# Towneley — The Way of All Flesh character guide

> Towneley in The Way of All Flesh by Samuel Butler.

**Role:** supporting

**First appearance:** 0033-xxxi

## Snapshot

The Cambridge golden boy whose effortless grace and easy money make Ernest feel like a hewer of wood beside a born Towneley.

## Who they are

Towneley drifts through Cambridge and London with the instinctive polish Ernest can only gape at, and later stands by him in the police court as one of the few witnesses willing to speak for his character. He is not cruel, merely untroubled — his effortless success quietly indicts the anxious, self-thwarting striving of those around him. For Ernest, Towneley becomes the measure of everything he is not, and the friendship matters precisely because it offers no flattery, only the calm example of a man who never had to fight himself.

## Relationships

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

_psychological_

Ernest's wealthy, charismatic schoolfellow whom he idolizes and obsessively compares himself to, representing social success he craves.

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

_psychological_

Ernest's wealthy, charismatic schoolfellow whom he idolizes and obsessively compares himself to, representing social success he craves.

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

_psychological_

Ernest's wealthy, charismatic schoolfellow whom he idolizes and obsessively compares himself to, representing social success he craves.

## In the story

### [XLVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/xlviii)

Towneley is a popular, wealthy, and handsome Cambridge acquaintance of Ernest's. Christina pressures Ernest to invite him to Battersby to marry Charlotte, but Ernest knows this is impossible due to social differences.

### [LVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lvii)

Towneley appears unexpectedly in a poor street, greets Ernest warmly but silently rebukes his parroted sentiment about poor people, causing Ernest to doubt his path.

### [LIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lix)

Mentioned as Ernest recalls Towneley's 'No, no, no' echoing in his mind after his conversation with Mr. Shaw.

### [LX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lx)

Bursts into Miss Snow's room, finds Ernest there, and laughs heartily after Ernest leaves.

### [LXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxi)

Tries to help Ernest by arranging legal representation and attempting to negotiate with Miss Maitland's father; regarded by Overton as a true friend.

### [LXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxii)

Testifies on Ernest's behalf and helps keep the case out of newspapers.

### [LXVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxviii)

Mentioned as a contrast to Ernest's ability to live in Ashpit Place.

### [LXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxxiii)

Referenced as an ideal of instinctive grace and knowledge, contrasted with Ernest's laborious intellectual path.

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

Meets Ernest in the street, tries to befriend him, but Ernest insists on breaking off their acquaintance; described as Ernest's idol and the best man he ever knew.

### [LXXXI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/chapters/lxxxi)

Mentioned as one of the few friends who will be pleased by Ernest's inheritance.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_way_of_all_flesh_se/characters/towneley
- 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