Give Satisfaction

Bertie is such a kind, sweet, doormat of a man. One thing that gets overlooked if you've only seen the series is that Bertie is the narrator of the books. The narration is exquisite, the reason Wodehouse is revered as a comic author. The character comes across as more dull-witted in the series, even though he has a marvelous way with words. The partnership with Jeeves is just as symbiotic in both mediums. (see my post Bertie without Jeeves)

I don't believe his being an orphan influences him that much. The actual orphans I know generally don't think much about it and it certainly doesn't color their lives to the extent that many imagine Bertie's does. Given that he has such a sunny disposish, Bertie probably shrugs it off (none of his other friends seem to have parents, either. Did they all go down with the Titanic?).

My headcanon Bertie is more acerbic and worldly. In some of the books he comes across as more grumpy and in The Mating Season he's practically a horndog! The way he describes men is far more lustful than the way he describes women. Check out his slaverings over Esmond Haddock in The Mating Season or Orlo Potter (?) in Aunts Aren't Gentlemen. He's hard to write but his mind is so antic and fluttery it's a pleasure, plus he's extremely funny. Physically I don't have a terribly clear idea of his face (unlike Jeeves)but I see his physique as a taller Fred Astaire, say, 6'.