On Canting Nonsense explained

What happens

Themes in this chapter

• Honor and Morality

  The author defends pugilism and self-defense as honorable, contrasting the moral cowardice of those who side with the strongest party with the integrity of prizefighters who protect the weak.

• Freedom vs. Convention

  The chapter attacks cant and hypocrisy in religion, temperance, and literary fashion, advocating for independent thought and action against prevailing social nonsense.

• Social Class and Gentility

  The author contrasts the heroic actions of working-class prizefighters with the inaction of aristocrats, questioning the true nobility of the upper classes.

Characters to notice

• Lavengro

  Held up as a model of courtesy and independence; his conduct with drink is generally recommended, though his plying the priest with hollands is noted as wrong.

• Isopel Berners

  Cited as an example of a woman who takes her own part and strikes back; her stately height and athletic proportions are mentioned.

• The Priest

  Mentioned in the context of being encouraged to drink more hollands and water by Lavengro, so that Lavengro could learn the plans of the Propaganda of Rome.

• Lieutenant William Bligh

  Referenced in the anecdote of the Bounty mutiny, where Bligh is pinioned to the mast and insulted by a sailor who chooses the stronger side.

• Pearce

  Praised as a noble, heroic prizefighter who rescued a woman from a burning house and saved a woman from six ruffians.

• Cribb

  Mentioned as a noble, kindly prizefighter who never did a cowardly, cruel, or mean action and took the part of the weak.

Key passages

• “Beating of women by the lords of the creation has become very prevalent in England since pugilism has been discountenanced. Now the writer strongly advises any woman who is struck by a ruffian to strike him again; or if she cannot clench her fists, and he advises all women in these singular times to learn to clench their fists, to go at him with tooth and nail, and not to be afraid of the result”

  The author claims that wife-beating has increased since boxing fell out of favor, and urges women to fight back physically if attacked, even suggesting they learn to make fists.

  A direct call for women to defend themselves physically, using Isopel Berners as a model.

• “The writer is perfectly well aware that, by the plain language which he has used in speaking of the various kinds of nonsense prevalent in England, he shall make himself a multitude of enemies; but he is not going to conceal the truth or to tamper with nonsense, from the fear of provoking hostility.”

  The author knows his blunt criticism of English follies will create many opponents, but he refuses to hide the truth or compromise with nonsense just to avoid making enemies.

  The author's declaration of his intent to speak plainly regardless of consequences.

• “A sailor of the Bounty waked from his sleep by the noise of the mutiny, lay still in his hammock for some time, quite undecided whether to take part with the captain or to join the mutineers. ... finally, on hearing that the mutineers were successful, he went on deck, and seeing Bligh pinioned to the mast, he put his fist to his nose, and otherwise insulted him.”

  A sailor on the Bounty, unsure which side to support, waited until he knew the mutineers had won, then went on deck and insulted the captive Captain Bligh.

  Used as an analogy for writers who only support the winning side or the most popular opinion.

• “The writer says no. A woman was rescued from the top of a burning house; but the man who rescued her was no aristocrat; it was Pearce, not Percy, who ran up the burning stairs.”

  The author denies that any aristocrat performed such a rescue; it was the prizefighter Pearce, not a nobleman named Percy, who saved a woman from a fire.

  Contrasting the heroism of a common boxer with the inaction of the aristocracy.