Erewhon · Character

Mr. Nosnibor

A prosperous Erewhonian merchant whose respectable household becomes the narrator's refuge, and whose daughters pull him toward the country's strangest customs.

supporting

First appearance: xvii ydgrun and the ydgrunites

As a supporting figure in Erewhon, Mr. Nosnibor is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

A wealthy embezzler who invites the narrator to stay; highly respected in Erewhonian society despite his crime.

In the storyTo the MetropolisOpen this moment free

See Mr. Nosnibor in To the Metropolis Book page

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In To the Metropolis: A wealthy embezzler who invites the narrator to stay; highly respected in Erewhonian society despite his crime. Later, in Current Opinions: Host to the narrator; he embezzled money and is…

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See Mr. Nosnibor in xvii ydgrun and the ydgrunites

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Rising action.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

This passage marks the climax because it reveals the central psychological reversal: the narrator’s initial ho…

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In the story

Mr. Nosnibor appears across 9 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

To the Metropolis
A wealthy embezzler who invites the narrator to stay; highly respected in Erewhonian society despite his crime.
Current Opinions
Host to the narrator; he embezzled money and is undergoing treatment by a straightener, including fines, bread and milk diet, and monthly floggings.
XII: Malcontents
Mentioned indirectly as part of the society the narrator observes.
XIV: Mahaina
Recovered from his flogging and looking forward to the last one; he is busy with business and appears prosperous.
The Musical Banks
A pillar of the other kind of bank, though he holds a minor office in the Musical Banks; visits the mother bank occasionally.
XVI: Arowhena
The narrator dislikes him for embezzling money; shows attention but not liked.
Birth Formulae
Mr. Nosnibor is one of the sources who informs the narrator about Erewhonian beliefs in preexistence.
XX: What They Mean by It
Mentioned as someone who would deny the narrator's observations about parent-child relations.
Escape
His garden is used as a meeting place for the narrator and Arowhena.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mr. Nosnibor in xvii ydgrun and the ydgrunites

See Mr. Nosnibor in To the Metropolis