# Professor Hanky — Erewhon Revisited character guide > Professor Hanky in Erewhon Revisited by Samuel Butler. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Hanky, the Sunchild, Professor, XVI Professor Hanky **First appearance:** 0005-iii-my-father-while-camping-is-accosted-by-professors-hanky-and-panky ## Snapshot A pompous Erewhonian professor and architect of Sunchildism, he guards the profitable myth of the Sunchild with vanity, bluster, and a willingness to burn inconvenient evidence. ## Who they are Hanky has built a career on the Sunchild's supposed miracles, complete with canonries, rites, and a study that happened to burn on a very useful night. He is vain, easily rattled, and ruthless when his authority is questioned—especially by Yram, whose stubbornness about the Sunchild's clothes nearly wrecked the whole fabrication. His fear of exposure drives the early hunt for the returned Higgs. ## Relationships ### [My Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/my_father) _rivalry_ Professor Hanky is a cunning antagonist who opposes my father's ideas and actions. ### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/the_narrator) _rivalry_ Professor Hanky views the narrator with suspicion and hostility, acting as an adversary. ### [Yram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/yram) _psychological_ Professor Hanky uses psychological pressure and intimidation against Yram. ### [Professor Panky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_panky) _professional_ They are colleagues in the Erewhonian academic establishment, often collaborating in their schemes. ### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/george) _rivalry_ George distrusts and opposes Professor Hanky, seeing him as a threat. ### [My Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/my_father) _rivalry_ Professor Hanky is a cunning antagonist who opposes my father's ideas and actions. ### [Yram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/yram) _psychological_ Professor Hanky uses psychological pressure and intimidation against Yram. ### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/george) _rivalry_ George distrusts and opposes Professor Hanky, seeing him as a threat. ### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/the_narrator) _rivalry_ Professor Hanky views the narrator with suspicion and hostility, acting as an adversary. ### [Professor Panky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_panky) _professional_ They are colleagues in the Erewhonian academic establishment, often collaborating in their schemes. ### [My Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/my_father) _rivalry_ Professor Hanky is a cunning antagonist who opposes my father's ideas and actions. ### [Yram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/yram) _psychological_ Professor Hanky uses psychological pressure and intimidation against Yram. ## In the story ### [III: My Father While Camping Is Accosted by Professors Hanky and Panky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/iii-my-father-while-camping-is-accosted-by-professors-hanky-and-panky) One of the professors who accosts my father; he is hungry and bribes my father for quails. ### [My Father Overhears More of Hanky and Panky’s Conversation](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/iv-my-father-overhears-more-of-hanky-and-panky-s-conversation) Argues with Panky about the receipt and the Sunchild's prayer; shows occasional frankness and cynicism. ### [V: My Father Meets a Son, of Whose Existence He Was Ignorant; and Strikes a Bargain with Him](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/v-my-father-meets-a-son-of-whose-existence-he-was-ignorant-and-strikes-a-bargain-with-him) One of the Bridgeford professors whose conversation Higgs overheard, providing key information about the new religion and the temple. ### [VI: Further Conversation Between Father and Son—The Professors’ Hoard](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/vi-further-conversation-between-father-and-son-the-professors-hoard) Mentioned as having tried to burn George's mother alive, though he denies it; his handkerchief is found among the hidden items. ### [Signs of the New Order of Things Catch My Father’s Eye on Every Side](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/vii-signs-of-the-new-order-of-things-catch-my-father-s-eye-on-every-side) Mentioned as the seller of Higgs's property and the preacher at the upcoming temple dedication. ### [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) Guest at the dinner, he recounts meeting a ranger in the forest wearing the old dress, triggering Yram's suspicions. ### [Interview Between Yram and Her Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/ix-interview-between-yram-and-her-son) Mentioned as one of the professors with Higgs during the poaching incident. ### [X: My Father, Fearing Recognition at Sunch’ston, Betakes Himself to the Neighbouring Town of Fairmead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/x-my-father-fearing-recognition-at-sunch-ston-betakes-himself-to-the-neighbouring-town-of-fairmead) Mentioned as the preacher of the sermon my father is anxious to hear at the temple dedication. ### [XII: George Fails to Find My Father, Whereon Yram Cautions the Professors](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xii-george-fails-to-find-my-father-whereon-yram-cautions-the-professors) Hanky threatens to have Higgs thrown into the Blue Pool and secretly sends a note to the temple manager, revealing his manipulative and ruthless tactics. ### [A Visit to the Provincial Deformatory at Fairmead](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xiii-a-visit-to-the-provincial-deformatory-at-fairmead) Mentioned as one of the professors who reinterpreted the Sunchild's teachings; Higgs fears meeting him at the Deformatory. ### [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) Mentioned as a key figure who, though initially insincere, later became a genuine believer and helped negotiate the absorption of Sunchildism into the Musical Bank system. ### [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) Mentioned as one of those corrupted by the Sunchild's lie; my father reflects on the mischief done to him. ### [Professor Hanky Preaches a Sermon, in the Course of Which My Father Declares Himself to Be the Sunchild](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xvi-professor-hanky-preaches-a-sermon-in-the-course-of-which-my-father-declares-himself-to-be-the-sunchild) Preaches a sermon glorifying the Sunchild, goads Higgs into revealing himself, then calls for his destruction before collapsing. ### [George Takes His Father to Prison, and There Obtains Some Useful Information](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xvii-george-takes-his-father-to-prison-and-there-obtains-some-useful-information) Hanky is implicated in the plot to burn Higgs alive, having urged the crowd to do so, though George doubts he knew about the bonfire. ### [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) Attempts to salvage his sermon after Higgs's outburst, is forced to apologize to Yram, and later insists Higgs is a foreign devil. ### [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) Hanky is blind with rage and feels outwitted; he accuses George of shielding the prisoner and threatens to report to the King, but is eventually handcuffed and forced to consider compromise. ### [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) Reluctantly agrees to sign false depositions and attend the meeting with the King. ### [Yram, on Getting Rid of Her Guests, Goes to the Prison to See My Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xxi-yram-on-getting-rid-of-her-guests-goes-to-the-prison-to-see-my-father) Mentioned as someone Higgs will have to pretend to befriend. ### [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) Delivers the sermon interrupted by the false Sunchild; later gives a speech at the Mayor's banquet, speaking lies about the Sunchild's miracles. ### [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) Greets Higgs with Bridgeford manner; sits at dinner. ### [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) Characterized as a plausible, unscrupulous, heartless scoundrel who will push Sunchildism for his own aggrandisement. ### [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) Described as furious and humiliated during the King's interview, yet impenitent and spreading false claims afterward. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_hanky - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters