# XXIII explained — The Way of All Flesh

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

## What happens

The narrator observes the Pontifex family's evening prayers, noting the vacant expressions of the servants and the oppressive, mechanical nature of the ritual. Theobald reads a passage from Numbers about punishing presumptuous sin, which the narrator finds revealing of Theobald's character. The narrator reflects on the futility of the prayers, comparing them to bees repeatedly trying painted roses. After prayers, Christina awkwardly defends a previous harsh treatment of Ernest. The next day, while buying eggs from a cottager, Ernest naively asks why a boy who broke an egg wasn't whipped, embarrassing Theobald. The chapter ends with Theobald receiving a letter appointing him to a rural deanery, and the narrator expresses relief at leaving Ernest's suffering behind.

## Themes in this chapter

### Hypocrisy of Victorian Morality

Theobald prays for 'truly honest and conscientious' dealings while his own treatment of Ernest is harsh and unfeeling, highlighting the gap between religious profession and actual behavior.

### Parental Tyranny and Filial Rebellion

Theobald's authoritarian reading from Numbers and Christina's defense of harsh discipline illustrate the oppressive parental regime; Ernest's innocent question exposes the double standard.

### Religion and Doubt

The narrator's comparison of family prayers to bees trying painted roses suggests the emptiness and futility of the religious ritual, undermining its spiritual value.

## Character check-ins

### Theobald Pontifex

Leads family prayers with a harsh Old Testament reading; prays for 'truly honest and conscientious' dealings; is embarrassed by Ernest's question about whipping; receives appointment as rural dean.

### Christina Pontifex

Defends the harsh treatment of Ernest after prayers; is delighted by Theobald's appointment to rural deanery.

### Ernest Pontifex

Accompanies his father and the narrator to buy eggs; naively asks why the cottager's boy wasn't whipped for breaking an egg, revealing his own harsh upbringing.

### Mr. Overton

The narrator; observes the family prayers with critical detachment; reflects on the mechanical nature of the ritual; gives Theobald a grim smile after Ernest's question; feels relief at leaving Ernest's suffering.

## Key lines

> I sat opposite them, and watched their faces as Theobald read a chapter from the Bible. They were nice people, but more absolute vacancy I never saw upon the countenances of human beings.

The narrator observes the servants during prayers and notes their complete lack of engagement or expression.

_Highlights the mechanical, unthinking nature of the religious observance._

> I could not help thinking how like it was to the way in which the bees went up the wall and down the wall, bunch by bunch, without ever suspecting that so many of the associated ideas could be present, and yet the main idea be wanting hopelessly, and forever.

The narrator compares the repetitive family prayers to bees repeatedly trying painted roses, suggesting the ritual is empty of true spiritual meaning.

_Central metaphor for the critique of hollow religious practice._

> Papa, Why didn't Mrs. Heaton whip Jack when he trod on the egg?

Ernest asks why the cottager's boy wasn't punished for breaking an egg, revealing his own expectation of harsh discipline.

_Shows the impact of Theobald's parenting on Ernest's worldview._

## Links

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