# Mr. Balmy — Erewhon Revisited character guide

> Mr. Balmy in Erewhon Revisited by Samuel Butler.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0016-xiv-my-father-makes-the-acquaintance-of-mr-balmy-and-walks-with-him-next-day-to-sunch-ston

## Snapshot

A genial Erewhonian encountered on the road who steers the returning Higgs toward Sunch'ston, embodying the ordinary believer's warmth and credulity in the new Sunchild faith.

## Who they are

Mr. Balmy is the sort of friendly stranger whose helpfulness opens a narrative door, guiding the disguised Higgs across country toward the town where his old identity is now a religion. His easy goodwill is genuine, but it also demonstrates how thoroughly the Sunchild myth has saturated everyday Erewhonian life, so that even casual kindness now runs through the channels of the new faith. He matters because his guidance delivers Higgs into the world he must navigate incognito, and his unguarded talk gives the reader the first taste of how the legend has grown.

## In the story

### [XIV: My Father Makes the Acquaintance of Mr. Balmy, and Walks with Him Next Day to Sunch’ston](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xiv-my-father-makes-the-acquaintance-of-mr-balmy-and-walks-with-him-next-day-to-sunch-ston)

An elderly, devout Sunchildist who walks with my father; he explains the political compromises that led to the establishment of Sunchildism and criticizes the growing materialism.

### [XV: The Temple Is Dedicated to My Father, and Certain Extracts Are Read from His Supposed Sayings](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xv-the-temple-is-dedicated-to-my-father-and-certain-extracts-are-read-from-his-supposed-sayings)

Walks with my father, expresses distress over the phrase 'as well as' and fears the Sunchild's anger, then parts to visit friends before the ceremony.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/mr_balmy
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters