Symbols in "Keeping it from Harold"
P.G. Wodehouse's short story "Keeping it from Harold" is rich with symbolism that adds depth and nuance to the narrative. Let's explore some of the key symbols and their significance in the story.
The Boxing Ring
The boxing ring serves as a powerful symbol throughout the story, representing several important themes:
- Masculinity and Identity: For Bill, the boxing ring is where he feels most alive and authentic. It symbolizes his true self and the career he loves.
- Conflict between Aspirations: The ring represents the clash between Bill's passion and the expectations placed upon him by his family and society.
- Hidden Truths: Just as the ring is kept hidden from Harold, it symbolizes the secrets and deceptions at the heart of the story.
The boxing ring's dual nature as both a source of pride and shame for Bill underscores the complex relationship between personal fulfillment and societal expectations.
Harold's Academic Achievements
Harold's academic success and potential future as a "gentleman" serve as symbols in their own right:
- Social Mobility: They represent the family's aspirations for upward social movement and respectability.
- Pressure of Expectations: Harold's achievements symbolize the weight of parental expectations and the potential for disappointment.
- Contrast with Bill's World: The academic realm stands in stark contrast to the world of boxing, highlighting the divide between "respectable" and "working-class" pursuits.
When Bill's wife says, > "Think of 'is future. Think of the boy comin' 'ome from college and findin' out 'is father was a fightin' man," we see how Harold's education has become a symbol of the family's hopes and fears.
The Newspaper
The newspaper plays a crucial symbolic role in the story:
- Truth and Revelation: It represents the potential for the truth about Bill's career to be revealed.
