Talk:Roderick Spode

Propose Merge
I propose a merge of the several short articles on minor Wodehouse characters to P. G. Wodehouse (minor characters) in line with normal practice for fictional subjects on WP. This should also give a more consistent style and cover age (as copied from the small articles, you'll see quite a disparity between them) - Just zis Guy, you know? [T]/[C] (W) AfD? 19:21, 19 November 2005 (UTC)

Spode is a star in the TV series 'Jeeves & Wooster' & a shining exception to the general miscasting (Jeeves isn't old enough, Bertie isn't young enough, Madeline Bassett isn't silly enough & Sir Watkyn isn't nasty enough). There's a brilliant scene (not in the book) where he outlines his five-year plan. "Norfolk shall make umbrellas and Suffolk shall produce their handles." In spite of this, Spode is less grotesque than Mrs Bingo Little's caricature of him as the wholly unbelievable 'Sir Oswald Mosley.'

Origins of Wodehouse Archetypes
Wodehouse was always careful for a credible background to his characters. Spode, based on Mosley, was exposed for his ownership of Eulallie Souers, ladies' underwear makers. Some of the family finance (on the Mitford side rather than Mosley's) came from the ownership of 'The Lady', a publication which continues to this day. Discuss.

disclaiming
I seem to remember that the new Lord Sidcup strongly considered disclaiming the title (under the Peerage Act 1963) in order to stand for the Commons, but his Countess wouldn't stand for it. Which book would that be? &mdash;Tamfang 08:17, 11 July 2007 (UTC)
 * Indeed, it was before they were married I think and she broke of the engagement. I can't remember the book however. --Counter-revolutionary 22:19, 13 August 2007 (UTC)
 * PS, I know I recognise the story, but it can't be! The Peerage Act 1963 did not exist in the 1930s! ha! --Counter-revolutionary 22:20, 13 August 2007 (UTC)
 * Nor did rock and roll, which is (are?) mentioned in Cocktail Time iirc. —Tamfang (talk) 23:26, 22 December 2013 (UTC)

In Much Obliged Jeeves (1971) Spode is roped in to support Bertie's friend Ginger Winship who is standing in a by-election. He gets to be so addicted to his own oratory and the cheers of the crowd that he decides the House of Lords isn't a big enough stage for him & he must disclaim his peerage & stand for the Commons. Madeline only wants him as long as she can be countess of Sidcup, so she breaks the engagement and engages herself to Bertie instead. Fortunately Spode soon encounters a hostile meeting, and a shower of vegetables hurled at his head in enough to convince him that the non-elected Lords remains the better option. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 144.173.6.74 (talk) 15:56, 18 July 2008 (UTC)

Spode
I thought Wodehouse was mocking the fascists as "Spode" was slang for a urinal or toilet. This idea is reinforced by the fascist symbol illustrated being referred to at the time as the "flash in the pan", as in bed pan or toilet pan. 92.15.12.165 (talk) 19:17, 4 July 2010 (UTC)

Spode "Hitleresque" ?
The TV series Spode can not in my opinion be described as Hitleresque, but rather "Mussolini-esque". Indeed, about 30 minutes into the second episode of Series 2 ("A Plan for Gussie"), spode is shown rehearsing his stance and gestures in front of a photograph of Benito Mussolini. Suggest change be made to article. 129.241.62.157 (talk) 17:05, 8 December 2010 (UTC)
 * On the other hand, his attire and ridiculous manner of speech reminded me a lot of well-known recordings of Hitler. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 82.139.81.0 (talk) 13:21, 19 March 2012 (UTC)

He is clearly imitating Hitlers speech gestures. And the black-white-red of his banners seems also to imitate Hitler, not to mention the brown shirts. He does have the Mussolini portrait too, as you say; I think he is meant to be fusion figure showing different types of fascist influences.

Mosley himself started as a Mussolini admirer, and was influenced by Hitler as the 1930's went on. The article could mention this if it were to be expanded, but as a basic statement seems all right as it is. 2.25.37.191 (talk) 22:37, 22 December 2013 (UTC)

Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit
It isn't to Bertie that Spode reveals he sold the business, but to Dahlia. Bertie only finds out about that later when Dahlia tells him about it and how she solved the problem by discovering the cosh Bertie dropped by the safe. 174.91.4.148 (talk) 00:49, 10 October 2011 (UTC)