# Preface to Second Edition explained — Erewhon

> Chapter companion for Erewhon by Samuel Butler.

## What happens

In the preface to the second edition, the author addresses corrections made, clarifies the independence of 'Erewhon' from 'The Coming Race', defends the chapters on Machines against misinterpretation as a mockery of Darwin, and discusses the intentional use of inaccuracies and the difficulty of understanding the Erewhonians.

## Themes in this chapter

### Truth and Deception

The author discusses intentional inaccuracies and the Erewhonians' self-deception, highlighting the theme of truth versus falsehood.

### Machines and Evolution

The author clarifies that the chapters on Machines are not a mockery of Darwin but a serious exploration, aligning with the theme of machines and evolution.

## Character check-ins

### Erewhonians

Described as difficult to understand, self-deceivers who ignore anomalies unless directly affected.

### Samuel Butler

Author who defends his work, clarifies independence from 'The Coming Race', and addresses criticisms.

## Key lines

> The most glaring anomalies seemed to afford them no intellectual inconvenience; neither, provided they did not actually see the money dropping out of their pockets, nor suffer immediate physical pain, would they listen to any arguments as to the waste of money and happiness which their folly caused them.

The Erewhonians ignored obvious contradictions unless they directly experienced financial loss or physical pain, refusing to consider the harm caused by their foolishness.

_Illustrates the Erewhonians' self-deception and resistance to reason._

> I regret that reviewers have in some cases been inclined to treat the chapters on Machines as an attempt to reduce Mr. Darwin’s theory to an absurdity. Nothing could be further from my intention, and few things would be more distasteful to me than any attempt to laugh at Mr. Darwin.

The author is sorry that some reviewers misinterpreted the Machine chapters as a satire of Darwin's theory, as he deeply respects Darwin and never intended to mock him.

_Clarifies the author's stance on Darwin and the purpose of the Machine chapters._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/erewhon_se/chapters/preface-to-second-edition
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/erewhon_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/erewhon_se/chapters