The Curse of the British Everyman

The trope of the Everyman is kind of a given (especially) in British media. Today, we're going to explore its origins, its use, and its purpose through the tales of Sherlock Holmes and Dr Watson, Bilbo Baggins and Arthur Dent.
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[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Correction: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle was Scottish, not English! Thanks to all who pointed that out

[@JohnnyWednesday]

I'm British and Arthur Dent is my hero - if I could fail to appreciate the complexity of a situation like him? I'd be very proud.

[@SirBoggins]

As a Brit myself, I tend to view this archetype to be pretty common amongst people who are part of the cities, especially those with neutral British accents (not posh but not local, similar to Bibo's in the Hobbit Trilogy) and it's all due to our "herd mentality," as we humans are pretty social creatures and want to be a part of "a group," which often leads to the awkwardness and quirkiness of the British everyman!

[@JohnnyWednesday]

It's common knowledge that all British people know each other. I can confirm that not only is SirBoggins absolutely correct but that he also still has my mower.

[@SirBoggins]

@JohnnyWednesday I'll give it to you on Sunday, mate; I gotta have my breakfast and second breakfast though......

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

The herd mentality is so real! Nobody likes to rock the boat

[@SirBoggins]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Indeed! We're only human, after all!

[@JohnnyWednesday]

@@SirBoggins - totally understandable

[@SirBoggins]

This type of personality is what actually lead Bilbo to stumble upon the One True Ring and being able to stay "under control" of it for some 70 years; Sauron never intended for Bilbo to have the ring like it did or Isildur or even Gollum and that unlikelyness made the Ring's power sort of weaken as a result; that's most likely why Bilbo wasn't as effected by the Ring as Smeagol, as his "Tookishness" sort of balanced out the Dark Lord's corruption, albeit only for as long as it could, as it was said that Bilbo oft felt "like butter spread over too much bread."

[@GeoffryGifari]

what is it about Martin Freeman that makes him perfect for the "everyman" role?

[@Anacronian]

Look at him.

[@JohnnyWednesday]

His casting as Arthur was genius - as was Stephen Mangan as Dirk Gently

[@marquee-moon]

Did I miss it? Kind of funny that there's no discussion of what it is about Martin Freeman as an actor that he portrays all three of these everymen. Including Tim on the British office; arguably another example. Sean Bean will always die, Martin Freeman will always be ordinary.

[@danielriley7380]

It’s the roles Martin Freeman plays, which are almost always everyman roles.

[@marquee-moon]

@@danielriley7380 Yes, that is...certainly part of the equation; the question is what is it intrinsically about Martin Freeman that leads him to be so frequently _cast_ as that type?

[@JohnnyWednesday]

It honestly didn't register it was the same actor until I read your comment. I guess he's a good actor.

[@biovmr]

Your channel is my favorite corner of the Internet. Many would say you are gifted, and I understand where they’re coming from but from my perspective it’s your passion and hard work that makes your videos extraordinarily appealing to people like me (Lifelong readers). The gift in this case is all ours as we enjoy your content. Like great literature, your various topics and how you cover them not only inform and entertain me, but also allow me to reevaluate my own life against the backdrop of society. This video specifically reminded me that I’ve lived such an extraordinary life these last 58 years in so many ways, mostly by one ordinary day at a time, with occasional adventures. 😊Thank you.

[@AdDewaard-hu3xk]

Thanks for the Holmes/Watson connection. And no hint of homoeroticism.

[@StuartistStudio1964]

Mr. Bean is my favorite farcical version of the British Everyman trope.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Rowan Atkinson is a comedy icon!

[@StuartistStudio1964]

Most certainly!

[@SirBoggins]

​@@sebastianevangelista4921This is shown in The Office!!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@StuartistStudio1964 👍

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@SirBoggins I haven't seen the original Office and gave up early into the American one years ago, so it's cool to learn that he was in it.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Dominic Noble made the following videos on The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy a few years ago and I think you might enjoy them because he talks about Dent as a British icon at one point: 1. The confusing timeline of The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy adaptations - The Dom Reviews 2. The Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy book adaptation - The Dom Reviews 3. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, Lost in Adaptation ~ The Dom 4. The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy Continued, Lost in Adaptation ~ The Dom

[@ryangreen6255]

I liked him until he became a raging Marxist.

[@JohnnyWednesday]

@@ryangreen6255 - I wasn't going to check him out but I will now, thanks

[@ryangreen6255]

@JohnnyWednesday thanks? I don't know how to take that, seeing that Marxism has killed people by the millions.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

He makes really solid videos! I haven't checked out his hitchhiker ones yet though

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire They were posted 7 years ago, so that checks out. They still hold up overall, but you can tell that they were made earlier in his career. I hope you enjoy them! PS got any favorite videos of his?

[@RobinPalmerTV]

Martin Freeman used to live around the corner from me. Lovely chap.

[@rbweston]

I guess most of us British who claim to be gentlemen could be classed as an "Everyman". But there was one Yikes to your narative, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle wasn't English, he was Scottish.

[@MatthewCaunsfield]

I'm so glad that your third option was Arthur Dent, I had him in mind from the start of your video 😁

[@Paldasan]

My first thought as you began your introduction I thought of was "the main thing about flying requires the ability to throw yourself at the ground and miss".

[@scollyb]

Arthur is motivated by wanting a cup of tea and a sit down I feel the need, the need for tea Thank you for finding the Martin Freeman in all of us

[@tra779]

The second I saw the title I thought of Arthur Dent. I love those 4 books so much I read then when I wasn't even much of a reader

[@carlcramer9269]

"Gaggle" as the collective noun of dwarves is... hereby made official! :D

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

Arthur Dent is a superb everyman

[@PaulSmall422]

So, isn't this also a nice compendium of the roles Martin Freeman does best?

[@michaelkelleypoetry]

Martin Freeman was one of the saving graces of the Hobbit trilogy, and he did a great job in the new Sherlock series. However, I think we can all agree that the best Sherlock/Watson duo is Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce.

[@joncaulkett5198]

I'm reminded of my own Hobbit moment when, 39 years ago, I captured the East's banner at the Pennsic War (SCA), although I was an unarmed scout.

[@Fred_Lougee]

Wow. Longcor should have made a filk about you. It would have been a classic.

[@joncaulkett5198]

@@Fred_Lougee My knight, Randall d'Artinuel did make a poem about it & recited it at an Eastern court. I was so honored!

[@markp6062]

Yay! Very good! You could have added Mr Bean for the Brits. You could also have added a few American versions. Bob Newhart and Tim Taylor, or the older Fred Flintstone and Ralph Cramden (Honeymooners). Maybe even Moe, Larry and Curly. Anyway, thanks for a fun and informative run today!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

As a Silver Spring resident who was born in DC, I absolutely love your Smithsonian mug because they were and are happy places for me. Which one is your favorite? PS the channel Overly Sarcastic Productions have an entire video series titled Trope Talks that I think you would love!

[@iamlordapollo]

So I want to point something out and I hope it isn't taken the wrong way because j feel like it's important. There are so many women using their bodies on the internet for profit with all of the only fans and twitchthots and stuff. But here sits an attractive, well read woman using her intelligence instead of her body, with a more than respectable following of fans that treat her with respect. It gives me hope for the human race. Im a happily married man, so I mean this in an objective kind of way, but the intelligence in these videos has far more beauty than any only fans creator could ever hope to achieve. Not enough credit is given to women that create beauty with their intellect when its so easy to take the easy way. I mean this with utmost respect so I hope my point makes sense and doesn't offend anyone. I'm being completely sincere.

[@fortyofforty5257]

Jess of the Shire or the stockmarket close? Jess of the Shire or the stockmarket close? Darn it, Jess dropped another new video, so I've got to watch it. Everyman was an interesting story. Thank you for this interesting presentation. I consider Sam Gamgee to be the "everyman" of the LoR, and in his character we can all see ourselves. He is perfectly average, yet rises above and beyond every challenge. In fact, I consider him the true hero of the epic. Without Sam, Frodo would never have made a successful journey to destroy the ring. He is not highly intelligent, but has common sense and abounding loyalty to his friend. Thank you for another engaging video. Oh, and the transitions are great, too. They're almost like pages flipping.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Sam is definitely the ultimate everyman in LotR!

[@jasonknight8581]

11th Doctor companion Rory Williams fits this description.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Indeed

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Great point! He's one of my favorite characters in that show

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Good choice! Who would you say your favorite companions are aside from him?

[@BrodieVickers-tk9sd]

*_"Not bad for a man in his jim jams! Very Arthur Dent, now there was a nice man."_* From having listened a lot to the radio dramatizations of 'Hitchhiker's' and 'The Hobbit' throughout childhood and into adulthood, not forgetting Sherlock Holmes... goes without saying that I lived in a cultured household haha. I'm sure that I'll find these comparisons very interesting! Thought I'd take a moment to share my favourite Arthur Dent moment from throughout the franchise, in 'Secondary Phase' when he just wants a cup of tea and getting increasingly annoyed with technology kzbin.info/www/bejne/m3LWqKmda5V5pLs which I believe is a perfect example of him being depicted as an Everyman, especially in this day & age.

[@hjelsethak]

Hello former part-time Hobbit. I just wanted to say I love listening to you talk about Tolkien and his work. Great video keep it up

[@pwmiles56]

"Everyman, I wil go with thee and be thy guide In thy most need to go by thy side" This is the quotation in the endpapers of the Everyman books. It's from an anonymous mediaeval morality play. My oldest Everyman, a volume of Tacitus, has an inscription [imdecipherabe name] VI (sixth form) Rugby 1908. The Everymans are probably highly collectible but I'm holding on to mine.

[@donsample1002]

If you were animated, sitting by a fire, this could be an OSP Trope Talk

[@rmsgrey]

The virtues and heroism of Arthur Dent are the Blitz spirit - unless you're part of the RAF or similar, there's nothing you can do to stop the bombs from falling - all you can do is endure, go into a shelter when the sirens sound, and hope you still have a home when you emerge. You complain, and you have a cup of tea, and you get on with life.

[@DasGanon]

It's great when you see a full breakdown of a comment I made to a previous video. Fantastic.

[@MadDragon-lb7qg]

Three Characters, all played by Martin Freeman (OK, others have played them too). The Universe is a strange place to be sure.

[@williampalmer8052]

As always, an engaging and informative video. I can easily see a new primer series on all the common literary archetypes and their implementation in our favorite works. As well, I was very happy to receive my stickers within three days of your sending them out, to the credit of the hard working people at the USPS, and your little rat friends are even more adorable in person. In fact, if you were to put them on a t-shirt I would gladly buy a few. Just a thought...

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

I'd love for this to become a series! And I'm so glad that the stickers arrived safe and sound. We may eventually make T-Shirts happen but merch is an overwhelming thing lol

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Overly Sarcastic Productions have an entire video series titled Trope Talks that I think you would love!

[@Evaleastaristev]

Martin Freeman is the Everyman confirmed.

[@Raymondocha]

I'd add Rincewind the 'wizzard' to this list from the start of Terry Pratchett's Discworld, but he was played on screen by David Jason. That said, David Jason could be picked out for his 'everyman' roles across British television (if this wasn't specifically about literature) - see Open All Hours, & Only Fools and Horses.

[@TrainerZenjamin]

Oh this is perfect, I just started writing short stories again (it comes and goes lol)

[@ernestschroeder9762]

Love your passion.

