# II: Enter Ginger explained — The Adventures of Sally

> Chapter companion for The Adventures of Sally by P. G. Wodehouse.

## What happens

Sally Nicholas, on holiday in Roville-sur-Mer, is about to return to America. On the beach, she meets Ginger Kemp, a young Englishman with a charming but hapless history. Ginger explains his failed career attempts and his current job as a secretary to the pompous Mr. Scrymgeour, a position he got through his cousin, Bruce Carmyle. Sally is intrigued by Ginger and later sees him at her hotel, where he has moved after losing money at the Casino.

## Themes in this chapter

### Social Mobility and Bohemianism

Sally, an American in France, observes the social dynamics of the beach. Ginger's story of falling from a comfortable life to working as a secretary highlights the precarious nature of social standing.

### Identity and Pretense

Sally tries to guess the identities and occupations of strangers on the beach, a pastime that highlights the theme of judging by appearances. Ginger's own identity as a 'hasher' is a key part of his character.

### Ambition and Enterprise

Sally's thoughts on 'enterprise' and her desire to lecture Ginger on the subject suggest a theme of personal drive and initiative, contrasting with Ginger's admitted lack of success.

## Character check-ins

### Sally Nicholas

Sally is on holiday in Roville, enjoying the beach and observing people. She is preparing to return to America for the opening of Gerald's play.

### Ginger Kemp

Ginger is introduced on the beach. He is a friendly, red-haired young man who has made a hash of several jobs and is now working as a secretary for Mr. Scrymgeour.

### Bruce Carmyle

Bruce is Ginger's cousin, who was with him on the beach. Sally initially finds him sinister and correctly guesses he is a lawyer.

### Jules

Jules is the melancholy night porter at the Hotel Normandie, where Sally is staying. He is responsible for the lift.

### Scrymgeour

Scrymgeour is Ginger's current employer, described as a pompous old ass who thinks he's going to be Prime Minister.

## Key lines

> A scrappy, hurried, unsatisfactory letter, the letter of a busy man: but one that Sally could not ignore.

Gerald's letter about his play's production was brief and impersonal, but Sally felt she had to return for it.

_This shows Sally's obligation to Gerald and her own feelings about the letter._

> I’m bound to say it was a bit of a jar. I had to come down from Cambridge and go to work in my uncle’s office.

Ginger was shocked to discover his father had left no money, forcing him to leave university and take a job.

_This explains the sudden change in Ginger's circumstances._

> I somehow didn’t seem able to grasp the workings. After about a year, my uncle, getting a bit fed-up, hoofed me out and got me a mastership at a school, and I made a hash of that.

Ginger failed at his job in his uncle's office and was let go, and he also failed at the teaching job his uncle found for him.

_This illustrates Ginger's pattern of failing at various jobs._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_sally_se/chapters/ii-enter-ginger
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_sally_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_adventures_of_sally_se/chapters