To Sir with Love

“Sex seemed little more than a joke to them, a conversation piece which alternated with their comments on the weather, and their vividly detailed discussions on their actual or imagined ailments.” 

On Braithwaite’s first visit to the East End, he encounters a group of working-class women on the bus and is fairly amused by their conversations. However, his amusement seems condescending; he regards himself as separate and above the plebian jokes and conversations of these charwomen. Specifically, he is entertained by their openness in joking about sex, about which he would not deign to joke, indicating that he comes from a higher socioeconomic class in which such jokes would be considered uncouth. In this way, he separates himself from the residents of East End. This differentiation in behavior foreshadows potential conflicts that Braithwaite will have, both with the students and with other teachers, many of whom are from the East End.

“My quick anger at the woman’s undisguised prejudice was surprisingly tinctured by a certain admiration for her fearless, superior attitude.”

Braithwaite surprises himself by being impressed at this lady’s superiority complex, indicating one of his own prejudices: classism. One of the criticisms this book has received is that the novel presents class and culture as being more important than race and prejudice, as evidenced in this quotation. Despite this woman’s racism, Braithwaite attributes a bravery to her, indicating his penchant to associate positive qualities with high class individuals. Although he believes her to be misled in terms of her racism, he also believes she possesses innate qualities lacking in people of lower birth.