65 pages • 2 hours read
G. K. ChestertonThe Man Who Was Thursday
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 1908A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more. For select classroom titles, we also provide Teaching Guides with discussion and quiz questions to prompt student engagement.
Chapters 11-12Chapter Summaries & Analyses
Chapter 11 Summary: “The Criminals Chase the Police”
Syme is relieved Sunday is not in the crowd. Colonel Ducroix, one of the Marquis’s seconds for the duel, joins the group. The Marquis is convinced Sunday has taken over the rest of the world and is in pursuit of the detectives. Syme doesn’t believe Sunday could accomplish a takeover in such a short amount of time. The group moves away from the crowd and into the woods.
The change from the sunlight to the darkness of the forest plays on Syme’s mind as he imagines his companions’ faces change. Men he perceived as enemies are now friends. He is more confused: “Was he wearing a mask? Was anyone wearing a mask? Was anyone anything?” (84).
The Marquis tells Syme that their destination is a seaside town called Lancy. He believes Sunday’s influence won’t be as strong there. Syme posits that surely the working class is part of the anarchist plot. The Marquis reproaches Syme for his lack of understanding; the anarchists will not come from the poor classes, they will come from the rich, he explains: “[…] the poor have been rebels, but they have never been anarchists […] The poor have sometimes objected to being governed badly; the rich have always objected to being governed at all” (85).
They arrive at an inn. Colonel Ducroix speaks to the innkeeper who provides horses, food, and wine for the group. As they mount their horses, Syme can see “an army of black-clad marching men” (89). Syme and his group escape just in time.
Chapter 12 Summary: “The Earth in Anarchy”
The group arrives at the home of Dr. Renard, a friend of Ducroix’s who has three motorcars. Renard dismisses the idea that anarchists could cause an uprising among the French people: “‘Anarchy,’ he said, shrugging his shoulders, ‘it is childishness’” (92). In response, Ducroix points over Renard’s shoulder at the large group quickly approaching on horses. Renard gives them one of his cars and they push it out of the garage.
As the group struggles to start the motorcar, the Secretary wheels around the corner on his horse and lays his hand on the car. The car lurches forward suddenly, dragging the Secretary out of his saddle just as he pulls out a knife. As they drive away, they see the other anarchists gather around the Secretary.
de Worms mentions how dark it is and Ducroix promptly holds up a lantern. Lights in the houses begin to come on, and Dr. Bull feels hopeful. The Marquis is more pessimistic: “There is only one set of lights that make me more cheerful […] and they are those lights of the police station which I can see beyond the town. Please God we may be there in ten minutes” (94).
Renard’s two other cars flash into view and then disappear. Ducroix doesn’t believe everyday French people would join the mob. As he speaks, the men in the two cars shoot at them. The Marquis says they will never get to the police station as he points to the lines of people stretched across the road.
Dr. Bull sees Renard lead a group of people and jumps from the car, calling to him. Renard raises his revolver and shoots at a stunned Dr. Bull. It seems all their allies have turned against them. They see the innkeeper among the mob. de Worms declares that “the world is insane” (98).
Syme grabs several swords and the lantern and leads everyone to a jetty. If they cannot get to the police station, they will try and hold off the mob until the gendarmes come to help them. Several men from the crowd start toward the jetty. Bull sees the gendarmes but is crestfallen a moment later when they line up with the mob. Syme realizes the colonel isn’t with them. The Marquis points to the beach, where Ducroix stands talking to the Secretary.
Reconciled to impending death, Syme charges toward Ducroix with his sword drawn. Ducroix shoots and misses Syme but snaps his sword in half. Syme continues toward him and knocks Ducroix to the ground. He swings the lantern and hits the Secretary. The Secretary pulls off his mask, holds up his hand, and says to Syme, “I arrest you in the name of the law” (102). The Secretary reveals he is a detective with Scotland Yard. The men realize everyone on the Anarchist Council is a police officer, except for Sunday.
Chapters 11-12 Analysis
In Chapters 11 and 12, the world seems turned upside down. There is another chase, but this time the criminals pursue the police. As people perceived as friends seemingly turn into enemies, anarchy appears to rule.
Light is an important symbol in Chapter 12. As the “criminals” close in on the detectives, it’s dark. However, when de Worms remarks on the darkness, Ducroix produces a lamp, followed by lights coming on in houses around them. The climax of the chase happens in or near water, which is a symbol of cleansing. Both groups of people—the detectives and the mob—are on the side of good. The water washes away, cleansing the town of anarchism.
The discussion between de Worms and Syme about where the threat of anarchy will arise is similar to the conversation Syme had with the police officer in Chapter 3. The policeman explained the “latest development in [the] police system”, which is keeping their mission “[…] rather dark from the educated class because that class contains most of our enemies” (25). By repeating the discussion, Chesterton draws attention to the lower classes and uses it as a political statement about the disparity between the rich and the poor in his day.
During the time the novel takes place, the Industrial Revolution created new jobs and opportunities for the rural poor, but it also reinforced strict class divisions. As a rule, the rich business owners of the Industrial Revolution dominated English society. However, the increase in their wealth didn’t improve the lives of the poor.
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