The excerpt highlights the impact of rural life on a person's mental state, suggesting that the absence of intellectual engagement can lead to deteriorating mental health. The character's natural weaknesses in intellect have intensified, pushing him toward the brink of insanity as he grapples with the dullness of country living.

In P.G. Wodehouse's "Summer Lightning," this theme of diminished mental vigor due to a lack of stimulation provides a satirical look at the contrast between urban and rural environments. The author cleverly illustrates how an uninspired setting can exacerbate one's cognitive shortcomings, leading to distress and absurdity.