Leacock's essay is a humorous reflection on barber shops and the experience of being a barber shop customer. While the story is about barbering on the surface, the major themes include the nature of male relationships and the working class. While Leacock is conscious of the distance between barber and customer, his story suggests that the process of being shaved, and barber shop culture in general, is a form of social leveling.
Leacock begins by emphasizing the special "knowledge" barbers possess, especially of sporting events. Not only do they know every detail about the game of the day, they are also able to predict its outcome. Leacock suggests that the reason "every reasonable businessman" is willing to wait to be shaved is to receive this knowledge. Leacock is being tongue-in-cheek here, but his real point is that men enjoy such conversation.
The same is true for the experience of shaving,...
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which Leacock describes in a similar deadpan way. The way Leacock describes how barbers handle their customers would seem to suggest that the process is unpleasant, but again the humor belies a larger theme, which is that, when in the chair, the social status of customer and barber are reversed; the customer becomes the "student" of the barber, whose three week barber school education is worth three years at Harvard.
Leacock suggests that it is by submitting to this "education" that men become informed about the things that matter most. It's clear that what this information is has less to do with sports or hair treatment than it does with male bonding.
What are the main themes of "Men Who Have Shaved Me" by Stephen Leacock?
One of the themes of "Men Who Have Shaved Me" is male camaraderie. The barbershop is central to this humorous short story, and it seems that men line up for the "tortures" that are involved in their time spent there. The barbershop provides a place for them to get caught up on sports so that they don't seem to be an "ignoramus" when they go downtown. The fact that they receive a shaving during this education of sorts is secondary.
Another theme is the importance of community. The barbershop provides a central place for men to meet and gather. It offers a shared sense of values and invites men to share in a common conversation. The narrator recognizes that men are willing to wait for extended periods of time to receive a shave which they could do themselves at home in three minutes. The goal, therefore, isn't simply to rid oneself at hair; instead, the men visit the barbershop particularly because they long for a sense of community.
Finally, the piece points to the strength of the working class. The barber's efforts help customers avoid "open disgrace." He has learned how to remove whiskers, assist in hair growth, and avoid injuring blood vessels beneath the skin. He can carry on conversations while meticulously ridding a face of unwanted hair. The narrator points out that barbers have to learn more than any Harvard scholar—and in a much shorter period of time. There is a sense of teamwork in this profession, particularly in cities, and customers not only leave with fresh faces but with polished shoes and brushed clothing as well. Each customer leaves the barbershop as a better version of himself, and this is made possible by the hard work of the barbers who serve society.
What is the theme of "Men Who Shaved Me" by Stephen Leacock?
I was literally just listening to the comedian Steve Harvey comment on how "barbershops are the poor man's country club," ... and this is precisely the theme of Leacock's (more ancient) piece as well. According to Leacock, men go to the barbers to be schooled on the information of the day, especially about athletics.
"Men Who Have Shaved Me" in Literary Lapses is comedic in tone and about contemporary education (street smarts?) in theme. First, Leacock talks about how barbers (these "men who have shaved" him) are experts in athletics. Basically, the customer is to be, basically, hog-tied ...
... and then given such necessary information on the athletic events of the moment as will carry them through the business hours of the day without open disgrace.
Leacock has no problem admitting that men everywhere wait long hours to submit to this very treatment. The information is not only "important" but "critical" to one's social standing. You can hear the humor and satire here. The irony, says Leacock, that the barber doesn't really want his customer to talk much. Why? Because the barber would prefer to speak only with experts: other barbers. Further, Leacock jokes about the way barbers are experts in "Physiology" and "Chemistry" and "Practical Anatomy" in humorous and barber-related ways. Another irony is that the more the customer is manhandled, the more the barber enjoys his job, ... while imparting said information.
In conclusion, we should say that Leacock would disagree with Harvey that barbershops are just for the "poor man." In fact, Leacock would say that the barbershop is for ANY man who wishes to be well informed.