Gods & Monsters
Holy Men
by Mahurin, ShelbyThe chapter opens with Reid experiencing a disorienting shift in reality after drinking from an iron chalice, transporting him and his companions, Lou and Coco, into a courtroom within a cathedral. The setting is familiar to Reid, who recalls guarding these halls during trials for crimes related to witchcraft. The atmosphere is tense, with beeswax candles casting flickering light and stained-glass windows obscured by curtains. Reid reflects on the harsh fate of those accused of sympathizing with witches, emphasizing the brutality of the Chasseurs’ justice system. The group realizes they are invisible and inaudible to the people in the courtroom, setting the stage for a haunting observation of past events.
The scene turns grim as Philippe, a former comrade of Reid, drags Reid’s bound and drugged mother to the podium. Her brutal treatment—nailed to the podium by her ear—elicits horror from Coco and rage from Reid. The violence is gratuitous, as she is already incapacitated by hemlock, highlighting the cruelty of the Chasseurs. The tension escalates when Achille Altier, a priest Reid recognizes from a graveyard parish, intervenes. Achille challenges Philippe’s actions, calling them unnecessarily cruel, and his authoritative presence commands the room. His appearance contrasts sharply with Reid’s memory of him, now dignified and resplendent in his robes.
The confrontation intensifies with the arrival of Father Gaspard Fosse, a charismatic but malicious figure who defends Philippe’s actions under the guise of protecting the Church from witchcraft. Gaspard’s smooth rhetoric and calculated demeanor reveal his ambition and lack of genuine piety, earning Reid’s disdain. The dynamic between Achille and Gaspard becomes a central conflict, with Achille advocating for mercy and Gaspard justifying violence. Reid’s internal struggle grows as he questions the Church’s morality and his own beliefs, feeling a growing sense of discomfort and disillusionment.
The chapter concludes with Achille physically shielding Reid’s mother from further harm, standing in defiance of Gaspard’s rhetoric. This act of compassion starkly contrasts with the Church’s usual brutality, leaving Reid to grapple with the contradictions within the institution he once served. The scene underscores themes of power, morality, and the corruption of religious authority, setting the stage for Reid’s deeper questioning of his loyalties and the true nature of justice. The chapter ends on a poignant note, with Reid’s faith and identity in turmoil.
FAQs
1. How does the chapter establish the contrast between Father Achille Altier and Father Gaspard Fosse?
Answer:
The chapter sharply contrasts these two religious figures through their physical descriptions, behaviors, and moral stances. Father Achille appears as a principled defender of mercy, criticizing Philippe’s cruelty toward Reid’s mother despite her being a witch. He’s described as grizzled but commands respect through his moral authority. In contrast, Father Gaspard radiates superficial charm with his golden skin and vitality, but his pale blue eyes reveal malice. He defends Philippe’s violence under the guise of religious zeal, showcasing hypocrisy. Their opposing reactions to the torture scene (Achille’s intervention vs. Gaspard’s justification) highlight their fundamental differences in interpreting religious doctrine.2. What does Reid’s reaction to the courtroom scene reveal about his evolving perspective on the Church?
Answer:
Reid’s visceral reaction—the “red washing over his vision” when seeing his mother tortured—demonstrates his growing disillusionment with Church practices. Though he recognizes the courtroom’s familiar elements (beeswax candles, stained glass), he now perceives them through a critical lens. His observation that Gaspard’s ambition isn’t truly holy despite biblical trappings shows cognitive dissonance. The “pricking sensation” and feeling his skin is “several sizes too small” metaphorically represent his strained relationship with Church ideology. This marks a significant shift from his former Chasseur identity, where he unquestioningly accepted such brutality against accused witches.3. Analyze the significance of the characters being incorporeal observers in this scene.
Answer:
Their ghost-like inability to interact (Coco passing through a man’s arm, unheard whispers) creates dramatic irony, forcing them to witness atrocities without intervention. This serves multiple purposes: 1) It mirrors Reid’s past role as a passive enforcer of such cruelty, now seeing it from a victim’s perspective; 2) Intensifies the horror by removing any chance of altering events; 3) Symbolizes how Church corruption persists unchecked by those who might oppose it. The detachment also allows Reid to observe details he’d previously ignored—like Achille’s moral courage—without the biases of his former position.4. How does the chapter use sensory details to enhance its themes of hypocrisy and violence?
Answer:
Vivid sensory contrasts underscore the Church’s duplicity: The “honeyed notes” of beeswax candles and beautiful stained glass windows frame a scene of torture, juxtaposing sanctity with savagery. The “crusted black and fresh scarlet” blood on Reid’s mother’s gown visually emphasizes prolonged suffering. Philippe’s laughter against her sobs creates disturbing auditory contrast. Even the iron chalice’s “ice water” foreshadows the emotional coldness of the proceedings. These details weaponize the Church’s own aesthetics—typically associated with purity—to highlight how they enable brutality, making the hypocrisy more jarring.5. What does Philippe’s treatment of Reid’s mother reveal about the Church’s power dynamics?
Answer:
Philippe’s actions demonstrate how the Church sanctions violence under the pretense of righteousness. His unnecessary cruelty (nailing her ear to the podium despite her being drugged) shows how the “witch” label dehumanizes victims, permitting extreme brutality. The scene also reveals hierarchy within the Church: Philippe initially defies Achille’s authority but immediately submits to Gaspard, indicating that power flows toward those who justify extremism. The throwaway line “To the last man and woman, all had burned” confirms this is systemic, not isolated behavior. The Church’s true doctrine emerges as one of control through fear rather than spiritual guidance.
Quotes
1. “To the last man and woman, all had burned.”
This stark statement encapsulates the brutal fate of those who sympathized with witches in this world, revealing the Church’s uncompromising stance and the high stakes of defying its doctrine. It comes as a chilling summary of the chapter’s historical context.
2. “‘Was that necessary, huntsman?’ His hard voice cut sharp through the din of the room… ‘Surely such additional measures are cruel and unusual?’”
Father Achille’s challenge to Philippe’s brutality represents a rare voice of reason and compassion in the Church. This quote highlights the moral conflict within the institution and introduces Achille as a contrasting figure to the more fanatical members.
3. “‘All is forgiven in pursuit of our noble cause. The Father knows your heart. In violence against these creatures, he compels your hand.’”
Father Gaspard’s justification of violence in God’s name reveals the dangerous theology that permits cruelty under the guise of righteousness. This quote exemplifies the chapter’s exploration of how religion can be twisted to sanction brutality.
4. “Father Gaspard wasn’t a holy man.”
This simple yet powerful realization by the protagonist marks a turning point in his understanding of the Church’s leadership. It represents the chapter’s central theme of questioning religious authority and recognizing hypocrisy in supposedly sacred institutions.
5. “‘He never compels our hands to violence.’”
Achille’s rebuttal to Gaspard’s theology serves as the chapter’s moral thesis, directly challenging the justification of cruelty through religion. This quote encapsulates the fundamental conflict between compassion and fanaticism that runs through the narrative.