My Review of Good Bye, Mr Chips

Hola! This is my review of 'Good bye, Mr. Chips".

In the first chapter, this book explains about the physical condition of Mr. Chips a retired teacher who now lives in a rented house of Mrs. Wickett and about how physically almost 50 years old are still healthy and fit even compared to his doctor. It tells about how Mr. Chips have lives there after he gave up his mastership. In this chapter it is also known that Mr. Chips was a soldier fight in Wetherby on Franco-Prussian War in 1870.

In the second chapter, it tells about a bit of Mr. Chips flashback when he was young. And mainly, this chapter tells about how famous Brookfield school before the Napoleonic Wars until mid-Victorian days happen when the school declined both in number and repute.

In the third chapter, this tells about Mr. Chips being nice with everyone. He usually watching kids play at playing field on afternoon while drinking tea. He also asks those kids about their family relation with Brookfield. Mr. Chips loves Walnut cake with pink icing on it from Reddaway.

In the fourth chapter, it tells about Mr. Chips summer break. How he and his colleague Rowden are vacationing at the Lake District and renting rooms at an old farmhouse. Rowden is suddenly called away and Chips finds himself alone. Chips decides to hike one day and spots a woman waving his way wanted a help. Mr. Chips rushed towards her but ended up break his ankle instead. Her name is Katherine Bridges.

Fifth, Now as an old man, he looks at his two feet and tries to recall which foot it was that changed his fortunes so. He remembers when the couple eagerly planned their lives together. Katherine was supportive of Chips' career, relieved that he was not a stockbroker or a solicitor or dentist. She felt there was nothing more important than education. To ease Chips' concerns, she assured him how much she liked boys and would feel comfortable living at Brookfield. Katherine only answered with laughter when Chips tried to convince her his teaching credentials and abilities were at best mediocre. The evening before the wedding, Katherine made a point to say goodbye to him for the last time before they became a couple. She thought it appropriate to say, "Good-bye, Mr. Chips."

Sixth, Katherine was a great hit at Brookfield. Everyone loved her—even the women who were at first jealous of her youthful beauty. But the most amazing thing about her presence was the change it had on Chips. Although he had come to be respected in his job, he had never been loved by the students nor had he inspired them. He was stiff and kept himself remote from them. Influenced by Katherine's positive attitude and cheerful support, he relaxed and allowed himself to reveal a side no one had ever seen. His sense of humor that had always been there now emerged to the delight of his students. He had never been a good disciplinarian but was rigid and misunderstood. But with Katherine in his life, his disciplinary skills improved, and though he became tougher on his students, their admiration.

Seventh and Eight Chapter, emories of Katherine flood Chips' memories. He pictures her running down the corridors, laughing at some silly thing. He remembers when she played the cello at a Mozart concert at Brookfield. He recalls how she advocated leniency in many cases of boys who were being punished. Many times she was convincing. Though she looked on the good side of people, when a boy had merited punishment she would push for the most severe. Years later when a disciplinary issue faced him, he would recall her words which would influence his actions. In his declining years, he remembers so many incidents that seemed serious or funny but now the years had dulled their intensity. Were they really that funny or serious after all? He recalled names and incidents.

Ninth, After Katherine's death, Chips turned into an old man—old beyond his years. Although he was only fifty and had graying hair before his wife's death, it was now that everyone seemed to notice it. His odd remarks were taken as something an old man can get away with. (Now eighty, Chips thinks back with a chuckle at being called old at fifty.) Chips' eccentricities were accepted—his fraying almost threadbare gown, the ritualistic way in which he called roll. Years later he could remember the sequences of names on the roster he had called in alphabetical order, wondering what happened to all of them. When he did well at a game of fives, he overhead the comment that he did well for an old chap. He was permitted to be an old man by staff and students alike.

Tenth, In 1900, old Meldrum, who had taken Wetherby's position as Headmaster of the school died of pneumonia. Chips was appointed interim Headmaster until a suitable replacement could be found for Meldrum. Chips held hope that he would receive the position permanently. But those thoughts were dashed with the appearance of the young (age 37), new Headmaster. Chips did not like the young headmaster's remote and rigid style. Chips reflects on the years with the new headmaster. He recalled when the severe young Headmaster Ralston called everyone to the Assembly Hall to announce that King Edward VII had died. He remembered when the railway workers went on strike. Some of the strikers Chips had known for years and would not dream of ignoring them.

Eleventh, Chips and Headmaster Ralston had quite an argument. After calling Chips to his study, Ralston basically asked for his resignation. He asserted that Chips was not cutting mustard. He was not up on his Greek and Latin, refusing to follow the pronunciation standards set by Ralston. For example, he insisted that staff and student pronounce "Cicero" as "Kickero." Mr. Chips was slovenly as well—his tattered robe was the talk of the school. He is just past sixty, however, and is not ready to retire which he forcefully let Ralston know. A student happened to be just outside the room as the argument ensued. It was soon all around among staff and students that Ralston had been rude to Mr. Chips and had shown a total lack of respect. No one liked Ralston and his treatment of Chips.

Twelfth, As it turned out, Mr. Chips stayed at Brookfield and Ralston resigned to better himself at a more prestigious school. Replacing Ralston was an even younger man named Chatteris who was a bright, friendly and sympathetic young man. Chatteris and Chips hit it off right away. He sensed immediately the emotional connection Chips had with the school and students. Following a bout with bronchitis that made him miss most of the winter semester, at 65, Chips decided it is time to retire. He loved Brookfield and the students and staff and he'd always be part of them. He'd be right across the street and would be able to stop by whenever he wanted. At the end of the summer term, Chips was given a farewell celebration.

Thirteenth, The world was in the throes of war. Chips, like many others, at first did not feel the fighting would amount to much. He was wrong but, unlike many others, admitted it. In 1915, as conflicts escalated, Chips would sit in the chapel every Sunday evening and listen to Chatteris read off the names of former students who had been killed in battle that week. Chips always thought how they were just names to Chatteris, but they were faces, real boys to him. The Battle of Somme of 1916, sadly yielded the names of 23 former students one Sunday evening.

Fourteenth and Fifteenth, Things went exceedingly well when Chips returned to school. The most gratifying thing to him was that for the first time in his life he felt needed. Chips eased the tense situation by poking fun at things like the new menu reflecting changes by the food-rationing system. Chatteris fell ill in the winter of 1917, and Chips once again became Acting Head of Brookfield. Chatteris died in the Spring and the Board of Governor asked Chips to stay on as Acting Head through the term. Chips was satisfied with that—he knew that he was too old to take the position on permanently. Chips enjoyed his time as Headmaster—he handled complaints, dealt with problems and requests.

Sixteenth, now fifteen years after his final retirement, Chips is happy in his cozy room—even in winter where he can read by the fire and look forward to summer when there would be continual visits from the old boys—his former students. The war ended years before. He is proud of England's sacrifice—although it may have been too much. The General Strike of 1926 lasted a week—without bloodshed—a lesson in decorum for England's more trigger-happy allies. Whatever meeting or dinner he attended, everyone looks forward to his jokes. Laughter is everywhere Chips goes. Chips has no worries. His retirement and money provides more than he needs. He often gives money away when someone he knows needs help.

Seventeenth and Eighteenth, Dr. Merivale reminds Chips to stay indoors, adding that he wished he had Chips' life. Chips thinks that it was, after all, quite a life—so many memories and good times to keep him company. While Mrs. Wicket is away, there is a knock at the door. Though he probably should not answer the door—might catch a draft—Chips makes his way there. There is a very young boy standing there in a Brookfield cap. The boy, Linford, tells him that he was told Chips wanted to see him. Chips knows the older boys were playing a joke, a gag—so he'd play along. He invites the shy youngster in. That Evening, Mr. Chips Died with a big smile.

See ya later!