What-ho, folks whom I ask lots of questions of as of late. (So glad this comm is still around. It's been what, ten years? Good times. God, I'm old
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I don't know about differences in accents, but Jeeves speaks very respectfully, using titles and honorifics and so forth, which could show that he is a servant. Plus, he would speak less formally when talking to other servants, and servants in lower places on the hierarchy would speak more respectfully to him.
Moreover, how Jeeves dresses would definitely be an indication of his class. As a valet, he'd be dressed in a neat, inconspicuous way. Other servants would dress in ways that revealed their class too, for example a butler would be dressed more formally than a valet. I searched online and found a description of what is worn by various servants in a book called Book of Etiquette by Lillian Eichler Watson.
Here's a bit of what it says about valets: "Indoors, in the evening and during the day, he wears dark gray or black trousers, white linen, a high-buttoned black waistcoat and a plain black swallow-tailed coat or one cut with short rounded tails. He wears a dark tie and dull leather shoes. He may also wear an inconspicuous pin in his tie and simple cuff-links; but a display of jewelry is not permissible."
So if you had often seen servants and knew what they wore, then you might be able to tell from Jeeves's understated attire that he is a valet. I should note that the book is American, though. I couldn't find a British source, but I don't think it would be too different? For some reason, all the etiquette books I can find from that era are American. :/
I think hats in particular were an important sign of class. Every etiquette book I could find said that valets wear derby/bowler hats. :)
Moreover, how Jeeves dresses would definitely be an indication of his class. As a valet, he'd be dressed in a neat, inconspicuous way. Other servants would dress in ways that revealed their class too, for example a butler would be dressed more formally than a valet. I searched online and found a description of what is worn by various servants in a book called Book of Etiquette by Lillian Eichler Watson.
Here's a bit of what it says about valets: "Indoors, in the evening and during the day, he wears dark gray or black trousers, white linen, a high-buttoned black waistcoat and a plain black swallow-tailed coat or one cut with short rounded tails. He wears a dark tie and dull leather shoes. He may also wear an inconspicuous pin in his tie and simple cuff-links; but a display of jewelry is not permissible."
So if you had often seen servants and knew what they wore, then you might be able to tell from Jeeves's understated attire that he is a valet. I should note that the book is American, though. I couldn't find a British source, but I don't think it would be too different? For some reason, all the etiquette books I can find from that era are American. :/
I think hats in particular were an important sign of class. Every etiquette book I could find said that valets wear derby/bowler hats. :)
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