Reply With QuoteI think Mainwearing was supposed to have an inferiority complex because he was the son of a humble tailor and Wilson was an upper middle class man who had been a real officer in the Great War..all of which grated on Mainwearing.
Hi.
I was watching an episode of dads army last night, I cant remember what it was called but it was the one where Wilson gets his own bank, the bank was bombed on his first day so he had to return to Warmington on sea in the end.
What struck me was the nastiness of Captain Mainwaring when Wilson was leaving, he wouldn`t shake his hand. When Wilson returned back to the bank Mainwaring was again dismissive and nasty. I know they snipe at each other and it is hillarious but I could never really work out thier relationship. I used to think deep down Mainwaring liked Wilson and would be sorry to lose Wilson but obviously not
Does Mainwaring respect Wilson at all? Does Wilson like Mainwaring? Do the characters hate each other?
What d you think?
xx
I think Mainwearing was supposed to have an inferiority complex because he was the son of a humble tailor and Wilson was an upper middle class man who had been a real officer in the Great War..all of which grated on Mainwearing.
No, I don't think he respects him at all. He's too full of his own importance and it makes him feel superior to denigrate the others - especially Wilson, because he doesn't like his decisions to be questioned, which Wilson does all the time. Even when Wilson is being quite logical he will disagree with him on principle, and put him down, but at the same time Wilson will always want to do things differently. I think he would like to be the one in charge and Mainwaring senses that. So there is always this friction between them. Yes, I think they probably do hate each other.name='faginsgirl']Hi.
I was watching an episode of dads army last night, I cant remember what it was called but it was the one where Wilson gets his own bank, the bank was bombed on his first day so he had to return to Warmington on sea in the end.
What struck me was the nastiness of Captain Mainwaring when Wilson was leaving, he wouldn`t shake his hand. When Wilson returned back to the bank Mainwaring was again dismissive and nasty. I know they snipe at each other and it is hillarious but I could never really work out thier relationship. I used to think deep down Mainwaring liked Wilson and would be sorry to lose Wilson but obviously not
Does Mainwaring respect Wilson at all? Does Wilson like Mainwaring? Do the characters hate each other?
What d you think?
xx
I agree with Cully's comment, too.
They were really gay lovers & it was all a smokescreen?!?name='faginsgirl']Hi.
I was watching an episode of dads army last night, I cant remember what it was called but it was the one where Wilson gets his own bank, the bank was bombed on his first day so he had to return to Warmington on sea in the end.
What struck me was the nastiness of Captain Mainwaring when Wilson was leaving, he wouldn`t shake his hand. When Wilson returned back to the bank Mainwaring was again dismissive and nasty. I know they snipe at each other and it is hillarious but I could never really work out thier relationship. I used to think deep down Mainwaring liked Wilson and would be sorry to lose Wilson but obviously not
Does Mainwaring respect Wilson at all? Does Wilson like Mainwaring? Do the characters hate each other?
What d you think?
xx
There are definitely moments when Wilson pities the Captain. He knows he is struggling and feels frustrated. Wilson also demonstrates loyalty to Mainwaring that is quite touching - and not reciprocated!
It's classic upper-class public schoolboy vs middle-class grammar schoolboy.
Someone like Wilson would normally have been the commander of the platoon, effortlessly sliding into the position by right of birth and upbringing. This forces Mainwaring to work twice as hard to show that he should be in charge, and he never fails to remind Wilson of that fact.
Of course, Wilson isn't actually that bothered about being in charge, which makes Mainwaring even more annoyed and exacerbates his (Mainwaring's) inferiority complex.
Having said that, they are friends of a sort and they are used to each others company, even if they annoy each other sometimes.
One of the reasons that Dad's Army was so successful was that it captured archetypes of British character that everyone recognised. I'm not sure if they are archetypes that are recognisable now (unfortunately), but they were then.
Mainwaring's inferiority complex in relation to Wilson is shown best in the episode A Soldiers Farewell where in a dream he sees himself as Napoleon, with Wilson as Wellington. Also, when Mainwaring's wife rejects his offer of a cheese supper, Wilson's offer to share the supper with himself and Jones touches Mainwaring indicating that despite the antagonism there's moments of true comradeship.
In one episode it is revealed that Wilson saw service as an officer during the First World War while Mainwaring's service was in the occupation army in 1919.Wilson often prevents the good captain making aserious error with a well timed "do you think that's wise sir "Mainwaring saving face by replying along the lines of"well spotted ,I wondered who'd spot that first".I've always thought that this interplay between the two characters is a well observed comment on the way British society in general set aside old values and attitudes in the face of it's greatest peril.The old guard(Wilson) having to often take a subservient role to someone of the "lower class"(In the first months of the war Officer aircrew in bomber command had to take orders on "ops" from sergeant pilots),and middle class people such as Mainwaring finding themselves in positons of authority over people that they had been brought up to defer to.Mainwaring,I think,deep down ,is uncomfortable with the situation and that's the reason for his officious behaviour.If the BBC is ever called to the great TV studio in heaven,Dad's Army and a few choice others will be reason enogh for the great critic to let them in.
Simon Garfield's excellent book "We Are At War" taken from diaries suplied to Mass Observation at the outbreak of war is a fascinating look at how various ordinary people dealt with the same situation in which Mainwaring,Wilson and the rest found themselves.
Jimmy Perry talks about his wartime experienceFor Perry most of the war was a time of glorious excitement and fun. Like many boys, he loved being in the Home Guard, which was full of teenagers and old men. He still recounts with laughter how the Captain Mainwaring figure, who ran his platoon, was forever shouting: �No more tomfoolery!� But he adds: �I have to say though, for all our mucking around, we took the whole thing very seriously.�
Perry is very forceful about this point, which is one of the central themes and comic conceits of Dad�s Army. For all their squabbles, the characters in the series are united by their desire to fight the Germans; this is what makes the show ultimately so heartwarming. It is a portrait of Britain coming together in a unique fashion. All the social classes are equally involved. �The war was a great leveller. It didn�t matter what class you were, we were all important.�
I don't think Wilson care what Mainwaring thinks of him, In a lot of the episodes wilson uses that sarcastic voice and trademark chuckle to let viewers know that he is very much aware of mainwarings dodgy reasons for making himself the most important. Faginsgirl is right that bank epsiode really does show up the extent to which Mainwaing is jealous of Wilson and his upperclass background. The fact is simply the old Mainwaring has a chip on his shoulder a mile wide and likes to take it out on poor Wilson occasioanlly.
What do people think about Clive Dunn? I sometimes find that his part is overdone and exaggerated too much. Apparently clive done was a lot younger than jones was supposed to be so i wonder if that was the reason for the overthetopness.
if you manage to see the episode where they flash back to one of jones's african campaighs, you will see clive dunn in considerably less make up and looks very youthfull - this was clive dunn au natural .
however i also used to think "jones" was getting to be a bit irritating diong the same silly arse routine .
as to the original question,i think mainwairing was resentfull rather than a hatred of wilson. the class distinction was obviuose and mainwairing had unwavering ( allbeit missled) standards - look how he trated Godfrey when he found out he was a " conchie", and his later reaction to the said godfreys bravery .
FANTASTIC SERIES THOUGH HUH?
I don't think I've ever seen that episode with Jones' flashback. I may have to go hunt for that one (and there i was thinking i had seen most of them)
oh I always feel sorry for poor old Godfrey. Mainwaring was always so impatient with the poor fellow and he was just trying his best to help. Brilliant embodiment of those men who were in reality past it but were still proud and wanted to serve their country as best they could.
Just watched another good episode tonight, where they had to play the germans for a film. Brilliant with Pike and Wilson as the german officers.
Clive Dunn did specialise in playing older characters so never really appears to have changed much over the decades. Something he has in common with Moore Marriot who did the same.
mallee
name='howardmitchell']if you manage to see the episode where they flash back to one of jones's african campaighs, you will see clive dunn in considerably less make up and looks very youthfull - this was clive dunn au natural .
If that is the one where Jones is telling the story after his old mate turned up claiming Jones had deserted him I wondered why they had the same characters (the dads army cast) in the flashback? That was a bit odd!
xx
name='mallee59']Just watched another good episode tonight, where they had to play the germans for a film. Brilliant with Pike and Wilson as the german officers.
Clive Dunn did specialise in playing older characters so never really appears to have changed much over the decades. Something he has in common with Moore Marriot who did the same.
mallee
I just watched that episode on tv too! Pike is excellant in this episode, totally steps out of the whole 'soppy boy' role. One of Pike's best episodes i think.
There was a certain amount of tension between Lowe and Le Mez in real lifeif youread the Lowe Bios and watch the TV docus
name='mallee59']Just watched another good episode tonight, where they had to play the germans for a film. Brilliant with Pike and Wilson as the german officers.
Clive Dunn did specialise in playing older characters so never really appears to have changed much over the decades. Something he has in common with Moore Marriot who did the same.
mallee
Back in the early seventies, I remember being quite amused to learn that at the same time as Clive Dunn was playing doddery old First World War veteran Corporal Jones, serial bird puller and layabout Stan Butler from On The Buses was being played by Reg Varney who was three and a half years OLDER than Dunn!
The idea of having the effortlessly suave one as the sergeant and the more common, inverted snob as the officer was a stroke of brilliance; the interplay between Mainwaring and Wilson was probably the finest thing about the wonderful Dad's Army.
Not sure if it isn't in fact the same episode as the one you're referring to mallee, but I recall the one where Wilson disguised himself as a kind of "gentleman tramp" (an outfit which he explained he used to wear at 1920's upper class balls) when they were staging a mock takeover of Walmington On Sea to try and shake up the apathetic local authorities. Mainwaring arrived dressed as a common ne'erdowell, and on seeing Wilon's get-up remarked through gritted teeth something along the lines of "The only reason I can see for you dressing like that is to annoy me!"
In addition to the earlier answers, don't forget that Wilson is conducting a scandalous affaire with Pike's mother, throughout the series, whilst Mainwaring is happily married in the quintessentially British way.........name='faginsgirl']Does Mainwaring respect Wilson at all? Does Wilson like Mainwaring? Do the characters hate each other?
So there is sexual jealousy, but not of the sort that Tommy Lea was inferring.....
Mainwaring both thoroughly disapproves of Wilson socially, yet simultaneously envies Wilson on a human animal level....
It is a common theme in British comfy-drama that the working-class-boy-made-good always is made to look as if he must still be inferior to the idle and unachieving toff.
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