Quo Vadis · Chapter
Chapter XVII explained
Chilo, seeking to eliminate Glaucus who threatens his schemes, manipulates a Christian laborer named Urban into believing Glaucus is a traitor.
What happens
Chilo, seeking to eliminate Glaucus who threatens his schemes, manipulates a Christian laborer named Urban into believing Glaucus is a traitor. He convinces Urban to kill Glaucus at the Christian gathering in Ostrianum, using a marked coin as a supposed sign of divine approval.
Themes in this chapter
Faith and Redemption
Urban's guilt over accidental killing and his desire for penance contrast with Chilo's manipulation of religious devotion for murder.
Tyranny and Corruption
Chilo's deceit and manipulation of Christian faith for personal gain exemplify corruption within the power dynamics of Rome.
Suffering and Martyrdom
The threat of betrayal and murder within the Christian community foreshadows the persecution and martyrdom to come.
Characters to notice
- Chilo Chilonides
Schemes to have Glaucus killed through manipulation, using his knowledge of Christian gatherings and Urban's guilt.
- Glaucus
Target of Chilo's plot; Chilo had previously betrayed and sold him to robbers.
- Marcus Vinicius
Mentioned as a patrician whom Chilo fears and who is involved in the search for Lygia.
- Petronius
Mentioned as a powerful friend of Vinicius and owner of the house where Eunice serves.
- Eunice
Mentioned as a Christian serving maiden in Petronius's house, used by Chilo to fabricate evidence against Glaucus.
- Ursus
Referred to as Urban, the laborer manipulated by Chilo to kill Glaucus.
Key passages
“But if no one punished the first Judas, if no one took vengeance on him, if no one defended Christ in the hour of torment, who will punish this one, who will destroy the serpent before Caesar hears him, who will destroy him, who will defend from destruction our brothers in the faith of Christ?”
Chilo argues that just as Judas was not punished for betraying Christ, so must Glaucus be stopped before he can betray the Christians to Caesar.
Chilo uses religious rhetoric to justify murder, manipulating Urban's faith.
“I will give thee a sign; if thou show it after the death of Glaucus, the bishop and the Great Apostle will bless thy deed.”
Chilo provides a coin marked with a cross as a supposed token of divine approval for the killing.
Chilo fabricates a religious symbol to absolve Urban of guilt.