# Between Father and Son explained — Piccadilly Jim

> Chapter companion for Piccadilly Jim by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Jimmy Crocker reunites with his father, Bingley Crocker, who has taken a job as a butler in the Pett household under the alias Skinner. Jimmy explains his complicated situation: he is in love with Ann Chester but she hates him for a past literary skit, so he has been using the alias Bayliss. He reveals his plan to kidnap Ogden Ford to win Ann's favor, and recruits his father to play the role of the kidnapper, drawing on Bingley's stage experience as Chicago Ed.

## Themes in this chapter

### Family Dynamics and Obligation

The father-son reunion and Jimmy's recruitment of his father into the kidnapping plot underscore themes of familial loyalty and obligation.

### Identity and Mistaken Identity

Jimmy's use of the alias Bayliss and his father's role as Skinner highlight the pervasive theme of mistaken identity.

### Adventure and Escapade

The planned kidnapping of Ogden Ford and the theatrical elements of the scheme contribute to the adventurous and escapade-driven plot.

## Character check-ins

### Jimmy Crocker

Reunites with his father and reveals his alias Bayliss, his love for Ann Chester, and his plan to kidnap Ogden Ford.

### Bingley Crocker

Working as a butler under the name Skinner; he is recruited by Jimmy to play the kidnapper in the plot to abduct Ogden.

### Ann Chester

The object of Jimmy's affection; she hates Jimmy Crocker for a past skit but is unaware that Jimmy is Bayliss.

### Ogden Ford

The boy targeted for kidnapping; he had previously offered to cooperate with Jimmy but now refuses after learning his true identity.

### Jerry Mitchell

Former accomplice in the kidnapping scheme; Jimmy plans to contact him to arrange a car for the escape.

### Lord Wisbeach

Revealed as a crook; Jimmy fears he might take up the kidnapping plot with Ogden.

## Key lines

> I called myself Bayliss.

Jimmy explains that he adopted the alias Bayliss to conceal his identity from Ann.

_This alias is central to the mistaken identity plot._

> I want you to kidnap him for me.

Jimmy asks his father to carry out the kidnapping of Ogden Ford.

_This request sets the main action of the chapter in motion._

> I wrote a skit on those poems for the Sunday paper.

Jimmy reveals that he once wrote a satirical piece about Ann's poetry, which caused her to hate him.

_This backstory explains Ann's animosity toward Jimmy Crocker._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/piccadilly_jim_se/chapters/xix-between-father-and-son
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/piccadilly_jim_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/piccadilly_jim_se/chapters