# Professor Panky — Erewhon Revisited character guide > Professor Panky in Erewhon Revisited by Samuel Butler. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Panky, Professor, Even Panky **First appearance:** 0005-iii-my-father-while-camping-is-accosted-by-professors-hanky-and-panky ## Snapshot Hanky's cooler, more calculating colleague, he co-manages the Sunchild fraud and is quick to name Yram a dangerous sceptic who must be watched. ## Who they are Where Hanky blusters, Panky insinuates, and together they steer the King and the credulous public toward a convenient orthodoxy. He is the one who reminds Hanky how nearly Yram wrecked them, and who treats the Sunchild's blood in the country as a useful fiction to be managed. His wary pragmatism makes him the more formidable of the two priests. ## Relationships ### [My Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/my_father) _rivalry_ Professor Panky is a manipulative rival who schemes against my father. ### [Yram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/yram) _psychological_ Professor Panky exerts manipulative control over Yram, exploiting her for his own ends. ### [Professor Hanky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_hanky) _professional_ They are colleagues in the Erewhonian academic establishment, often collaborating in their schemes. ### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/the_narrator) _rivalry_ Professor Panky is a deceptive opponent who tries to undermine the narrator's mission. ### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/george) _rivalry_ George actively works against Professor Panky's manipulative plans. ### [Yram](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/yram) _psychological_ Professor Panky exerts manipulative control over Yram, exploiting her for his own ends. ### [My Father](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/my_father) _rivalry_ Professor Panky is a manipulative rival who schemes against my father. ### [George](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/george) _rivalry_ George actively works against Professor Panky's manipulative plans. ### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/the_narrator) _rivalry_ Professor Panky is a deceptive opponent who tries to undermine the narrator's mission. ### [Professor Hanky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_hanky) _professional_ They are colleagues in the Erewhonian academic establishment, often collaborating in their schemes. ### [Professor Hanky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_hanky) _professional_ They are colleagues in the Erewhonian academic establishment, often collaborating in their schemes. ### [The Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/the_narrator) _rivalry_ Professor Panky is a deceptive opponent who tries to undermine the narrator's mission. ## 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) The other professor; initially suspicious of my father but is deceived by his quick lies. ### [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) Insists on a receipt, proposes a corrupt reading of the prayer, and becomes suspicious of my father's boots. ### [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) The other professor; his reversed clothes and watch are noted by Higgs as clues to Erewhonian changes. ### [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) Implied to be Higgs's alias; Higgs reflects on being Panky when hearing of Hanky's actions. ### [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 alongside Hanky as the buyer of Higgs's property. ### [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) Accompanies Hanky to the dinner and confirms their forest adventure. ### [Interview Between Yram and Her Son](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/ix-interview-between-yram-and-her-son) The alias used by Higgs when meeting George; later revealed to be Higgs himself. ### [President Gurgoyle’s Pamphlet “On the Physics of Vicarious Existence”](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/chapters/xi-president-gurgoyle-s-pamphlet-on-the-physics-of-vicarious-existence) Mentioned as someone who could not manipulate Higgs's teaching more freely than Gurgoyle did. ### [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) Panky attempts to argue that Higgs is not the Sunchild but is overruled by Hanky, showing his complicity in the cover-up. ### [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 alongside Hanky as a source of the esoteric reinterpretation of the Sunchild's sayings; Higgs avoids him. ### [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 alongside Hanky as part of the Bridgeford committee that compromised with the King to establish Sunchildism. ### [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 alongside Hanky as corrupted by the Sunchild's deception; George addresses my father as 'Professor Panky.' ### [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) Panky is mentioned alongside Hanky as having dined with Yram and provided information that led to Higgs's identification. ### [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) Urges Hanky to apologize and is morally in a state of collapse. ### [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) Panky is muddled and hors de combat; he breaks down in tears and eventually stammers 'compromise' when faced with the Blue-Pool threat. ### [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) Initially hesitant but eventually signs the depositions after receiving his money back. ### [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 alongside Hanky as part of the deception. ### [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) Present at the arrest and trial; too exhausted to speak at the banquet, excused by the Mayor. ### [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) Asks Higgs about a textual corruption; receives a vague answer and goes away contentedly. ### [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) Described as needing to persuade himself of his own lies before telling them, and as being led by Hanky. ### [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) Remains silent during the King's interview; later noted as dead, succeeded by his son Pocus. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters/professor_panky - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/erewhon_revisited_se/characters