Chapter 3: Lucky Jim by Kingsley Amis

Chapter 3.

Ok, so this novel is really starting to get interesting here. At the beginning of this chapter, a student named Michie is introduced as being on of Dixon's students. Now, Dixon begins to analyze the ironies of life because this particular student of his commanded a huge troop and tank during World War II yet in the university, it seems Dixon has all the power over him even though when Dixon was involved in the war, he was in no battle action. This is the first student that Dixon interacts with (possibly the only one? I'm not sure, I'll need to read on still) and it seems they both value different things. Michie is ignorant of the fact that he believes he is getting the best education out there even though from Dixon's perspective/actions, the reader sees that he is by no means concerned about giving his students the best education but nearly plans his lessons according to how to get the three best looking girls to attend his class. Because of this, Amis introduces the irony in society and how different people are ignorant to how different things work (ie power and education). It seems that Amis is already mocking the structure and function of this university by first beginning by poking out the flaws and actions of the professors and then how the university functions as a whole. The aspect in this chapter that's been quite ironic so far is that all the reader sees is Dixon's point of view so it is not clear if the circumstances are presented through a reliable eye. His voice is quite like Stevens's from Remains of the Day--quite distorted in terms of what really may be happening. Interestingly enough, a character named Bill Atkinson who is somewhat similiar to our narrator, seems to be extremely "straightforward" and "honest" which are the qualities our narrator idolizes yet he himself is supposedly being that to the reader...or is he? It's ironic how our narrator strictly admires this one particular character even though none of the others like him.