# IV explained — The Way of All Flesh

> Chapter companion for The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler.

## What happens

This chapter examines George Pontifex's European tour diary, revealing his pretentious and conventional admiration for art and nature. The narrator contrasts Pontifex's affected rhapsodies with the genuine but self-conscious reactions of figures like Mendelssohn, and with his grandson Ernest's blunt description of visiting the Great St. Bernard. The chapter satirizes the priggishness and hypocrisy of those who adopt fashionable tastes without true feeling, and shows how Pontifex's copies of Italian paintings were later defended by Theobald and Christina as proof of his taste.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy of Victorian Morality

George Pontifex's diary reveals a performative, conventional admiration for art and nature, masking a lack of genuine feeling—a critique of Victorian priggishness.

### Money and Social Class

Pontifex's travels and his concern with appearing cultured reflect the aspirations of the wealthy middle class to emulate aristocratic taste.

### Self-Discovery and Authenticity

The contrast between George Pontifex's affected diary and Ernest's simple, honest remark about the Great St. Bernard highlights the theme of authentic versus inauthentic experience.

## Character check-ins

### George Pontifex

His diary of a European tour is quoted at length, showing his conventional and pretentious admiration for art and nature.

### Theobald Pontifex

Inherits two copies of Italian paintings from his father and defends them as evidence of his father's taste.

### Christina Pontifex

Joins Theobald in defending George Pontifex's taste in art.

### Ernest Pontifex

His letter about the Great St. Bernard is quoted as a blunt contrast to his grandfather's effusions.

### Samuel Butler

The narrator, who comments on George Pontifex's diary and contrasts it with Ernest's simplicity.

## Key lines

> I seemed to fancy the genius seated on his stupendous throne far above his aspiring brethren and in his solitary might defying the universe.

He imagined a spirit enthroned on the mountain peak, alone and powerful, defying everything below.

_George Pontifex's overwrought description of Mont Blanc, typical of his conventional sublime._

> I have just seen the Grand Duke and his family pass by in two carriages and six, but little more notice is taken of them than if I, who am utterly unknown here, were to pass by.

The Grand Duke's procession attracted no more attention than if I, a complete stranger, were walking by.

_Pontifex's observation in Florence, which the narrator suggests he did not fully believe._

> I went up to the Great St. Bernard and saw the dogs.

I visited the Great St. Bernard and saw the dogs there.

_Ernest's blunt, unadorned account of the same location his grandfather described with elaborate sentiment._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/iv
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters