Chapter 3 Summary

Dr. Proudie is introduced and his career in the church is explained. Throughout his career, Dr. Proudie has generally been associated with the royal family and members of Parliament, not with the average churchgoer. He is a liberal, and his political opinions are influenced by the party in power. Dr. Proudie is always eager for attention and signs his name to documents written by liberal politicians without really doing anything himself. He has used this technique as a means of gaining power and influence for himself. The real power, however, belongs to his wife, Mrs. Proudie, who controls everything that he does. She, in turn, is influenced by Mr. Slope, an evangelical London preacher, who leads the family in religious matters. Both Mrs. Proudie and Mr. Slope see Dr. Proudie's appointment as Bishop as a means for extending their own powers.

The Proudie...