# Sundered Hearts explained — Golf Stories

> Chapter companion for Golf Stories by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Mortimer Sturgis discovers that his wife, Mary Somerset, is secretly the Ladies' Open Croquet Champion, leading to a crisis in their marriage. After a period of agony, he resolves to forgive her and help her take up golf, but she has already left him, leaving a farewell letter. The chapter also recounts their initial meeting in the South of France, where Mortimer fell in love with her after she gave him golf advice.

## Themes in this chapter

### Love and Marriage

Mortimer's love for Mary is tested by her deception about croquet, but he ultimately chooses forgiveness and commitment.

### Self-Improvement and Confidence

Mary secretly trains in Scotland to improve her golf game to win Mortimer's love, while Mortimer's own game suffers from heartbreak.

### Social Class and Status

The stigma of croquet versus golf reflects social hierarchies and the importance of sport in defining respectability.

### Humor and Absurdity

The dramatic revelation of Mary's croquet championship and Mortimer's overwrought reaction provide comedic absurdity.

## Character check-ins

### Mortimer Sturgis

Discovers his wife is a croquet champion, experiences emotional turmoil, and ultimately decides to forgive her.

### Mary Somerset

Revealed to be the Ladies' Open Croquet Champion; she deceives Mortimer about her golf skills and later leaves him.

## Key lines

> I don’t care even if you play croquet, so long as you are with me!

Mortimer declares that he doesn't mind if Mary plays croquet, as long as they are together.

_Mortimer's initial acceptance of croquet contrasts with his later horror upon learning the truth._

> I am the Ladies’ Open Croquet Champion!

Mary reveals her true identity as the top female croquet player.

_This confession shatters Mortimer's idealized image of her as a golfer._

> My game went right off for some reason or other, and I’m twenty-four, too.

Mortimer admits his golf handicap has risen to twenty-four, matching Mary's.

_Their equal handicaps symbolize their emotional and sporting unity, but the revelation of croquet disrupts this harmony._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/golf_stories_se/chapters/sundered-hearts
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/golf_stories_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/golf_stories_se/chapters