Related Literary Works to "Keeping it from Harold"
P.G. Wodehouse's "Keeping it from Harold" shares thematic and stylistic elements with several other literary works that explore similar themes of deception, family dynamics, and societal expectations. Let's explore some key connections:
The Secret Life of Walter Mitty by James Thurber
This short story shares significant parallels with "Keeping it from Harold":
ExampleBoth stories feature protagonists living double lives:
- Bill Bramble hides his boxing career from his son
- Walter Mitty escapes into elaborate daydreams to cope with his mundane reality
The key difference lies in the motivation: while Mitty's fantasies are escapist, Bill's deception comes from a place of parental love and protection.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
Several thematic connections exist:
- Social Aspirations
Like Pip's journey from common laborer to gentleman, Harold is being groomed for a "respectable" life away from his father's boxing world.
- Class Consciousness
- Both works explore the Victorian/Edwardian preoccupation with social status
- Education is seen as a pathway to respectability
Pay attention to how both authors use humor to critique social pretensions while maintaining sympathy for their characters.
Mrs. Warren's Profession by George Bernard Shaw
The parallel themes include:
