Uncle Podger Hangs a Picture (Jerome K Jerome)

 

Bring out the humour in the story, “Uncle Podger Hangs a Picture”

About the Author:

Jerome Klapka Jerome was an English writer and humourist, best known for the comic travelogue, “Three Men in a Boat” published in 1887. He was born in Staffordshire, England. His other works include the essay collection, “Idle Thoughts of an Idle Fellow” and “Second Thoughts of an Idle Fellow. His “Three Men on the Bummel” is also one of his famous novels.

 Introduction:

The episode, “Uncle Podger Hangs a Picture” is an extract from Jerome K. Jerome’s “Three Men in Boat.” The episode is a hilarious comedy. Uncle Podger projects himself as a man of tall trades but proves a master of none. The way he commends the whole family members for the simple work of hanging a picture on the wall is highly amusing.

Uncle Podger takes up the task:

Uncle Podeger decided to hang a picture on the wall. The picture had come from the frame-maker’s and was in dining room waiting to be hung on the wall. When Aunt Podger wanted someone to do it, Uncle Podger came forward voluntarily and assured her that he would do it himself and she need not to worry about it. There started the comedy.

The involvement of the whole family:

Uncle Podger began the work by taking off his coat and getting ready for the job. At first, he sent the girl out for buying six pence nails. Then he sent the boy to inform the girl about the size of the nails. Thereafter, Podger asked Will to get him his hammer. He told Tom to look for the ruler. Then he told them that he needed the step-ladder and the kitchen chair too. Jim was dispatched to Mr. Goggles, the friend of Podger to bring him spirit level. Before borrowing he was told to pay Mr. Goggle due respect. Maria was advised to remain available there to hold the light. The girl was sent to get a string. Tom was asked to lift the picture. The whole house was involved in executing Uncle Podger’s orders.

The mismanagement of Uncle Podger:

Uncle Podger began doing things clumsily. He lifted up the picture but dropped it carelessly. Trying to pick up the pieces of glass, he cut himself. He and his family search for his coat because in the coat pocket he had kept the handkerchief. The family members could not find his coat anywhere in the house because he was sitting on the coat. Some time after, new glass had been got and fixed. Uncle Podger started his work again. All the family members stood around him to help him. Two persons held the chair. A third helped Podger on it and held him there. A fourth handed him a nail and a fifth passed him the hammer. Uncle Podger took hold of the nail first but dropped it. He asked all the members to search for it. The nail was found but this time the hammer was lost.

The picture fixed at midnight:

When the hammer was found, the mark he had made on the wall was lost. Now one by one, all the family members informed him about different points as mark and this created confusion. Finally, Podger decided to make yet another measurement and this time he leaned too much and fell on the piano. This created a bang sound from the piano. Now Aunt Podger got angry and informed Uncle Podger that she would make arrangements to go and spend a week with her mother, if he liked to hang picture next time. Uncle Podger remarked that women were in the habit of making fuss about little things. In the final attempt, Uncle Podger spoilt the plaster on the wall. Then he flattened his nose against the wall once before being successful in hanging the picture out the midnight time. But the picture itself hung crooked and insecure. All the members of the family were tried. Then Podger stepped out heavily down the chair. But he was proud to say that some people called in a man to do a little thing like that.

Conclusion:

Uncle Podger’s attempts and the problems faced by the family members while Podger was trying to hang the picture on the wall create a hilarious comedy. The self-centered Podger commends the whole family for a very simple task shows that Jerome’s humour is fully evident in this episode.