The Man Who Was Thursday · Chapter
XV: The Accuser explained
The seven detectives, now in their symbolic roles as the Days of Creation, gather in a grand garden masquerade.
What happens
The seven detectives, now in their symbolic roles as the Days of Creation, gather in a grand garden masquerade. Sunday, dressed in pure white, presides over the revelry. After the crowd disperses, Sunday speaks of their long war and sacrifice. Gregory appears and accuses them of never having suffered, being the safe, supreme power. Syme passionately defends them, declaring they have indeed suffered and descended into hell. He confronts Sunday, asking if he has ever suffered, and Sunday's face grows enormous, causing Syme to black out. He awakens walking with Gregory at dawn, feeling an unnatural buoyancy and possessing impossible good news.
Themes in this chapter
Order vs. Chaos
The seven detectives represent order and law, while Gregory's accusation embodies the chaotic, anarchic spirit that rebels against any supreme power.
The Nature of Evil
Gregory's curse and Syme's defense explore whether the supreme power (order) is inherently evil for being safe and unchallenged, or whether true evil lies in the accusation itself.
Faith and Doubt
Sunday's speech about the voice in the dark and the secret honour maintained despite cosmic doubt highlights the tension between faith in an unseen order and the doubt that the world denies it.
Characters to notice
- Gabriel Syme
Syme defends the detectives against Gregory's accusation, declaring they have suffered and descended into hell. He confronts Sunday about suffering and then blacks out, later awakening walking with Gregory at dawn.
- Lucian Gregory
Gregory appears as the accuser, denouncing the seven as the safe, supreme power that has never been broken or suffered. He curses them for being safe and unchallenged.
- Sunday
Sunday presides over the masquerade in pure white, speaks of the long war and sacrifice, and reveals himself as 'the Sabbath' and 'the peace of God.' His face grows enormous as Syme questions him.
- The Secretary
The Secretary, dressed in black and white, stands at the top of the stairs and later sits on the right of the empty throne. He questions Sunday's identity, demanding 'Who and what are you?'
- Inspector Ratcliffe
Ratcliffe is clad in spring green with a pattern of trees, representing the third day of Creation. He joins the others on the terrace.
- Gogol
Gogol, representing Tuesday, is dressed in grey and silver like a sheet of rain, symbolizing the division of the waters. He is already seated in his throne.
Key passages
“The only crime of the Government is that it governs. The unpardonable sin of the supreme power is that it is supreme.”
Gregory argues that the fundamental fault of any ruling authority is simply that it rules, and the unforgivable offense of ultimate power is its very supremacy.
Gregory's accusation against the seven detectives as representatives of law and order.
“I am the Sabbath. I am the peace of God.”
Sunday declares his identity as the day of rest and the embodiment of divine peace.
Sunday's revelation of his symbolic role in the Creation allegory.
“Can ye drink of the cup that I drink of?”
Syme hears a distant voice asking if they can share in the same suffering and sacrifice that Sunday endures.
Biblical allusion suggesting that Sunday's experience of suffering is beyond human comprehension.