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

I realize you covered Frankenstein the novel, I was going to suggest the trope of the mad scientist as applied with stretch to other stories. They could be heros or villains, supporting or man characters, and not even nessicerrily scientific, but say artists or magicians or engineers or wizards or craftsman or inventors. It might even be a side interest for them, like the white knight in Alice. Another fascinating trope would be the teacher in unusual circumstances. Like miyagi or Yoda or even in real life like Jaime Escalante. Another topic is, what makes a quasi human not quite human? And why do we want quasi humans to interact with humans, or represent them? Elves, dwarves, talking animals, ents, aliens from other worlds, intelligent independently thinking robots and computers, magic objects, and so on.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Oooh, these are excellent ideas!

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

“He is normal! You meant to say average, now keep it straight.” Utah Phillips

[@gerryccarroll281]

Great video, thank you.

[@tomhoornstra1954]

In the same vein, Samwise Gamgee could be considered the exemplary "everyman" become reluctant hero. But Frodo makes for a more interesting contrast: a rather untypical hobbit in his intelligence, broadmindedness, and thirst for adventure (inherited from his uncle), witness his pre-quest sentiment that the Shire and its folk are so dull that it would be improved by an invasion of dragons. Which he later repents of as realizes how huge, strange, and dangerous is the world into which he is later thrust. Exile makes him long for home and the comfort of familiarity all the more. He does not set out to be a hero, nor to save the world. He sets out to save the Shire and all that it represents: the kind of place where simple, decent, ordinary people can remain just what they are. And, as he says toward the end, "it has been saved. But not for me." He's been so deeply wounded and so profoundly changed by his journey that "normalcy" in that sense is no longer an option. So standing the trope on its head. And yet in a way providing the exception that proves the rule.

[@moospresso]

Really enjoyed that 🙂

[@ianchristian7949]

Conan Doyle English‽ Scottish Madam, Scottish!

[@iainmc9859]

Was just about to say the same ... went to England when he was nine but returned to Edinburgh to study medicine. Effectively, he was Watson.

[@agatatryhubczak9469]

Hi! I was wondering if you could make a video about redemption tropes and why they're so appealing? I think it would be cool to also include failed redemption arcs, like Sauron!

[@Cole205]

This is not so unusual. Look at Japanese media, animated and live action. Many salarymen.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Interesting

[@DirtHutCaver]

I'm on time for a video for once! :D Also, definitely going to be a great next half hour!

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

Being on time really is great!

[@philippelra]

Martin Freeman totaly nail those rôle :P great video jess !

[@LexiB-o9c]

He’s one of my favorite British actors ever since Fargo.

[@Yandarval]

@@LexiB-o9c Freeman plays Freeman in neary everything. Even in Marvel films, its still him being him. Stick some hairly feet and waistcoat on him, He would still be Freeman instead of the CIA man he is potraying in Black Panther. Dr Watson, Bilbo, CIA man. All identical apart from the costume.

[@Skip6235]

The Hobbit movies are a bit (a lot) of a mess, but they nailed casting Freeman as Bilbo

[@Notreallyhereanymore]

If you think about it, Hobbits are basically British people. They love tea time, homecooked meals, hanging around the pub, etc. The resemblance is uncanny.

[@justink5000]

Well, Tolkien was British and he idolized his own favourite lifestyle.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

The podcast Reginald's Book Club has a fun episode on Fellowship of the Ring that talks about that. Dominic Noble, the guy behind the podcast, also has a hilarious video titled 'The Fellowship of the Ring ~ Lost in Adaptation' that goes over that point as well.

[@Notreallyhereanymore]

@@justink5000 based tolkien

[@LexiB-o9c]

I’m British on my dad’s side (his mother’s side of the family originated from England), so this explains a lot.

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@justink5000 Yep!

[@eliscanfield3913]

I'd like to see some more everyman characters that don't look like (or in fact are) Martin Freeman. Much as I love the guy :)

[@stardust1837]

dr watson is bilbo after finishing school

[@johnnyjet3.1412]

Ship’s Captains in Joseph Conrad.

[@GeoffryGifari]

Who are the examples of the "everywoman" in literature? in what kinds of stories do they usually stand out?

[@AdDewaard-hu3xk]

Bilbo, first. Sam Gamgee, second. Frodo, third.

[@TheBunzinator]

I feel a little pedantic for saying this... but the "l" in Holmes is silent... Ralph Holmes.

[@johnwinebrenner1231]

So Arthur Dent and Bilbo Baggins are the same person played by the same actor, just typecasting or is there something fundamentally wrong with the Universe?

[@Stephen-Fox]

I can't help but wonder if part of your choice of three example Everymen was the opportunity to illustrate the trope exclusively through clips of Martin Freeman. But. Yes. Love video essays that take works in conversation with each other.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Who on earth is this "Martin Free Man" you speak of? That's just Arthur Dent, Bilbo Baggins and John Watson

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Everyone knows that all English Everymen have the same face! Duh.

[@AdDewaard-hu3xk]

I'm a Hitchhiker.

[@AdDewaard-hu3xk]

We could be heros . . .

[@ryangreen6255]

26:40 Hollywood has increasingly through the decades lost touch with the general populace.

[@fistfullofglass]

The everyman trope I feel is an entry point for countless stories, it allows to build a world at a pace for the reader-as the uncommon, even if in-world widely known, is encountered, it is easier explained through the eyes of the sheltered peoples. The supporting or main characters are allowed to become more incredible as opposed to an information dump of history, listing acts of greatness/evil and illustrate their shortcomings through conflicts as opposed to internalized monologues. I can’t deny I found myself at times tired of this method of storytelling, more so in film or animation because of a lack of internalization in these guides, or the overly questioning of a world which sometimes I can see it as insulting to the reader/viewer. However it does definitely help separate a mediocre story (or storyteller) from a must-read. Separated in HOW this worn path is now travelled. My personal favorite trope would have to be the worn-out, tired, gruff, “adventurer”, who finds themselves dragged back into the fray, to guide others who are uninitiated to the world…usually returning for either a huge payoff, have been extorted or unfinished business brought to the forefront of their minds.

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

This is a great way to describe it! Tropes like this can always feel worn out eventually, but that just makes it all the more exciting when someone does something really new with it

[@pwmiles56]

Ouch! Watson is middle-class, no more. He is a medical doctor and a commissioned officer, both of which carry the rank of "gentleman", but only by profession.

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

Also, is love if u did a deep dive on a favorite price of c s Lewis fiction if u have any?

[@BanazirGalpsi1968]

Or Issac assimov or Arthur c. Clarke

[@MsJaytee1975]

The archetype isn’t British, it’s English, and a certain part of England. You’ll never find a character like this who is from Scotland or Wales, nor the North of England, or pretty much anywhere outside the South East of England, basically London and anywhere within a couple of hours travel. If your experience of Sherlock is just Sherlock TV show then you would think Watson doesn’t contribute to the solving of crimes. I think he’s not that quintessentially British or English but then my favourite Watson is played by Lucy Liu. We don’t need these characters, the fact they keep giving Martin Freeman work is enough reason to get rid of them.

[@andersschmich8600]

What's the problem with Martin Freeman? He was miscast as Bilbo imo, but I liked him in the office.

[@ryangreen6255]

False: Watson was very important to the case. He was the medical expertise for the case.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

If you're going to use the sindarin pronunciation of sauron and trill your r, how come you don't put the hard v at the end of gandalf? Or as I insisted in the case of sauron, is it better to use the common pronunciation because the red book isn't supposed to be sindarin based?

[@willemvandebeek]

What do you have against Martin Freeman? You have managed to not say his name once... o_O

[@Jess_of_the_Shire]

Who? I've never heard of this Martin Freeman guy, not once in my whole life

[@willemvandebeek]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire 😮

[@sebastianevangelista4921]

@@Jess_of_the_Shire Dun Dun DDDUUUUUUNNN

[@Eagle-eye-pie]

English.