P. G. Wodehouse’s “The Odd Trick” and “How Pillingshot Scored” stories illustrate that cricket players are usually rude; two cricket players treat their colleagues rudely. To this end, Tony Graham forces Philip St H. Harrison to strip in public within “The Odd Trick”. Similarly, Scott forces Pillingshot to execute an uncomfortable task within “How Pillingshot Scored”. For purposes of this essay, Graham and Scott represent all cricket players. This essay analyses the idea that cricket players are habitually rude based on the following aspects: Graham forces Harrison to strip in public within “The Odd Trick”, and Scott forces Pillingshot to execute an uncomfortable task within “How Pillingshot Scored”.
Given that Graham forces Harrison to strip in public within “The Odd Trick”, this story demonstrates that cricket players are generally rude. In this regard, both Graham and Harrison are members of a cricket team named Merevale’s House. The two are boarders at an unidentified school. This school requires all students to attend prayers at the school chapel every day at seven in the morning. One morning, Harrison wakes up at ten minutes to seven. Harrison is afraid of being punished if he arrives at the chapel late. Having no sufficient time to prepare himself properly, Harrison simply dubs his face with a wet cloth. He then grabs the next available mackintosh and slips it over his night shirt. Harrison subsequently rushes to the chapel and manages to arrive before the service starts. Strikingly, after the chapel proceedings are over, Graham accosts Harrison and asks Harrison to hand over his (Graham’s) mackintosh immediately. This rude demand causes Harrison to learn that he has been unwittingly wearing Graham’s mackintosh. Owing to Graham’s rude insistence, Harrison has to take off Graham’s mackintosh right inside the chapel. On his way back to the dormitory, Harrison thus suffers shame and cold (Wodehouse, n.d.a). In this situation, Graham treats Harrison with rudeness. From this situation, it is evident that like Graham, cricket players are generally rude.
“How Pillingshot Scored” likewise illustrates that cricket players are usually rude in that Scott forces Pillingshot to execute an uncomfortable task. On this note, both Scott and Pillingshot study in the same school. Scott is an expert cricket player. Upon coming across Pillingshot in the school compound one day, Scott convinces Pillingshot to engage in a cricket game. Pillingshot accepts this invitation, upon which this duo play for a considerable time. Afterward, this duo retires to Scott’s residence. Immediately upon setting foot in his house, Scott slumps in a comfortable couch. Then, Scott asks Pillingshot to prepare snacks for this duo. Considering that Pillingshot is as exhausted as Scott (Wodehouse, n.d.b), Scott’s request amounts to an abuse against Pillingshot. In other words, Scott treats Pillingshot not as an equal but as an underling. Such contemptuous treatment highlights Scott’s rudeness toward Pillingshot. From Scott’s conduct, it is clear that cricket players are usually rude.
In conclusion, “The Odd Trick” and “How Pillingshot Scored” demonstrate that cricket players are typically rude. To this end, Graham forces Harrison to strip in public within “The Odd Trick”. Similarly, Scott forces Pillingshot to execute an uncomfortable task within “How Pillingshot Scored”. It would be insightful to find out why Wodehouse depicts these two cricket-playing characters as rude.
