrum of normal behavior, he nevertheless believes that "rules are made to be obeyed." (19). If in practice he is abnormal, at least he is able to think clearly. Uncle Giles certainly has a few odd tendencies, yet overall, he seems like he is in complete control of himself, for as Jenkins states "it [had] to be admitted that [he was] unusually well equipped for looking after himself" (23). Jenkins leaves us with a few lingering thoughts about Giles at the close of the first book. Jenkins sets up the expectation that he will grow fonder of Giles in the coming texts, especially when he states that he "dismissed Uncle Giles letter from [his] mind, as [he] now thinks, rather inexcusably" (221). We leave the chapter with a final image of Giles, in contrast to our original idea of him, reading Some Things That Matter; quite a contrast from someone who "took not the slightest interest in anyone or anything except himself" (20). While Giles is unquestionably strange, he gets progressively more normal as the plot advances. The development of Giles' character through the story reveals a depth to him that Jenkins is only slowly coming discovering. Jenkins is starting to learn that knowledge can be acquired even from the most unexpected sources, and that no one is truly insignificant. After all, in the words of Le Bas, "it takes all sorts to make a world" (224). |
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Will Story It's not what you know, but whom you know. Throughout A Question of Upbringing there are many examples of people getting ahead by knowing the right people. The characters in the book are not oblivious to this maxim. Some characters know that influence is important to becoming or staying wealthy. Hard work means nothing to the majority of characters in this book. Sillery believes strongly in this aphorism. To him knowing people at the top of society offers him great power. When Bill Truscott tells him that he is recruiting, Sillery jumps at the opportunity to put one of his students into a position of power so that he'll be able to extend his influence. He is so intent upon having Stringham get this job that he even goes as far as convincing Stringham's mother and Buster of the idea's merits when they come to the university to discuss it. Sillery would rather have Stringham drop out of the university and take on this job than completing his time there. This shows how much value Sillery puts into knowing people at the top. One case where this is maxim is demonstrated is with Peter Templer. Templer receives a good job in London without even finishing high school. When Templer was at school he wasn't a star student. He never put the kind of dedication towards his work that Widmerpool did. However, Templer's family has connections. His father is a rich, successful businessman who knows people at the top. That is the important thing. That is the only prerequisite that Templer needs in order to receive a good job. Uncle Giles says, "they work hard…Therefore they have my respect," (19) when referring to the Germans. While Giles says he believes in hard work, he himself does not work hard. He believes even more the key thing to life is knowing the right people, not actually doing the respectable thing and working hard; and, unfortunately, Giles does not know the right people. At one point heis talking to Jenkins about how Stringham's grandfather, "made a huge fortune ... knew all the right people, of course" (20). It is tacitly understood that Stringham's grandfather didn't earn his money through hard work or his own intelligence. Giles makes the point that Stringham's grandfather made his money through his connections. Many characters throughout this book have figured out one of the biggest keys to success. It isn't hard work; it is knowing the right people. The only necessary prerequisite to getting a good job is that a family has the right connections. Schooling is not of much importance, however. Going to college seems to be more of a social gathering than an actual educational experience. This system of influence and having connections is one that is not only present in this book, but also our everyday lives. |
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Madeleine Fawcett "He had a thin face and light blue eyes that gave out a perpetual and quite mechanical sparkle: at first engaging: then irritating: and finally a normal and inevitable aspect of his features that one no longer noticed." (26) In giving this description of Templer, Jenkins foreshadowed the treatment of many other characters. Many of the qualities that Jenkins suggested were particularly important or noticeable in his initial descriptions of certain characters became less conspicuous and more acceptable by the end of the first section. With the evolution of the main characters in the first chapter, it is apparent that there is something special and significant about each one; however, Jenkins gradually makes an adjustment to each character, causing the particular notability in each to seem commonplace. The characters do change as they mature, but Jenkins' adapting and evolving perceptions shift much more than the characters themselves . Jenkins is initially not very confident about Templer's character; he says "[Templer's] boast that he had never read a book for pleasure in his life did not predispose me in his favor." (8) Also, Jenkins is aware of Templer's narcissism when he hears of the incident with Widmerpool, Akworth, and Peter Templer. Stringham comments that "[Templer's] conceit is invincible." (13) These characteristics in a person could clearly hinder a friendship's course, but Jenkins conforms to them, and basically begins to overlook them as nuisances, eventually accepting them as part of Peter Templer. Jenkins continues to spend a great deal of time with Templer and Stringham, going through a great deal together. After the "Braddock alias Thorne incident," Jenkins comments that "by then, both of them (Stringham and Templer) had become so much a part of my existence at school that it seemed strange to me that I ever had doubts about either as a companion." (36) Jenkins obviously hesitated to take Templer as a friend at first, but then became accustomed to the eccentricities that made up his personality and accepted him. Jenkins's attitude towards Widmerpool fluctuates a great deal. Widmerpool is a very strange character, and Jenkins ridicules him in the first few pages of the book, describing his "sweater once white and cap at least a size too small." (3) There are many more instances at Eton in which Jenkins makes reference to him being an awkward character. However, when Jenkins goes off to La Grenadiere, and finds Widmerpool there, his opinion of him seems to shift. Although at times he becomes irritated with Widmerpool, Jenkins can be found interested and respectful towards him. When Widmerpool successfully solves the issue between the two Scandanavians, Jenkins shows signs of great admiration. As Jenkins matures and develops as a person, his opinions of others do as well. Although Templer and Widmerpool may evolve in their own ways, their personalities remain largely the same. It is through the words of Jenkins, and through the eyes of the reader that the change, as opposed to adjustment, is instilled. |
