Captain George Mainwaring - Personality

Personality

"If I had a title I'd be on the board of directors at the bank!". Shouting at Sergeant Arthur Wilson when the latter gains a title in the episode The Honourable Man.

George Mainwaring is a pompous, blustering figure with overdeveloped sense of his importance, fuelled by his social status in Walmington-on-Sea as the bank manager, and his status as Captain and commander of the local Home Guard volunteer unit. He does have a number of redeeming qualities -- he is essentially brave, loyal, and industrious, is generally kindhearted beneath the bluster, and is unerringly patriotic. Nevertheless, it is Mainwaring's numerous flaws that fuel much of the comedy in Dad's Army.

Mainwaring believes in following rules and orders, sometimes to a ludicrous degree. He is class conscious and a snob, considering himself middle class and looking down on anyone he considers beneath him, which may be because he struggled to rise above his lower-middle class background. Mainwaring's pomposity and snobbery work against him, as he is frequently dependent on those in the Home Guard that he considers beneath him, such as Arthur Wilson, his chief clerk at the bank with whom he shares an antagonistic friendship, and Private Joe Walker, a black-marketeer who interrupts during Mainwaring's lectures with a quip or a sly revelation that Mainwaring is benefiting from underhand deals. Mainwaring is particularly jealous of Wilson, who is more relaxed and charming and possesses combat experience that Mainwaring does not, and takes every opportunity to remind his sergeant who is the senior.

As a bank manager, he is efficient if ruthless and stingy; as a military commander he is barely competent, confused by the 24-hour clock, and his plans result in chaos. Mainwaring has no combat experience, which causes tension with the other members of the Home Guard, particularly Wilson, who was a decorated Captain in the RA (Mons, Galipolli) during the First World War. Mainwaring did, however, serve in the army of occupation in France, "during the whole of 1919 — somebody had to clear up the mess.". He tried to enlist in 1914 but was rejected with poor eyesight. (During the Second World War, John Le Mesurier, who played Wilson, had been a captain while Arthur Lowe was a sergeant major. Arthur Lowe tried to enlist in the Merchant Navy prior to the Second World War but was also rejected with poor eyesight.)

Despite his shortcomings as a leader, Mainwaring considers himself an excellent military tactician. His height and background frequently reveal a Napoleon Complex, frequently referred to by his nemesis, ARP Warden Hodges. In one episode, "A Soldier's Farewell", Mainwaring dreams he is Napoleon Bonaparte, and is thwarted at the Battle of Waterloo by a Duke of Wellington resembling Arthur Wilson. His pomposity and conviction of his prowess mean Mainwaring yearns to be in control of any situation, and he behaves in an arrogant manner; for instance in the first episode he organised the Home Guard unit and appointed himself commanding officer despite lack of experience and qualifications (and had to wait until the episode "Room at the Bottom" before he received his commission).

Mainwaring's patriotism can lead to xenophobia (he is not keen on the French, the Russians, the Americans and the Germans). Mainwaring often refers to Hitler and the Germans as if he is leading his own personal war, insisting that "In fact I do wish he'd have a go - I'm spoiling for a fight" in Asleep in the Deep, regarding his desire in an air raid to get out of a bunker and face the attacking Germans (who are in planes and beyond his reach). Mainwaring's patriotism and eagerness to see combat blind him to follies or any British failings; whenever Wilson points out a rational if somewhat defeatist outcome to a scenario, Mainwaring's response is "I don't want to hear any of that sort of talk, Wilson." Mainwaring sees all regular British servicemen ("Our Boys") as exceptionally brave and resourceful, the Germans as inept and cowardly.

Mainwaring's character flaws, however, are presented in a comical rather than a spiteful manner, and there is often a sympathetic subtext to his own personal neuroses; it is apparent several times that he devotes his energies to his Home Guard unit for a sense of comradeship and purpose lacking in other parts of his life, such as his career and marriage. On one occasion when his men spurned a parade to play darts against the ARP he expressed bewilderment, saying coming to the platoon is "the highlight of my day." It is frequently implied that he is trapped in a loveless and unhappy marriage to Elizabeth, his unseen wife, who is domineering, neurotic, and withholding of affection. For example, in the 5th series episode If the Cap Fits... Mainwaring reveals he learned to play the bagpipes on his honeymoon in Scotland because "there was nothing else to do". Captain Mainwaring's home address was 23 Lime Crescent, Walmington-on-Sea and he lived there with his wife.

Mainwaring has several redeeming qualities, notably a deep concern for the welfare of the men under his command. His bravery and courage cannot be denied: he is willing to endanger himself for his country and platoon, and to take the risks that he orders his men to undertake. In one episode, "The Battle of Godfrey's Cottage", the platoon thought the Germans had invaded and Mainwaring, with his men, fought what they thought was the German army but turned out to be other members of the platoon. He also cleared bricks from a bombed-out corridor which could have fallen at any moment. Mainwaring insisted he work in the most dangerous position even though in drawing lots he had picked the safest (Asleep in the Deep).

He also places the safety of his country above his own interests. In Command Decision, Mainwaring was prepared to relinquish control so that the platoon could gain rifles, arguing that the defence of the country was more important than his ego. In addition he was prepared to "march in the ranks as Private Mainwaring" when he was briefly de-commissioned as he had never actually been made an officer, implying that he was merely overzealous rather than a control freak.

He hates conscientious objectors; he sees them as abnormal as they do not want to fight for their country, as shown when he discovers Godfrey is a conchie. However when he learns Godfrey served at the Battle of the Somme and risked his own life (and received injuries) crawling into no man's land to save several men, earning him the Military Medal, he changes his opinion of Godfrey. Mainwaring says he can't understand why Godfrey doesn't wear the medal.

Mainwaring is also capable of acting decisively and independently, although not always with the best of results. In "A Man of Action", Walmington-on-Sea is cut off when a bomb damages the railway and waterworks. Mainwaring imposes martial law and takes power from the Mayor. Under his law people need permits to take a bath, and looters will be shot. He changed position when this power was taken from him by an official from GHQ, describing such an act and the imposition of martial law as "monstrous".

Mainwaring often claims to know something, only to be proven wrong almost immediately. Men under him, however, are mostly devoted to him. There are scenes in which Mainwaring is shown as kind-hearted, notably in his "brief encounter" with Mrs Gray in Mum's Army.

Dad's Army ends with the Second World War still in progress, Mainwaring giving Mrs Fox away when she marries Corporal Jones, because her father is dead. However, the first episode of Dad's Army shines light on Mainwaring's future: briefly set in the then present-day 1968, it features Mainwaring as guest of honour at the launch of Walmington-on-Sea's 'I'm Backing Britain' campaign, where he is referred to by Wilson as a magistrate, alderman, and chairman of the Rotary Club.