# XVIII explained — Gladiator

> Chapter companion for Gladiator by Philip Wylie.

## What happens

Hugo breaks out of jail by bursting his bonds and destroying the jail wall, then abducts Captain McClaren to teach him a lesson. After four weeks of hunger and odd jobs, he accepts a position at Mr. Shayne's bank. He later saves a clerk trapped in a vault by tearing open the safe door, but the bank president, suspecting him of being a safecracker, refuses to let him go until he reveals his secret.

## Themes in this chapter

### The Burden of Superhuman Power

Hugo's superhuman strength leads to his arrest and interrogation, and later to suspicion and confinement by the bank president, reinforcing his isolation.

### Alienation and Otherness

Hugo's abilities mark him as different, causing fear and hostility from McClaren and the bank president, and preventing him from fitting into society.

### Society's Rejection of the Exceptional

Society, represented by the police and the bank, cannot tolerate Hugo's exceptional nature and seeks to control or eliminate him.

## Character check-ins

### Hugo Danner

Breaks out of jail, abducts McClaren, struggles with hunger, works odd jobs, accepts job at Shayne's bank, saves trapped clerk, faces suspicion from bank president.

### Captain McClaren

Leads the interrogation of Hugo, is abducted and threatened by Hugo, then released.

### Thomas Mathew Shayne

Offers Hugo a position at his bank after Hugo telephones him in desperation.

### President Mills

Bank president who suspects Hugo of being a safecracker after he opens the vault, and decides to detain him.

### Mrs. Robinson

Present during the vault incident; she exclaims that Hugo has ruined the safe.

## Key lines

> Hugo stretched. His bonds burst; the chair on which he sat splintered to kindling. Six revolvers spat simultaneously. Hugo felt the sting of the bullets. Six chambers were emptied.

Hugo breaks free from his restraints and is shot six times without serious injury.

_Demonstrates Hugo's invulnerability and superhuman strength during his jailbreak._

> He caught hold of the two handles, fidgeted with his elbows, drew a deep breath, and pulled. There was a resonant, metallic sound. Something gave. The edge of the seven-foot door moved outward and a miasma steamed through the aperture.

Hugo uses his immense strength to pry open the heavy vault door, releasing the trapped clerk.

_Shows Hugo's physical power and his willingness to use it to save a life, despite the consequences._

> Society cannot afford to permit a man like you to go at large until it has a thoroughly effective defence against you. Society must disregard your momentary sacrifice, momentary nobleness.

President Mills argues that Hugo's unknown abilities pose a threat to society, justifying his detention.

_Highlights the theme of society's fear and rejection of the exceptional individual._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gladiator_se/chapters/xviii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gladiator_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/gladiator_se/chapters