Talk:Psmith
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[edit] Psmith's first name
The listing of Psmith's first name is, if not inaccurate, misleading. "Ronald Eustace Psmith" was in fact used in only one book, Psmith's last appearance, Leave it to Psmith. True, his first name is seldom mentioned, but I think its rash to imply that it was used only once to Mike, and thus a joke. In the second book to feature the character, 1910's Psmith in the City, Psmith's own father refers to him as "Rupert, my boy." This can be easily confirmed through the Project Gutenberg e-text: Gutenberg page
The reason for the change in Leave it to Psmith seems to have simply been to avoid confusion with Baxter, whose first name had been established more recently in Something Fresh as Rupert. This would not be the only time that Wodehouse would later change a character's name. Bertie's temporary valet in Thank You Jeeves is named Brinkley in the original text, but later books featured the recurring location Brinkley Manor, the home of Aunt Dahlia. Thus, when the character returned decades later in Much Obliged Jeeves (aka Jeeves and the Tie That Binds), he was renamed Bingley.
In light of all this, I'm very much inclined to alter the entry, listing "Rupert" first but also discussing "Ronald" (especially as there's a significant link to Rupert D'Oyly Carte, cited by Wodehouse himself as the inspiration, from anecdotes, though there's some dispute as to whether he'd been confused with his brother Lucas). Of course, any other thoughts are welcome, but in keeping with the nature of Wikipedia, it seems only right to discuss the use of both names rather than to, in the text, implicitly disregard the first (and more commonly recognized) one. Aleal 01:51, 11 May 2005 (UTC)
I have altered the page in agreement with the above remarks; I choose to think of Psmith as Rupert when I think about his first name at all, and trying to come up with a plausable non-metacommentary explanation for the name change is giving me a headache. The explanation that he introduced himself as Rupert as a joke has never made sense to me, since his father calls him Rupert. Emily
[edit] Innocent Smith from Chesterton?
Has anyone ever noticed the similarities between Psmith and Innocent Smith from Chesterton's Man Alive? Is there anything significant in this? - Philip Smith
[edit] 'left arm bowler'
I have just changed the description of Psmith as a 'left-hand bowler' to 'left arm bowler'. This is the correct terminology, as pointed out here [1] and elsewhere.Cajiad 14:51, 16 December 2006 (UTC)
[edit] Psmith from Phil Foglio
Should there be a note on the page to distinguish Psmith from the Phil Foglio character of the same name?--72.220.148.36 03:19, 19 July 2007 (UTC)
