The trouble with you, Spode, is that just because you have succeeded in inducing a handful of half-wits to disfigure the London scene by going about in black shorts, you think you're someone. You hear them shouting Heil, Spode! and you imagine it is the Voice of the People. That is where you make your bloomer. What the Voice of the People is saying is: Look at that frightful ass Spode swanking about in footer bags! Did you ever in your puff see such a perfect perisher?
In P.G. Wodehouse's "The Code of the Woosters," the character Spode mistakenly interprets the adoration of a few individuals as a sign of broader public approval. He believes that his influence is significant because some people cheer for him, not realizing that they are actually mocking him. This highlights Spode's delusion of grandeur, where he confuses a small group’s enthusiasm for genuine popularity.
The passage humorously critiques Spode's misplaced confidence, as he struts around in ridiculous attire, believing he has the support of the masses. Instead, the public is actually ridiculing him, demonstrating how one's perception of popularity can be distorted by surrounding themselves with sycophants. The contrast between Spode's self-perception and the reality of public opinion serves to illuminate the folly of vanity.
