# XVIII: In the Night Editor’s Room explained — The Absolute at Large

> Chapter companion for The Absolute at Large by Karel Čapek.

## What happens

Bishop Linda berates Father Jost and the night editor Kostal for publishing a leader that attacks the Absolute, as other groups have claimed the Absolute as their own. He orders a reversal of policy, instructing Jost to write a new article welcoming the Absolute into the Church, and announces that G. H. Bondy will be baptized.

## Themes in this chapter

### Religious Conflict and War

Bishop Linda's fury and the competition among churches, monists, Masons, and socialists to claim the Absolute highlight religious and ideological conflict.

### Skepticism and Faith

Father Jost's initial skeptical leader is overturned by the Bishop's pragmatic embrace of the Absolute, illustrating the tension between doubt and institutional faith.

## Character check-ins

### Bishop Linda

Arrives at the night editor's room, furious about the morning's leader, and dictates a new editorial policy embracing the Absolute.

### Father Jost

The writer of the morning's leader, humiliated by the Bishop and ordered to write a retraction and a new article.

### G. H. Bondy

Mentioned as the subject of a local news item announcing his upcoming baptism.

### Novotny

The printer who brings proofs and is questioned by the Bishop about setting the morning's leader.

## Key lines

> It has been scientifically demonstrated that I, Father Jost, am a jackass, a dolt and an idiot.

Bishop Linda sarcastically dictates a retraction, forcing Jost to admit his own foolishness.

_The Bishop uses mockery to humiliate Jost and reverse the newspaper's stance._

> The Absolute must work for us; He must be ours, i.e. He must be ours alone.

Bishop Linda insists that the Church must co-opt the Absolute for its own benefit.

_Reflects the theme of institutional appropriation of religious phenomena._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters/xviii-in-the-night-editor-s-room
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- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/the_absolute_at_large_se/chapters