The Way of All Flesh · Chapter
LXXXIV explained
Ernest discusses his plans for the future with Overton, expressing a desire to live a quiet, self-indulgent life and to write about controversial topics such as marriage and the family system.
What happens
Ernest discusses his plans for the future with Overton, expressing a desire to live a quiet, self-indulgent life and to write about controversial topics such as marriage and the family system. He plans to travel to study the customs of the best nations. His father gives him a letter from his mother, Christina, which he insists should be published. Ernest travels for several years, returning in 1867, and then visits his children, who are living happily with the Rollings family. He decides to let them follow their own inclinations, even if that means becoming bargemen.
Themes in this chapter
Self-Discovery and Authenticity
Ernest resolves to live according to his own desires, rejecting societal expectations, and seeks to understand what is best for man through travel and observation.
Money and Social Class
Ernest's inheritance allows him the luxury of a quiet life; he decides to let his children begin life in a lower social position as bargemen.
Education and Indoctrination
Ernest criticizes formal schooling and prefers to let his children develop naturally, even if they choose not to learn reading and writing.
Characters to notice
- Ernest Pontifex
Discusses his plans for travel and writing, receives his mother's letter, visits his children, and decides to let them choose their own paths.
- Mr. Overton
Accompanies Ernest, discusses his plans, and observes his interactions with his children.
- Theobald Pontifex
Gives Ernest the letter from Christina with the seal already broken.
- Christina Pontifex
Her letter to Ernest before his birth is given to him by Theobald; Ernest insists it be published.
- Mr. Rollings
Cares for Ernest's children; his son Jack is a potential match for Alice.
- Jack
Eldest son of Mr. Rollings, wants to be a bargeman and is considered a good match for Alice.
Key passages
“I always did hate those people, and they always have hated and always will hate me. I am an Ishmael by instinct as much as by accident of circumstances, but if I keep out of society I shall be less vulnerable than Ishmaels generally are.”
Ernest declares his aversion to society, feeling like an outcast, and believes that avoiding social circles will make him less vulnerable to criticism.
Ernest expresses his lifelong alienation from society and his strategy of isolation.
“The question of the day now is marriage and the family system.”
Ernest identifies marriage and family as the most pressing contemporary issues to address.
Ernest's focus on marriage as a topic for his writing.
“I want to find out how these people live, and have lived, and what their customs are.”
Ernest plans to travel to study the lifestyles and customs of the best nations, both past and present.
Ernest's method of empirical observation to inform his views.
“Because my mother would have wished it published; if she had known you were writing about me and had this letter in your possession, she would above all things have desired that you should publish it.”
Ernest insists that Christina's letter be published because he believes she would have wanted it made public.
Ernest justifies publishing his mother's private letter.
“Why should I take them from where they are to send them to schools where they will not be one half so happy, and where their illegitimacy will very likely be a worry to them?”
Ernest questions the value of removing his children from a happy home to send them to schools where they might be unhappy and stigmatized for being illegitimate.
Ernest's pragmatic and compassionate approach to his children's upbringing.
