# XXII explained — Hadrian the Seventh

> Chapter companion for Hadrian the Seventh by Frederick Rolfe.

## What happens

Hadrian experiences a period of psychical disturbance and lethargy, struggling with a sense of unreality and exhaustion. He later awakens to a panic-driven need for action, and in a meeting with clergy, he defends himself against newspaper calumnies, recounting his past struggles with poverty, failed inventions, and the exploitation he endured.

## Themes in this chapter

### Isolation and Artistic Struggle

Hadrian's psychical disturbance and creative lethargy, along with his past struggles as an inventor and artist, underscore his isolation and the difficulty of his artistic and intellectual pursuits.

### Identity and Self-Perception

Hadrian questions his own identity and place in the world, feeling detached from reality and struggling with his sense of self.

### Class and Social Inequality

Hadrian's recounting of his poverty, failed attempts to secure patronage, and the exploitation by the wealthy highlights class disparities and social injustice.

## Character check-ins

### Hadrian VII

Experiences psychical disturbance, lethargy, and panic; later defends himself against calumnies, recounting his past hardships.

### George Arthur Rose

Referred to in the third person during Hadrian's defense; his past life and struggles are detailed.

### George Semphill

Interjects nervously during Hadrian's statement, expressing belief in his words.

### Cardinal Carvale

Mentions the Daily Anagraph's lack of apology and is corrected by Hadrian.

## Key lines

> Things lost their significance to Him, persons lost their personality, events their importance; and time was not.

Everything became meaningless to him; people, events, and time itself lost all relevance.

_Describes Hadrian's state of psychical disturbance and detachment._

> He simply sat and wondered⁠—wondered who He was, how He came there, who dressed Him like that, and when;⁠—and decided that it did not matter.

He sat in confusion, questioning his identity and circumstances, but ultimately concluded that it was unimportant.

_Illustrates Hadrian's existential crisis and apathy._

> I never was idle. I did work after work. I designed furniture, and fire-irons. I delineated saints and seraphim, and sinners, chiefly the former: a series of rather interesting and polyonomous devils in a period of desperate revolt.

He insists he was never lazy, listing his many creative and professional endeavors, including designing furniture and drawing religious and demonic figures.

_Hadrian defends his work ethic against accusations of idleness._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters/xxii
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/hadrian_the_seventh_se/chapters