# LXXVII explained — The Way of All Flesh

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

## What happens

Ernest learns that his marriage to Ellen was invalid, bringing him immense relief. Overton gives John a £5 note for revealing Ellen's history of drinking and bigamy. They take custody of the children and arrange a weekly allowance for Ellen, who shows no remorse and eventually remarries and moves to America.

## Themes in this chapter

### Money and Social Class

Ernest's financial concerns about supporting Ellen and the children are resolved by Overton's offer to pay the allowance, highlighting class and economic dependencies.

### The Nature of Virtue and Vice

Ellen's lack of remorse and her preference for a rougher partner challenge conventional moral judgments, exploring the complexity of virtue and vice.

## Character check-ins

### Ernest Pontifex

Overjoyed to discover his marriage was invalid; feels fortunate and arranges for the children's custody and Ellen's allowance.

### Mr. Overton

Narrates and manages the situation, giving John a £5 note and arranging Ellen's allowance.

### Ellen

Shows no remorse over the invalid marriage; accepts the breakup and allowance, later remarries and moves to America.

### John

Reveals Ellen's drinking and bigamy; expresses affection for Ernest and receives a £5 note.

### Mr. Ottery

Handles the negotiations with Ellen and manages her weekly allowance payments.

### Mrs. Richards

Provides details of Ellen's opinions about the breakup.

## Key lines

> I do not think Ernest himself was much more pleased at finding that he had never been married than I was. To him, however, the shock of pleasure was positively numbing in its intensity.

Ernest was as delighted as I was to learn that his marriage had never been valid; the joy was so overwhelming it left him stunned.

_Ernest's relief at the invalidity of his marriage._

> What us poor girls wants is not to be jumped up all of a sudden and made honest women of; this is too much for us and throws us off our perch; what we wants is a regular friend or two, who'll just keep us from starving, and force us to be good for a bit together now and again.

What women like me need is not to be suddenly forced into respectability, which overwhelms us; we need steady support that keeps us from destitution and encourages occasional good behavior.

_Ellen's perspective on her own needs and the failure of sudden moral reform._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxxvii
- 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