# XL explained — The Way of All Flesh > Chapter companion for The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler. ## What happens Ernest returns home after losing his watch and purse, and narrowly avoids suspicion regarding Ellen's dismissal. His mother attempts a 'confidential talk' on the sofa to probe his conscience, but Ernest deflects. His father eventually buys him a secondhand watch, but the chapter ends with Theobald returning in a stormy mood, summoning Ernest to the dining-room. ## Themes in this chapter ### Hypocrisy of Victorian Morality Christina's probing of Ernest's conscience while ignoring her own manipulative tactics; Theobald's self-righteous anger. ### Parental Tyranny and Filial Rebellion Ernest's fear of his father and mother; his internal rebellion against their control, shown by his secret pipe and lies. ### Self-Discovery and Authenticity Ernest's brief moments of peace in the wood with a book and pipe, contrasting with his oppressive home life. ## Character check-ins ### Ernest Pontifex Returns home after losing his watch and purse; endures his mother's sofa interrogation; feels guilty and anxious about the watch and Ellen. ### Theobald Pontifex Questions Ernest about the loss; prescribes wine; later buys a secondhand watch; returns home in a stormy mood and summons Ernest. ### Christina Pontifex Attempts a sofa conversation to probe Ernest's conscience; suspects his involvement with Ellen; uses emotional manipulation. ## Key lines > has not left off speaking,” said Ernest to one of his chums at Roughborough; “it’s always jabbering.” Ernest complains to a school friend that his mother's conscience never stops talking. _Shows Ernest's growing disrespect and alienation from his mother._ > I see, my dearest,” continued his mother, “either that I am mistaken, and that there is nothing on your mind, or that you will not unburden yourself to me: but oh, Ernest, tell me at least this much; is there nothing that you repent of, nothing which makes you unhappy in connection with that miserable girl Ellen?” Christina pressures Ernest to confess any guilt about Ellen. _Highlights Christina's suspicion and her method of emotional interrogation._ > He had not the faintest conception what his mother was driving at, and thought she suspected about the watch; but he held his ground. Ernest mistakenly thinks his mother knows about the watch, not Ellen. _Illustrates Ernest's confusion and the gap between his and his mother's concerns._ > I believe, that if the truth were known, it would be found that even the valiant St. Michael himself tried hard to shirk his famous combat with the dragon; he pretended not to see all sorts of misconduct on the dragon’s part; shut his eyes to the eating up of I do not know how many hundreds of men, women and children whom he had promised to protect; allowed himself to be publicly insulted a dozen times over without resenting it; and in the end when even an angel could stand it no longer he shilly-shallied and temporised an unconscionable time before he would fix the day and hour for the encounter. The narrator compares Ernest's cowardice to St. Michael's reluctance to fight the dragon, suggesting all sensible people are cowards when out of their depth. _Satirical commentary on human (and angelic) fear and avoidance._ > Once safely penned into one of its deep corners, it was like a dentist’s chair, not too easy to get out of again. The sofa traps Ernest like a dentist's chair, making escape difficult. _Metaphor for Christina's strategic control during conversations._ > Here in the wood with the summer sun streaming through the trees and a book and his pipe the boy forgot his cares and had an interval of that rest without which I verily believe his life would have been insupportable. Ernest finds temporary peace in the woods with a book and pipe, a rare respite from his oppressive home life. _Emphasizes the importance of escape for Ernest's mental survival._ > It was only right, however, that Ernest should pay half the cost of the watch; this should be made easy for him, for it should be deducted from his pocket money in half-yearly instalments extending over two, or even it might be three years. Ernest is forced to pay for half the new watch through long-term deductions from his allowance. _Shows the parents' punitive and controlling approach to discipline._ > Altogether the day had proved an unusually tranquil one, but, alas! it was not to close as it had begun; the fickle atmosphere in which he lived was never more likely to breed a storm than after such an interval of brilliant calm, and when Theobald returned Ernest had only to look in his face to see that a hurricane was approaching. The calm day ends abruptly with Theobald's angry return, foreshadowing a storm. _Metaphor for the unpredictable and oppressive family environment._ ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xl - 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