Aunts Aren’t Gentlemen
‘Aunts aren’t gentlemen’ is the title of P G Wodehouse’s hilarious book. Bertie Wooster, the protagonist, is surrounded by aunts who come to visit him from near and far. One aunt sooths his nerves with her presence and the other, terrifies him. Her loud voice can be heard across England and he finds a way to escape her as soon as she boards the train to his place. The young man’s misadventures with these motherly figures make for an extremely funny read. Nevertheless, all of Bertie’s aunts are memorable and funny characters you will remember long after you are done reading the novel.
But boy, what a lot of punch the title packs!
Aunts who are not gentlemen, are not mere wallflowers. They ‘arrive’ in your life every time, loud and clear, just like Aunt Dahlia and Aunt Agatha. They speak their mind and question what is wrong. They inconvenience the Bertie Wooster in you. And if you aren’t impressed by who they are, remember they don’t live to impress. It is all because they belong to a household where women occupy a healthy space not restricted to the kitchen. You are better off being amused, admiring the aunt for her guts and gumption!
Years ago, one fine evening, my grandma threw a fit. Her second daughter (my mother’s sister) had replaced the traditional cooking pot with a pressure cooker which she had bought with her hard earned money. As a next act of rebellion, my aunt outsourced the inhouse tailoring department! My eldest aunt overcame polio and authoritatively ran the kitchen of the large household for decades. My mom passionately collected watch straps once she began to work. A true movie buff, she made it a point to hit the theatre every other week. Ditto with her younger sister who explored the idea of a career before settling into a household. And that is how the sisters evolved into a bunch of opinionated, witty and vocal aunts with a lot to observe and say. It would be fit to say they are the motherly figures that make a matriarchal household what it is.
Women, tough as a keg of nails, who do not wallow in ignorance, are a force to reckon with in every house. The Bertie Woosters of the world are amused, terrified, entertained, afraid and maybe even shocked by their iron fist in a velvet glove.
Happy Mother’s Day to all the aunts who aren’t gentlemen, each one more than a handful, who make their presence felt in any room. Maybe because watching them in action is like watching The Powerpuff Girls come to life!
