The Way of All Flesh · Chapter
LXII explained
Ernest is sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor for his offense.
What happens
Ernest is sentenced to six months' imprisonment with hard labor for his offense. The chapter details the court proceedings, the magistrate's ironic speech, and the aftermath where Towneley and Overton manage to keep the case out of most newspapers. Ernest reveals his financial dealings with Pryer and the College of Spiritual Pathology, and plans to emigrate after his release.
Themes in this chapter
Hypocrisy of Victorian Morality
The magistrate's speech highlights the contradiction between the strict moral education Ernest received and his actual behavior, suggesting that such education may be ineffective or hypocritical.
Money and Social Class
Ernest's financial naivety with Pryer and the class distinctions evident in the court's treatment and newspaper coverage.
Characters to notice
- Ernest Pontifex
Sentenced to six months' imprisonment; reveals his financial dealings with Pryer.
- Towneley
Testifies on Ernest's behalf and helps keep the case out of newspapers.
- Mr. Overton
Acts as Ernest's representative, obtains power of attorney, and writes to Theobald.
- Pryer
Revealed to have taken Ernest's money with only I.O.U.s as security.
- Mr. Ottery
The attorney who handles Ernest's case.
Key passages
“This advice, besides being obviously sensible, would end in saving Ernest both time and suspense of mind, so we had no hesitation in adopting it.”
The sensible advice would spare Ernest anxiety and delay, so we followed it without hesitation.
Overton and Towneley decide to follow the attorney's strategy.
“Ernest had even greater difficulty in making a clean breast of this than he had had in telling us about Miss Maitland, but he told us all, and the upshot was that he had actually handed over to Pryer every halfpenny that he then possessed with no other security than Pryer’s I.O.U. s for the amount.”
Ernest found it even harder to confess about Pryer than about Miss Maitland, but eventually revealed he had given all his money to Pryer in exchange only for promissory notes.
Ernest's financial ruin at the hands of Pryer.
“If I were to take a strict view of my duty I should commit you for trial, but in consideration of this being your first offence, I shall deal leniently with you and sentence you to imprisonment with hard labour for six calendar months.”
Though a stricter judge would send you to trial, because this is your first offense I will be lenient and sentence you to six months of hard labor.
The magistrate's sentencing speech.