Ordinary Jack by Helen Cresswell
"Ordinary Jack" by Helen Cresswell is a comedic novel that follows the life of Jack Bagthorpe, who stands out as the only non-genius in his exceptionally talented family. The story unfolds within the context of the quirky Bagthorpe family, where each member showcases remarkable abilities in music, sports, and academics, leaving Jack and his dog Zero feeling somewhat ordinary. The narrative begins and ends with chaotic family birthday celebrations, marked by unexpected fires due to the antics of Jack's young sister, Daisy.
In an attempt to elevate Jack's status within the family, Uncle Parker collaborates with him to create an elaborate hoax, presenting Jack as a prophet. However, as Jack navigates the complexities of this deception, he grapples with feelings of loneliness and the burden of expectations. The plot thickens during a picnic where the hoax spirals out of control, leading to humorous mishaps and revelations about family dynamics. Ultimately, Jack finds contentment in his ordinariness, fostering genuine connections with his family members.
Set against a backdrop reminiscent of eighteenth-century satire, "Ordinary Jack" cleverly critiques vanity and hypocrisy, encouraging readers to reflect on the importance of authenticity and the value of being true to oneself. The novel is the first installment in the Bagthorpe Saga, which also includes titles like "Absolute Zero" and "Bagthorpes Unlimited."
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Subject Terms
Ordinary Jack by Helen Cresswell
First published: 1977
Type of work: Domestic realism
Themes: Family, animals, and emotions
Time of work: The 1970’s
Recommended Ages: 10-13
Locale: The Bagthorpe home near Aysham, England
Principal Characters:
Jack Bagthorpe , an eleven-year-old, who is keenly aware of his lack of accomplishmentsZero , his droopy-eared mongrel dogRussell Parker , Jack’s uncle, who assists him in his campaignMr. Bagthorpe , the father, who writes television scripts and continually demeans ZeroMrs. Bagthorpe , the mother, who writes a monthly Agony column and is a juvenile court magistrateDaisy Parker , a four-year-old cousin who has a reading age of 7.4 and sets firesGrandma Bagthorpe , an eccentric old woman, who is outspoken, self-centered, and comic
The Story
Ordinary Jack is a comedy of manners which is dependent for its humor on the ridiculous proposition that every member of the Bagthorpe family, excluding Jack and his dog Zero, is a genius with multiple talents. Jack’s brother and two sisters each play at least one musical instrument, specialize in at least one sport, and excel in at least one academic area. Uncle Parker, a Bagthorpe by marriage only, conspires with Jack to carry out an elaborate hoax on the family, a Campaign to make Jack a Prophet and a Phenomenon in the eyes of his family.
The novel begins and ends with family birthday celebrations, both of which culminate in unexpected fires. The eccentricities and particular interests of each family member are introduced at Grandma Bagthorpe’s birthday party, which is eventually disrupted by the first of several fires started by four-year-old Daisy. The next day, Jack begins to behave strangely and to show signs of Mysterious Impressions and Visions. In spite of unexpected crises, he and Uncle Parker succeed in demonstrating Jack’s prophetic ability.
The conspirators intend to stage Jack’s most spectacular prophecy at a picnic on Rosie’s birthday. Meanwhile, Jack is determined to raise Zero’s reputation in the family by teaching the dog to fetch. Getting down on all fours with a stick in his mouth, Jack finally demonstrates to Zero how to fetch a stick, but the approval of the family is short-lived. Zero insists on fetching the microphone of Mr. Bagthorpe’s tape recorder every time it is left in the grass.
Apprehension grows about the meaning of Jack’s vision of a Giant Bubble and Great Brown Bear; Grandma is beginning to expect the return of her long-dead cat Thomas, and the other family members are decidedly uneasy around Jack. In fact, he finds being a Prophet and a Phenomenon a sad and lonely life. At the picnic on Rosie’s birthday, two figures dressed as brown bears are seen floating over the tree tops in a hot air balloon. At this point, Uncle Parker and Jack lose control of their plan. The balloon lands on the meadow; Mr. Bagthorpe appears with Jack’s secret notebook with complete details about the hoax; and the whole assembly sees smoke rising from the summer house where Daisy has set another fire.
Mr. Bagthorpe only found the notebook because he had been secretly reading the stack of old comic books which Jack kept in his room, a pastime scorned by the Bagthorpe geniuses. Consequently, Jack does not receive the reprimand he expects, and Mr. Bagthorpe’s character is noticeably softened. Now content to be ordinary, Jack is no longer thought of as ordinary by the rest of the family; he and Zero have become equals with the other family members.
Context
Ordinary Jack, the introductory novel of the Bagthorpe Saga, which includes Absolute Zero (1987) and Bagthorpes Unlimited (1979), resembles an eighteenth century satirical novel in style, character, and theme. The complete title, Ordinary Jack: Being the First Part of the Bagthorpe Saga, echoes eighteenth century titles such as The King of Pirates: Being An Account Of The Famous Enterprises of Captain Avery (1719), by Daniel Defoe, best known for The Life and Strange Surprising Adventures of Robinson Crusoe (1719). By continually referring to Jack’s parents as Mr. Bagthorpe and Mrs. Bagthorpe and by capitalizing significant nouns (Mysterious Impression, Campaign, and Prophet), the novelist has given the book the appearance of an eighteenth century novel.
The critic Northrop Frye has observed that the hero of a satire or comedy of manners is not very interesting compared to the blocking characters who, obsessed by a ruling passion, find themselves in ritual bondage. Jack is ordinary and less colorful than the rest of the family. Like the hero of Henry Fielding’s The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling (1749), he has a commonplace name; like Fielding’s hero in The Adventures of Joseph Andrews and His Friend, Mr. Abraham Adams (1742), Jack has conventional attitudes and typical interests. The blocking characters are those who dismiss Zero as worthless and who view Jack as neither very intelligent nor accomplished. Each one is in ritual bondage to his ruling passion, for example, Mr. Bagthorpe’s need to show off, resulting in a broken arm, and Daisy’s fires.
Henry Fielding believed the true source of the ridiculous to be affectation, which can have only one of two causes: vanity or hypocrisy. Helen Cresswell’s comedy flows from the affectations of the Bagthorpes, most of whom are at the mercy of unrestrained vanity. Only Mr. Bagthorpe’s affectation seems to come from a mixture of vanity and hypocrisy. Ordinary Jack is at the end of the novel the character whose life is most admirable and most genuine. He never becomes comfortable with the role of trickster and never enjoys his practical jokes when they disturb others.
As an eighteenth century novel affords the reader the pleasure of recognizing the foibles of others, Ordinary Jack provides the child an opportunity to laugh at adults and at children who too readily accept the values of the adult world. Characterized by fast-paced hilarity, the novels of The Bagthorpe Saga provoke self-examination and encourage the best instincts of the child: honesty, humility, kindness, and genuine emotions.