He seemed like he thought of himself as "better" than Jack. He was a man-servant who would not even have been in first class if he wasn't Cal's man-servant.
Which then makes me wonder (movie wise and real life) where did the servants of the first class passengers sleep? Did they go down to third class? Or were they given rooms in first class? I see Ruth as giving very little.
Lovejoy certainly was a better "class" than Jack if you subscribe to those things.
As far as the rooms, good question. Lovejoy told the steward they had three parlor suites - each of which had two bedrooms.
"In fiction it's occupied by Rose Bukater, Caledon Hockley, Spicer Lovejoy, Ruth Bukater, Ruth's Personal Maid, and Trudy Bolt. It is unknown where Ruth's maid and Trudy slept, but Spicer Lovejoy and Cal slept in B-54. Ruth and Rose sleep in B-56. There is actually another single bed for Rose. They didn't sleep together in the movie."
https://titanic.fandom.com/wiki/Cabins_B-52/54/56
But would Lovejoy have been able to afford first class or even second class?
shareFirst class was really really pricey so maybe no, but if he wanted, Lovejoy could afford a second class ticket I'm sure. But in any case, his employer Hockley paid for the three suites for himself, Lovejoy, Rose and Ruth and their maids.
EDIT: just found this regarding Titanic ticket prices. First class would probably have been attainable for Lovejoy if he "settled" for single berth cabin, but a parlor suite would take the starch out of anyone:
The first class tickets ranged enormously in price, from $150 (about $1700 today) for a simple berth, up to $4350 ($50,000) for one of the two Parlour suites. Second class tickets were $60 (around $700) and third class passengers paid between $15 and $40 ($170 - £460).
http://www.jamescamerononline.com/TitanicFAQ.htm#:~:text=The%20first%20class%20tickets%20ranged,(%24170%20%2D%20%C2%A3460).
Lovejoy could likely afford a 1st Class single berth ticket if he wanted to splurge and he was travelling alone.
Even though he was a servant by trade? He wasn't a wealthy man or he would not have been a servant.
share
Lovejoy was, I think, a retired cop. Some Googling says that UK police had full pension plans as early as the late 19th century, so he would have a pension *plus* the money he earned from Hockley. Since he lived with Hockley, he didn't pay for food or lodging, so his pension money and wages from Hockley gave him a pretty good life.
Now, while most people in first class were upper middle class to "wealthy", $1700 in today's money for a single berth luxury cabin in first class for at least 5 days is not really a back breaker for even a solid middle class man. Even the cheaper single berth cabins gave you first class dining and other accommodations. A middle class man couldn't afford the $50K suites Hockley bought, but $1700 was manageable. Even today, where can you stay for 5-7 days for $1700 and get meals included?
And yes, he was solidly middle class to upper middle class. He was more than a servant, he was also Hockley's bodyguard. I'm sure he was very well compensated.
If he was no longer employed by Hockley, would he buy a first class single berth ticket? He might, or he might take second class which was cheaper and by all accounts, as good as other liner's first class.