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Zachary Smotherman In A Question of Upbringing, Jenkins, Stringham and Templer grow from adolescence into early adulthood and as a result the nature of their relationship changes. Initially their relationship is defined through their common goal and common living space. Ultimately as the young men grow up and pursue separate life goals the bond that once held them tightly together at Eaton becomes stretched to a breaking point. As Templer and Stringhman move on into the business world, Jenkins is left behind, pursuing his Oxford degree, and the boy's friendship is lost. When their living situation and their common goals change, the relationship among all three young men ceases to be a priority. Jenkins says, "The path had suddenly forked."(229 ) The three young Eton students are initially headed on a scholarly path toward Oxford University. Jenkins pursues a friendship with Stringham and Templer, both of whom are older than he. He quickly learns a lot about the ways of life from Stringham and Templer, both of whom are wealthy. Stringham comes from a family with a great deal of money founded in the old established aristocracy and Templer has grown up in a family whose wealth comes from new money in business. Jenkins, on the other hand, comes from a family with a military background and as a result has come from a very different lifestyle. From the beginning, their relationship is slightly strained in that Stringham and Templer are more sophisticated in their pursuit of young women. Jenkins is often left on the outside of those social interactions in that he is not very successful in his pursuit of women. The group dynamic of Jenkins being on the outside of the friendship is repeated when Templer and Stringham enter the business world, pursuing different goals in life, other than academics. Templer chooses early on to pursue a business career and bypass the university. Templer leaves Eton early and moves into London to enter the business world. He makes two new associates, Brent and Duport. In an attempt to bring both his past and present world together, he invites Stringham and Jenkins out for an evening in his new Vauxhall, with these two new friends. Peter picked up two girls off the side of the road and invited them out for a ride. The ensuing accident in which the car slid off the road, "had two results, so far as Stringham was concerned: it brought an end to his friendship with Peter, and it strengthened his desire to go down as soon as possible from the university."(200) Soon after the incident, Stringham is recruited to work for Sir Magnus Donners. He decides to leave the university and pursue this new career opportunity. Once again an attempt is made to bring together the past and present as Stringham invites Jenkins into the city for dinner. Jenkins, upon arriving in the city, discovers that Stringham no longer intends to dine with him but rather to attend a party with his new friends and merely have a quick drink with Jenkins. Stringham says, "The fact is I am cutting your date. Cutting it in slow motion before your eyes."(226) Following Stringham's departure, Jenkins says, "I knew now that this parting was one of those final things that happened, recurrently as time passes until at last they may be recognized fairly easily of a close of a period....with regret I accept the inevitability of the circumstance."(229) With this remark Jenkins concludes with regret his friendships could not survive in their entirety outside the Eton domain. The move from adolescence to adulthood puts a strain on the relationship of the three young men, that appears to signal the beginning of the end of their relationship as they once knew it. Upon being rejected by his friends, Jenkins chooses to remain at Oxford on the original path. From the beginning, Jenkins and Templer's relationship is not strong and the eventual separation is foreshadowed by Jenkin's very early remark, " I liked and admired Stringham: Templer I was not yet sure about."(8) The separation of Jenkins and Stringham comes as a greater surprise because the two seem more closely connected. By the conclusion of Question, the young men have all gone their separate ways and lost the original bond of friendship that they once shared. |
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Gauri Kirloskar "If you're not careful you will suffer the awful fate of the man who always knows the right clothes to wear and the right shop to buy them at." (p.30) This is Stringham's warning to Peter Templer, his schoolmate from Eton. Why is the fate of a man awful if he knows the appropriate dress for every occasion? Shouldn't that be an asset? A person's sense of dressing can tell a lot about his personality, however, in other cases, we may judge a person by his clothing and then realize that his personality totally contradicts his outer style. In Templer's case, clothes are often the main subject of conversation; a major priority in his life. His sense of dress helps him gain popularity with women. Stringham seems envious of Templer's charisma and the ease with which he befriends members of the opposite sex. This comment that he makes seems bitter and Templer only laughs it off, himself taking pride in this style that it seems, intrigues girls. However, at the end of the book, Templer comes across as a careless person, even though he in an impeccable dresser. Therefore his style of dressing is clearly not a reflection of his inner self. Widmerpool on the other hand, is notorious for dressing awkwardly. He tries too hard to fit in but still ends up being the subject of amusement for his fellow classmates. Anything abnormal was referred to as a "Widmerpool" regardless of who donned the doomed dress. Widmerpool is the character that everyone is prejudiced against and his attempts at trying to dress the "right" way only result in his suffering even more embarrassing situations. Uncle Giles is another character whose dressing style does not reflect on his personality. Jenkins describes him as "neat and still slightly military in appearance". This makes it seem that Uncle Giles is a rigid, straightforward, serious veteran but he is quite the opposite. He is "unreliable" and has not held a commission for about twenty years. No one takes him seriously and he in not very respected by the people who know him well. Sunny Farebrother is another character that cares a lot for his clothes. His invention of a machine to straighten collars shows his interest in dressing flawlessly. But Sunny is too thrifty to dress really well, and his clothes are worn, often out-of-date. Later on in the chapter, Stripling and most of the other characters are involved in a prank played on him and he is then the object of amusement, instead of the perfect gentleman he would like to be. So does that mean that people that dress well are only trying to conceal the flaws in their personality? And are people who don't dress trendily less shallow, more profound, more moral than those who do? This presumption that we make from analyzing the dressing style and personalities of the characters in A Question of Upbringing could very well be one of "the dangers of dressing too well" that Stringham is talking about. |