The Custody of the Pumpkin

by

P.G. Wodehouse

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The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”) Character Analysis

A flighty and somewhat reckless young man, Freddie is Lord Emsworth’s son and the primary source of his father’s problems. Freddie is less traditional than Emsworth, and he cares little for agricultural pursuits—he is uncomfortable in the supposed “paradise” of Blandings Castle and openly mocks Emsworth’s attachment to his pumpkin (which Freddie flippantly dubs “Percy”). Instead, Freddie finds himself much more at home in London, a city his father openly despises. Throughout the story, Freddie defies his father’s wishes at every turn: though Emsworth has banned Freddie from visiting London due to his habit of amassing debt, he continues to do so, and he marries Aggie without approval. However, Freddie’s love of the city and refusal to comply with the Earl’s demands ultimately ends positively for both of them when Mr Donaldson offers his new son-in-law a lucrative career abroad. Freddie’s attitude towards his father’s interests and ultimate rejection of Blandings implies a cultural division between the older and younger generations. Whereas Emsworth cares deeply about his inherited land and familial responsibilities, Freddie views his royal heritage as unimportant, and, like many young men of the era, he instead turns to business in order to find success.

The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”) Quotes in The Custody of the Pumpkin

The The Custody of the Pumpkin quotes below are all either spoken by The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”) or refer to The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Aristocracy and Power Theme Icon
).
The Custody of the Pumpkin Quotes

If [Freddie] was allowed to live at London, he piled up debts and got into mischief; and when you jerked him back into the purer surroundings of Blandings Castle, he just mooned about the place, moping broodily. Hamlet’s society at Elsinore must have had much the same effect on his stepfather as did that of Freddie Threepwood at Blandings on Lord Emsworth.

Related Characters: Clarence Threepwood, Ninth Earl of Emsworth, The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”)
Page Number: 116
Explanation and Analysis:

In a crass and materialistic world there must inevitably be a scattered few in whom pumpkins touch no chord. The Hon. Frederick Threepwood was one of these. He was accustomed to speak in mockery of all pumpkins[.]

Related Characters: Clarence Threepwood, Ninth Earl of Emsworth, The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”)
Related Symbols: Lord Emsworth’s Pumpkin
Page Number: 122
Explanation and Analysis:
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The Custody of the Pumpkin PDF

The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”) Quotes in The Custody of the Pumpkin

The The Custody of the Pumpkin quotes below are all either spoken by The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”) or refer to The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”). For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Aristocracy and Power Theme Icon
).
The Custody of the Pumpkin Quotes

If [Freddie] was allowed to live at London, he piled up debts and got into mischief; and when you jerked him back into the purer surroundings of Blandings Castle, he just mooned about the place, moping broodily. Hamlet’s society at Elsinore must have had much the same effect on his stepfather as did that of Freddie Threepwood at Blandings on Lord Emsworth.

Related Characters: Clarence Threepwood, Ninth Earl of Emsworth, The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”)
Page Number: 116
Explanation and Analysis:

In a crass and materialistic world there must inevitably be a scattered few in whom pumpkins touch no chord. The Hon. Frederick Threepwood was one of these. He was accustomed to speak in mockery of all pumpkins[.]

Related Characters: Clarence Threepwood, Ninth Earl of Emsworth, The Honourable Frederick Threepwood (“Freddie”)
Related Symbols: Lord Emsworth’s Pumpkin
Page Number: 122
Explanation and Analysis: