Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities by Robert Smith Surtees is a collection of picaresque comic tales first published in installments between 1831 and 1834. It was later compiled into a book in 1838. The stories center around a hilarious and rather vulgar character named John Jorrocks.
The Main Character: Jorrocks
- Jorrocks is a self-made, cockney grocer with an immense passion for fox hunting, a sport traditionally associated with the British upper class.
- Despite his lack of pedigree, Jorrocks throws himself into the world of fox hunting with boundless enthusiasm and a healthy dose of social ineptitude.
- His gaucheness, malapropisms (using the wrong word), and flamboyant attempts to fit in with the landed gentry provide much of the humor in the stories.
Style and Content
- The stories are episodic, with each chapter featuring a new adventure for Jorrocks and his fellow hunting enthusiasts.
- Surtees employs satire to poke fun at the social pretensions and snobbery of the upper class, particularly those involved in the fox hunting scene.
- The book is filled with lively descriptions of hunts, mishaps, social blunders, and Jorrocks' outrageous pronouncements.
Themes
- Social Class: The central theme revolves around the clash between Jorrocks, a nouveau riche outsider, and the established aristocracy of the fox hunting world.
- The book exposes the hypocrisy and class prejudice that often existed beneath the veneer of gentlemanly conduct.
- Sportsmanship: Surtees satirizes the obsession with tradition and social status within fox hunting. He highlights the importance of genuine sportsmanship over social posturing.
- Humor: Lighthearted humor is a key element, derived from Jorrocks' flamboyant personality, his misinterpretations, and the awkward situations he finds himself in.
Legacy
Jorrocks' Jaunts and Jollities became a huge success, launching Surtees' career as a comic novelist. Jorrocks' character went on to appear in several sequels, further solidifying his place as a beloved literary figure. The book offers a humorous and insightful social commentary on Victorian England, particularly the world of fox hunting and its associated social class dynamics.
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