The Bollinger Dinner Boys
It all begins at snooty event that is not quite annual, but definitely considers its participants to be better than the average bear or human being. The Bollinger Club boys count kings among its past members and since this is England, well, it is clear to see how they could mistake privilege born to privilege earned:
“For two days they had been pouring into Oxford: epileptic royalty from their villas of exile, uncouth peers from crumbling country seats, smooth young men of uncertain tastes from embassies and legations, illiterate lairds from wet granite hovels in the Highlands, ambitious young barristers and Conservative candidates torn from the London season and the indelicate advances of debutants; all that was most sonorous of name and title was there for beano.”
The Boys in the Band
One of the highlights of the book’s use of imagery is used to describe the members of the silver band. Prefacing their appearance is the question, “Who are these extraordinary-looking people” while the commentary which follows is “Crikey! Loonies!” And, now, introducing the band:
“Ten men of revolting appearance were approaching from the drive. They were low of brow, crafty of eye, and crooked of limb. They advanced huddled together with the loping tread of wolves, peering about them furtively as they came, as though in constant terror of ambush; they slavered at their mouths, which hung loosely over the receding chins, while each clutched under his ape-like arm a burden of curious and unaccountable shape. On seeing the Doctor they halted and edged back, those behind squinting and mouthing over the companions' shoulders.”
The Welsh
Dr. Fagan is somewhat obsessed with the study of the character of the Welsh people. Although, it would seem, his research has provided him some data that leave the conclusions derived from them somewhat questionable. Perhaps it is a case of bringing to the data whatever imagery one wants to take from it:
“From the earliest times, the Welsh have been looked upon as an unclean people. It is thus that they have preserved their racial integrity…Non-conformity and lust stalking hand in hand through the country, wasting and ravaging…The Welsh are the only nation in the world that has produced no graphic or plastic art, no architecture, no drama. They just sing, sing and blow down wind instruments of plated silver. They are deceitful because they cannot discern truth from falsehood, depraved because they cannot discern the consequences of their indulgence.”
Grimes
Grimes is almost universally regarded as the most fascinating character in the novel, perfect for performance on stage or film. He is truly a character of mass density who is constantly “in the soup” and just as constantly finding his way out. At least temporarily, although by the end, the novel’s protagonist, Paul Pennyfeather is convinced nothing is temporary about him. In fact, one of the immortals is Grimes, in the eyes of Pennyfeather:
“Surely he had followed in the Bacchic train of distant Arcady, and played on the reeds of myth by forgotten streams, and taught the childish satyrs the art or love? Had he not suffered unscathed the fearful dooms of all the offended gods, of all the histories, fire, brimstone, and yawning earthquakes, plague, and pestilence? Had he not stood, like the Pompeian sentry, while the Citadels of the Plain fell to ruin about his ears? Had he not, like some grease-caked Channel swimmer, breasted the waves of the Deluge? Had he not moved unseen when darkness covered the waters?”
