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Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

Touching on what others have said, Jeeves presents an interesting masculine/feminine dichotomy. His role as Bertie’s servant puts him in the position of wife, as many writers (including PGW) have said. He takes care of his master and the household, arranges their lives, etc. Jeeves does the shopping, cooking, cleaning, bed making, ironing, etc. Between that and being confined by social class to a certain kind of life, that might all read as traditionally feminine. For me there is an inherent sexiness in a (very, at least in fandom) masculine man doing all of that superbly and finding meaning in service. Almost like subjugation, which can also be read as traditionally feminine.

However, he is quite a masculine man (whether you go by Stephen Fry or the books). For me he is a magnetic symbol of a certain type of masculinity. Brilliant, reserved, passionate and if he knows so much about everything else, he probably knows a hell of a lot about sex! In fanfic Jeeves is often described using masculine signifiers: broad shoulders, large/massive hands, wide/massive chest, strong arms, deep voice. I like imagining all of the excitement brewing underneath the gorgeous serene exterior.

One thought I had is that Jeeves is Spock without the inner turmoil. Jeeves has strong emotions but he is not knotted in internal agony like Spock or, to a lesser extent Sherlock Holmes. However, his external passivity makes him (for me) a blank canvas. I don’t think of him as someone gripped by angst or despair. Bertie and Jeeves prove opposites attract.

Jeeves is a gorgeous blank canvas that I can paint anything I want on.

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

*appears out of nowhere on a starship* did someone say Spock??

I absolutely agree with everything said here. Especially the part about how Jeeves is Spock without the inner turmoil, or Sherlock Holmes without the impending madness. Jeeves is basically what Spock or Holmes would have been if they had made peace with their emotions early on.

"Jeeves is a gorgeous blank canvas that I can paint anything I want on." SO TRUE! SO SO TRUE AND SO BEAUTIFULLY SAID!

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

Why, thank you!

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

For myself, I don't see him as particularly masculine, either physically or in personality. I have noticed that a lot of fics portray him as a big strapping manly man, which is not really my type anyway. I see him as tall but with a more average body type, not especially physically fit, a bit more effeminate, metrosexual basically. I agree about finding his domestic competence inherently sexy, but I've always been into men who are more androgynous/blurring traditional gender lines, so it doesn't need to contrast with him being extra masc to be attractive.

Also in fic Bertie is often described as extremely thin, but I see him as a little more solid than that. An otter, not a twink! More masculine than Jeeves in some ways and less in other ways.

I also usually read Jeeves as not being very sexual experienced. He just seems too reserved/prude/proper to have done a ton of philandering. Although with this topic and all others, I'm open to other interpretations and really enjoy hearing people's different perspectives!

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

I agree about Bertie. In canon he describes himself as willowy; another character envies how well he looks in clothes. I like "an otter, not a twink"!

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

I also recently read the story where Rocky borrows his evening clothes and is apparently several sizes too big for them, even though Rocky is never described as a particularly large guy. So Bertie's definitely slender-ish, I just don't see any evidence that he's actually, like, scrawny.

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

I think of Jeeves as being sexually experienced. For one thing, he's been a servant in a large household where all sorts of things are got up to. Perhaps he's too reserved for philandering, but I assume he knows enough to handle himself well in the bedroom.

But I don't think of him as being as brilliant about sex as he is about everything else. If someone else wants to read him that way, well, more fun reading for me!

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

I agree about Jeeves not being muscular and hyper-masculine: I don't view him as particularly fit or imposing. But I do see him as sexually experienced. He just seems to understand himself so well, and accept everything about himself.

And to me Bertie is a Pure Twink hahaha The twinkiest twink that ever twinked (which, if I'm being perfectly honest, is 100% my type!)

But of course this is all just personal headcanon!

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[(Anonymous)]

What is a twink?

Re: What Does Jeeves Symbolize?

[cuddyclothes]

From Wikipedia:
Twink is gay slang for a young man in his late teens to early twenties whose traits may include: general physical attractiveness; little to no body or facial hair; a slim to average build; and a youthful appearance that belies an older chronological age.