# Dr. Skinner — The Way of All Flesh character guide

> Dr. Skinner in The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** the famous Dr. Skinner of Roughborough, Skinner

**First appearance:** 0021-xix

## Snapshot

The pompous headmaster of Roughborough who punishes Ernest with a whole half-year of detentions before he has committed any offence at all.

## Who they are

Dr. Skinner rules Roughborough with pomp, excommunicating shops and boys alike, and when Theobald feeds him a list of Ernest's private remarks he turns on the informer and burns it rather than face a scandal. He is a pedant more than a tyrant, but his vanity makes him dangerous to any boy who embarrasses him. His overreaching punishment of Ernest wins the school's sympathy for the victim and sets the pattern of the novel: authority that wounds most where it means to correct.

## Relationships

### [Ernest Pontifex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/ernest_pontifex)

_professional_

Ernest's headmaster at Roughborough, a pompous and cruel educator who reinforces Ernest's sense of inadequacy.

### [Ernest Pontifex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/ernest_pontifex)

_professional_

Ernest's headmaster at Roughborough, a pompous and cruel educator who reinforces Ernest's sense of inadequacy.

### [Ernest Pontifex](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/ernest_pontifex)

_professional_

Ernest's headmaster at Roughborough, a pompous and cruel educator who reinforces Ernest's sense of inadequacy.

## In the story

### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxvii)

The famous headmaster of Roughborough, a self-important scholar and author of 'Meditations Upon the Epistle and Character of St. Jude,' who is revealed as hypocritical and pompous.

### [XXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxviii)

Headmaster of Roughborough; examines Ernest and converses with Theobald on various topics.

### [Ernest at Roughborough](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxx)

Headmaster who terrifies Ernest with his temper; calls Ernest an 'audacious reptile' over a false quantity.

### [XXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxxi)

Headmaster of Roughborough, though not directly named in this excerpt; the school's system of merit money and punishments is described.

### [Alethea's Assessment](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxxii)

Headmaster of Roughborough; Ernest mimics him and calls him 'an awful old humbug.'

### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxxiii)

Headmaster of Roughborough; Alethea easily wins him over and obtains a promise of a manuscript poem.

### [Chapter XXXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xxxvii)

Dr. Skinner is the headmaster who writes the critical school report and questions Ernest about his solemn demeanor.

### [XLII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xlii)

Mentioned as the headmaster to whom Theobald plans to send the annotated school list.

### [XLIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xliii)

Dr. Skinner imposes severe punishments on Ernest, excommunicates Mrs. Cross's and Mrs. Jones's shops, and burns Theobald's school list.

### [XLIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xliv)

Gives Ernest a book on leaving school and writes a guarded note of approval on his Alcaics; Ernest later reflects on their relationship without lasting bitterness.

### [XLV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xlv)

Referenced as having said Ernest could never get a fellowship, influencing Theobald's plans.

### [LXXXVI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxxxvi)

Now Dean of something, hosts Ernest for lunch, engages in a conversation about music, and dies a month or two after their meeting.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/dr_skinner
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters