# My Father Overhears More of Hanky and Panky’s Conversation explained — Erewhon Revisited

> Chapter companion for Erewhon Revisited by Samuel Butler.

## What happens

My father, having sold quails to Professors Hanky and Panky, overhears their conversation about the Sunchild, the statues, and the manipulation of religious doctrine. The professors debate the correct reading of the Sunchild's prayer, revealing their cynical self-interest. They also discuss the Queen's and Yram's interpretations of the Sunchild's clothes, and Panky becomes suspicious of my father's boots, which match footprints found near the statues.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy and Deception

Both professors engage in self-serving deception, with Panky being a 'living lie' and Hanky using occasional frankness to disarm others.

### Religion and Credulity

The professors' debate over the Sunchild's prayer highlights how religious texts are altered to suit institutional and personal agendas.

### Truth and Perception

The professors argue about the correct reading of the prayer and the interpretation of the Sunchild's clothes, showing how truth is shaped by perception and power.

## Character check-ins

### My Father

Sells quails to the professors, overhears their conversation, and is nearly discovered when Panky examines his boots.

### Professor Hanky

Argues with Panky about the receipt and the Sunchild's prayer; shows occasional frankness and cynicism.

### Professor Panky

Insists on a receipt, proposes a corrupt reading of the prayer, and becomes suspicious of my father's boots.

### Yram

Mentioned as a dangerous woman who nearly wrecked the professors' plans due to her obstinacy about the Sunchild's clothes.

### George

Mentioned as Yram's fair-haired eldest son, born barely seven months after marriage, and considered by some to be the Sunchild's blood.

## Key lines

> Forgive us our trespasses, but do not forgive them that trespass against us.

Panky proposes a selfish version of the Lord's Prayer, arguing that the original is impossible.

_This corrupt reading reflects the professors' self-serving manipulation of religious doctrine._

> Panky was the greater humbug of the two, for he would humbug even himself—a thing, by the way, not very hard to do; and yet he was the less successful humbug, for he could humbug no one who was worth humbugging—not for long.

Panky is a more thorough hypocrite than Hanky, but his self-deception makes him less effective at deceiving others.

_The narrator contrasts the two professors' styles of hypocrisy._

> People like being deceived, but they like also to have an inkling of their own deception, and you never inkle them.

Hanky criticizes Panky for never giving people a hint that they are being fooled, which people actually enjoy.

_This reveals Hanky's cynical understanding of human nature and the art of deception._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/iv-my-father-overhears-more-of-hanky-and-panky-s-conversation
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/erewhon_revisited_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters