Erewhon Revisited · Chapter
A Council Is Held at the Mayor’s, in the Course of Which George Turns the Tables on the Professors explained
In a council at the Mayor's house, George outmaneuvers Professors Hanky and Panky by trapping them into signing depositions that, under the Afforesting Act, require them to be Blue-Pooled for trafficking with a foreign devil.
What happens
In a council at the Mayor's house, George outmaneuvers Professors Hanky and Panky by trapping them into signing depositions that, under the Afforesting Act, require them to be Blue-Pooled for trafficking with a foreign devil. He reveals evidence of their purchase of the prisoner's kit and quail bones, forcing them to consider a compromise. Yram intervenes, sending Mrs. Humdrum and Dr. Downie to negotiate, while George demonstrates that the foot-tracks the professors attributed to the prisoner were actually his own.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy and Deception
The Professors' attempt to use legal depositions to condemn the prisoner backfires when George reveals their own trafficking, exposing their hypocrisy.
Satire of Institutions
The council mocks legal and bureaucratic institutions, as George manipulates the Afforesting Act and deposition forms to achieve his ends.
Truth and Perception
George demonstrates how easily evidence (like foot-tracks) can be misinterpreted, challenging the Professors' certainty about the prisoner's identity.
Characters to notice
- George
George orchestrates the council, using legal technicalities and evidence to trap the Professors into admitting their dealings with the foreign devil, and later reveals the foot-tracks were his own.
- Professor Hanky
Hanky is blind with rage and feels outwitted; he accuses George of shielding the prisoner and threatens to report to the King, but is eventually handcuffed and forced to consider compromise.
- Professor Panky
Panky is muddled and hors de combat; he breaks down in tears and eventually stammers 'compromise' when faced with the Blue-Pool threat.
- Yram
Yram observes that George is enjoying the situation too keenly to be serious; she proposes a private negotiation between Mrs. Humdrum and Dr. Downie to resolve the crisis.
- Dr. Downie
Dr. Downie is frightened by George's stern manner and tries to console Panky; he is later selected by Yram to negotiate on behalf of the Professors.
- Mrs. Humdrum
Mrs. Humdrum is present at the council and is chosen by Yram to negotiate on the side of the Mayor's party.
Key passages
“I did my utmost to prevent their signing. I knew that those depositions were their own death warrant—and that is why, though I was satisfied that the prisoner is a foreign devil, I had hoped to be able to shut my eyes.”
George claims he tried to stop the Professors from signing because he knew the depositions would condemn them to death, and he had hoped to overlook the prisoner's foreign nature.
George uses reverse psychology to trap the Professors into admitting their guilt.
“If they will be reasonable, they will not be Blue-Pooled; if they think they can have everything their own way, the eels will be at them before morning.”
George warns that if the Professors do not compromise, they will be executed by being thrown into the Blue Pool.
George leverages the threat of death to force a compromise.
“You will hardly contend that you did not know the nuggets were gold, and no one will believe you mean enough to have tried to get this poor man’s property out of him for a song—you knowing its value, and he not knowing the same.”
George argues that the Professors knowingly cheated the prisoner by buying his gold nuggets for a pittance.
George exposes the Professors' greed and dishonesty.
