What is the theme of chapter 1?

Chapter one of “The Way of All Flesh” seems to focus on the theme of the benefits of hard work. It serves to introduce old John Pontifex, the great-grandfather of Ernest Pontifex, to whom most of the book is dedicated. Old Pontifex is presented as a hardworking man who makes the best use of his abilities. He is a carpenter by profession, has worked as a parish clerk, draws, and also makes music. He makes really good drawings of “local subjects,” drawings that can almost pass as masterpieces. His music is as good as his art even though he never received any formal training in either field. He has even built two organs, one for the church, the other for his house. He is a busy man with a great sense of humor. Notable is the fact that he is successful, in spite of having “so many irons in the fire.”
Towards the end of the chapter, the narrator’s father states that “Old Pontifex was not only an able man, but he was one of the very ablest men known to him.” He further urges the narrator to learn to “judge men not so much by what they do, as by what they make others feel they have it in them to do.” He makes it clear that Old Pontifex is a man of great character, a man who lived his life to the fullest, unafraid of exploring his full potential.