The Way of All Flesh · Chapter
LXXXIII explained
Ernest returns to Battersby during his mother Christina's final illness, encountering his brother Joey (now a curate) and sister Charlotte.
What happens
Ernest returns to Battersby during his mother Christina's final illness, encountering his brother Joey (now a curate) and sister Charlotte. He reveals his inheritance from Alethea, which shifts family dynamics. Christina, though dying, begins spending his money in her imagination, while Theobald resents Ernest's early wealth. Ernest provides comfort to his mother, who fears hell, and observes changes in his father's church practices. Charlotte remains hostile, blaming Ernest for her unmarried state.
Themes in this chapter
Money and Social Class
Ernest's inheritance of £70,000 at age 28 reshapes family dynamics, with Christina planning his social ascent and Theobald resenting the early wealth.
Hypocrisy of Victorian Morality
Charlotte blames Ernest for her unmarried state, while the family's concern for appearances contrasts with their private resentments.
Religion and Doubt
Christina's fear of hell and Ernest's attempts to console her highlight religious anxiety; Theobald's reluctant adoption of higher church practices reflects changing religious norms.
Characters to notice
- Ernest Pontifex
Returns to Battersby, reveals his inheritance, comforts his dying mother, and observes family tensions.
- Christina Pontifex
Ill and dying, she is comforted by Ernest, fears hell, and eagerly plans how to spend his money.
- Theobald Pontifex
Resents Ernest's early wealth, has adopted surplice and chanting in church, and is agitated by the illness.
- Charlotte Pontifex
Hostile to Ernest, blames him for her unmarried state, and tries to make him feel guilty about agitating Theobald.
- Joseph
Now ordained and curate to Theobald, cold and unsympathetic toward Ernest.
- Dr. Martin
Attends Christina and briefly holds out hope for her recovery.
- Susan
Mentioned as a servant who refuses to answer questions about a message from Charlotte.
Key passages
“Joey and Charlotte were in the room. Joey was now ordained, and was curate to Theobald. He and Ernest had never been sympathetic, and Ernest saw at a glance that there was no chance of a rapprochement between them.”
Ernest found his brother Joey, now a clergyman like their father, and his sister Charlotte waiting; he immediately sensed the old hostility remained.
Establishes the strained family atmosphere upon Ernest's return.
“She had a grievance against him inasmuch as she was still unmarried. She laid the blame of this at Ernest’s door; it was his misconduct she maintained in secret, which had prevented young men from making offers to her, and she ran him up a heavy bill for consequential damages.”
Charlotte resented Ernest for her single status, secretly believing his disgrace had scared off potential suitors.
Highlights Charlotte's petty blame and family tension.
“Christina was too ill and in too great a hurry to spend the money to care much about such details as the foregoing, and she was naturally much more good-natured than Theobald.”
Christina, though dying, eagerly began planning how to use Ernest's fortune, unlike the resentful Theobald.
Shows Christina's pragmatic and optimistic nature even in illness.
“Theobald, whenever this was touched upon as possible, would shake his head and say: 'We can’t wish it prolonged,' and then Charlotte caught Ernest unawares and said: 'You know, dear Ernest, that these ups and downs of talk are terribly agitating to papa.'”
Theobald dismissed hope for Christina's recovery, and Charlotte blamed Ernest for upsetting their father by discussing it.
Illustrates the family's emotional manipulation and Theobald's resignation.
