“The Way of All Flesh” by Samuel Butler (post 1): Theobald Pontifex argues with a voice in his head, a textbook symptom of multiple personality

Samuel Butler withheld this classic novel from publication during his lifetime, because of its controversial, cynical attitude toward Victorian family life, not because of the issue I raise in this post, which was probably not recognized.

Semi-Autobiographical

“Every man’s work whether it be literature, or music, or pictures, or architecture, or anything else is always a portrait of himself, and the more he tries to conceal himself the more clearly will his character appear in spite of him. I may very likely be condemning myself all the time that I am writing this book for I know that whether I like it or no I am portraying myself more surely than I am portraying any of the characters whom I set before the reader. I am sorry that it is so, but I cannot help it…” (1, p. 57).

Argues With Himself

Theobald and Christina Pontifex have just been married, and they are riding together in a carriage from the church toward an inn, where they will have dinner. Christina is a little panicked as to whether she can properly order dinner for them at the inn, as is her wifely duty. Theobald is tempted to return her to her parents: 

“But a voice kept ringing in his ears which said, ‘YOU CAN’T, CAN’T, CAN’T.’

“ ‘CAN’T I?’ screamed the unhappy creature to himself.

“ ‘No,’ said the remorseless voice, ‘YOU CAN’T. YOU ARE A MARRIED MAN.’

“He rolled back in his corner of the carriage and for the first time felt how iniquitous were the marriage laws of England” (1, p. 54).

Comment

As I discussed in a past post, citing a textbook, arguing with a voice in your head is typical of multiple personality.

1. Samuel Butler (1835-1902). [Ernest Pontifex or] The Way of All Flesh [A Story of English Domestic Life] [1903]. Introduction by P. N. Furbank. New York, Everyman’s Library/Alfred A. Knopf, 1992.