Lucky Jim... or not so lucky

There is a lingering frustration that one gets when reading Lucky Jim.  You can not put your finger on just one thing that bothers you, but it is instead the combination of it all.  Jim Dixon is a crass young idiot who hates his job and is forced to endure it because he, like many young idiots, decided to take the easy way out when it came to his education.  He's angry at the world, when the truth of it is, it's his fault that he is there in the first place.

In Kingsley Amis novel, Lucky Jim, the attitudes and circumstances on the Angry Young Men is brought into light... or is it?  These young men, like Jim Dixon, when given the opportunity of equal education as set by the government in Europe way back when.  These fellows didn't get to attend the high ranking prestigious schools of the upper class though, they were sent to the newly made Brick Universities, as they were nick named, for the in take of all the new want to be scholars.  For those who graduated from these Brick Universities, they were not taken seriously or had any easier time getting a job.  They were outcasts in a cultured traditional society.  If you want to know more about these fellow, I suggest you look them up.  It should remind you of our current southern public educational system... a joke amongst respectables.

The inner plot of the story is a battle between Jim Dixon and the Welch family.  With Prof. Welch, the battle deals with Dixon's place at the University and whether or not he is a capable teacher, not forgetting that Welch is complete;y ignorant of the world and prefers a life of music and social gatherings for his constant amusement.  With Bertrand Welch, it is over the heart of young Christine.... and the pride of who is the more modern fellow.  Bertrand is the new artist, a pompous bloke who prefers to wear french pointy hats instead of something that actually serves a purpose.  Then there is the psychotic Margaret.  I don't want to spoil that twist so please feel free to read the book.

The question of interest for some scholars is whether or not Lucky Jim actually has a happy ending.  In my quick opinion... I say yes.  It is the last laugh factor.  For my fellow sinicals, Lucky Jim doesn't have to say a word to the Welch's.  Instead a laugh is the worst possible vengeance, and gives way to a light hearted ending.

So if you are interested in a quick read and lame British humor... I definitely suggest Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis.