# Dr. Downie — Erewhon Revisited character guide

> Dr. Downie in Erewhon Revisited by Samuel Butler.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Hanky Dr. Downie, the celebrated Dr. Downie

**First appearance:** 0020-xviii-yram-invites-dr-downie-and-mrs-humdrum-to-luncheon-a-passage-at-arms-between-her-and-hanky-is-amicably-arranged

## Snapshot

A celebrated Erewhonian physician drawn into the Professors' downfall, he watches the legal trap close with more fright than complicity.

## Who they are

Downie belongs to the circle of Sunch'ston worthies who dine with Hanky and Panky and find themselves entangled in the affair of the returned Sunchild. When George springs his depositions on the Professors, Downie is frightened rather than defiant, a bystander swept up in a scheme he did not devise. His presence among the witnesses underscores how thoroughly the priests' own associates are implicated in the crisis.

## In the story

### [VIII: Yram, Now Mayoress, Gives a Dinner-Party, in the Course of Which She Is Disquieted by What She Learns from Professor Hanky: She Sends for Her Son George and Questions Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/viii-yram-now-mayoress-gives-a-dinner-party-in-the-course-of-which-she-is-disquieted-by-what-she-learns-from-professor-hanky-she-sends-for-her-son-george-and-questions-him)

Professor of Logomachy and guest at the dinner, known for his skill in obscuring issues.

### [Yram Invites Dr. Downie and Mrs. Humdrum to Luncheon—A Passage at Arms Between Her and Hanky Is Amicably Arranged](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xviii-yram-invites-dr-downie-and-mrs-humdrum-to-luncheon-a-passage-at-arms-between-her-and-hanky-is-amicably-arranged)

Recognizes Higgs from a previous meeting in Bridgeford and is invited to lunch by Yram.

### [A Council Is Held at the Mayor’s, in the Course of Which George Turns the Tables on the Professors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xix-a-council-is-held-at-the-mayor-s-in-the-course-of-which-george-turns-the-tables-on-the-professors)

Dr. Downie is frightened by George's stern manner and tries to console Panky; he is later selected by Yram to negotiate on behalf of the Professors.

### [Mrs. Humdrum and Dr. Downie Propose a Compromise, Which, After an Amendment by George, Is Carried Nem. Con.](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xx-mrs-humdrum-and-dr-downie-propose-a-compromise-which-after-an-amendment-by-george-is-carried-nem-con)

Supports Mrs. Humdrum's compromise and later endorses George's amendment to tell the King.

### [XXII: Mainly Occupied with a Veracious Extract from a Sunch’stonian Journal](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xxii-mainly-occupied-with-a-veracious-extract-from-a-sunch-stonian-journal)

Testifies at the trial with convincing detail; speaks at the banquet about the benefits of abolishing anti-machinery edicts, avoiding the miraculous.

### [After Dinner, Dr. Downie and the Professors Would Be Glad to Know What Is to Be Done About Sunchildism](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xxiv-after-dinner-dr-downie-and-the-professors-would-be-glad-to-know-what-is-to-be-done-about-sunchildism)

Sits at dinner and asks Higgs what should be done about Sunchildism.

### [George Escorts My Father to the Statues; The Two Then Part](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xxv-george-escorts-my-father-to-the-statues-the-two-then-part)

Discussed as a lukewarm opponent of Sunchildism, likened to a Broad Churchman.

### [George and I Spend a Few Hours Together at the Statues, and Then Part—I Reach Home—Postscript](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xxviii-george-and-i-spend-a-few-hours-together-at-the-statues-and-then-part-i-reach-home-postscript)

Advised the King to proceed gradually; declined canonization; described as shrewdly following the 'jumping cat.'

## Links

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