The Innocence of Father Brown

“Has it never struck you that a man who does next to nothing but hear men’s real sins is not likely to be wholly unaware of human evil?”

Father Brown explains that his role as a priest grants him access to other people’s secrets. As such, he is aware of The Duality of Human Nature. This awareness of human sin allows him to solve mysteries and save souls—two complementary roles in Father Brown’s career, as the criminals he apprehends often repent and reform after speaking with him. Flambeau, the criminal-turned-detective, is the clearest example of this pattern.

“He would do anything, anything, to break what he calls the superstition of the Cross.”

Father Brown explains that Aristide Valentin, while a good and honest man for most of his life, had developed an intense distaste for organized religion and especially for the Catholic Church. This led him to experience a feeling of betrayal when fellow skeptic Brayne considered converting to Catholicism, and he murdered Brayne to prevent him from donating part of his fortune to the Church. This shows The Duality of Human Nature, as Valentin’s hatred of religion led him to abandon his moral principles.

“A touch and a glance showed him that there was a small box of pills at Valentin’s elbow, and that Valentin was dead in his chair; and on the blind face of the one who committed suicide was more than the pride of Cato.”

The passage shows Valentin having died by suicide, unable to confront the consequences of having murdered Brayne. Valentin’s fate illustrates The Duality of Human Nature, as Valentin—a detective famed for his dedication to law and order—commits an act of extreme violence for the sake of his opposition to religion. This also is the last time Valentin appears in the Father Brown series.

“His head was always most valuable when he had lost it.”

As he writes in his study, Father Brown thinks about his logic and how he can reach correct conclusions in his investigations through eccentric means. This frustrates the Church at times, and it even frustrates him. However, this trait also helps him in this case, as his noticing of the footsteps helps him find and retrieve the silver from Flambeau.

“But He has made me a fisher of men.”

After retrieving the silver from Flambeau, Father Brown returns it to The Twelve True Fisherman club. As the club members sit at the table, Father Brown explains that while they fish literally, he fishes spiritually for the souls of men for salvation. This shows the complementary relationship between Father Brown’s two roles, as a priest and as a detective. His detective work is not only about bringing criminals to justice; it is also about bringing them back to God.

“They’re the three great African diamonds called ‘The Flying Stars,’ because they’ve been stolen so often.”

The Flying Stars appear as a motif supporting The Duality of Human Nature in this quote. Sir Fischer explains the origin of the stones’ names, which foreshadows Flambeau attempting to steal the diamonds as many other criminals have. It also shows that Flambeau’s attempted theft would be an important step in Father Brown getting the stones back and helping Flambeau reform by making him understand that continuing his life of thievery will end in long-term misery.

“But the first thing I find in that disused pocket is this: that men who mean to steal diamonds don’t talk Socialism. They are more likely to…denounce it.”

This quote from Father Brown shows his awareness of human nature and his reactionary politics. He equates socialism with theft, and for this reason, he believes that a thief would hide his association with socialism for fear of being found out. This quote supports The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality: Even as others believe that Crook has stolen the Flying Stars due to his socialist views, Father Brown realizes that the true culprit is the luxury-loving Flambeau.

“‘A mentally invisible man,’ said Father Brown.”

The quote by Father Brown establishes the reveal that Welkin made himself mentally invisible to hide his actions and appearance from others, showing The Psychological Approach to Solving Crimes. Father Brown’s understanding of the class system leads him to realize that the killer hides by posing as a mail carrier—someone whom others fail to see even when they are right beside them. He has made himself invisible by hiding in plain sight.

“Nobody ever notices postmen somehow…yet they have passions like other men, and even carry large bags where a small corpse can be stowed quite easily.”

The quote by Father Brown shows him spotting Welkin passing them while disguised as a mail carrier. The statement that “they have passions like other men” demonstrates The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality. Class hierarchy makes these men invisible—they are viewed in terms of their job function rather than their humanity. This observation makes Welkin panic, leading to his capture by the police.

“As green sap to the simmer trees

Is red gold to the Ogilvies.”

The rhyme from the countryside near Castle Glengyle is recited at the beginning of the story and foreshadows the true nature of the Ogilvies and Glengyles managing their money by not only seeking money but also protecting it. This foreshadows the reveal of Gow as Glengyle’s heir and his work as an heir hoarding and protecting the wealth by taking a gold tooth from Glengyle’s skull. This mundane explanation contrasts with the demonic activities that Father Brown initially suspected, illustrating The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality.

“It will be all right. He will put the skull back in the grave—when he has taken the gold out of the tooth.”

Father Brown’s statement to Flambeau shows that he understands now that Gow’s work in managing Glengyle’s inventory is not any demonic worship or black magic work but the inherited work of salvaging the family’s wealth. This supports The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality. This quote is supported at the end of the story with Flambeau seeing Gow putting Glengyle’s skull back with the skeleton in the grave.

“I loved Quinton’s wife. What was wrong with that?”

Dr. Harris’s letter to Father Brown, in which he confesses to the murder of Quinton, shows that his sinful nature has caused him to distance his logic from his empathy. As a result, he does not understand why there is anything wrong with wanting another man’s wife or murdering the man, seeing it only from an objective, internally logical perspective. This changes after the murder as he confronts an inexplicable guilt at what he has done, showing The Duality of Human Nature.

“I felt just as if I had done something wrong.”

Dr. Harris’s assertion that he has begun to experience remorse for murdering Quinton shows that his conscience is returning, and he is forced to confront the reality of his decision. This shows The Duality of Human Nature, with him thinking about morality and other human lives for the first time. Due to his logic and empathy being separated, he finds it hard to understand why he feels guilty.

“Very few reputations are gained by unsullied virtue.”

Flambeau’s quote to Prince Saradine is something he says to remove any sort of offense or suspicion during their conversation. It also shows that, as a former criminal, he understands that many well-known people have done things of which they are not proud. This shows The Duality of Human Nature.

“Evil spirits like Saradine often blunder by never expecting the virtues of mankind.”

Following Stephen Saradine’s murder, Antonelli’s arrest, and the reveal of Mr. Paul as the true Prince Saradine, Father Brown asserts that Prince Saradine’s mistakes come from his inability to understand virtue and human values. This is evident since Prince Saradine’s lack of understanding has led to Antonelli finding Stephen disguised as him and killing him in a duel. This shows the value of The Psychological Approach to Solving Crimes.

“He thought it was given to him to judge the world and strike down the sinner.”

Father Brown tells the story of a man he once knew who, like Reverend Wilfred Bohun, sought to take God’s vengeance on the wicked and act as the moral judge. He tells him this to get him to confess and to show that he knows what Wilfred did. This unusual mode of interrogation highlights The Psychological Approach to Solving Crimes, as it shows that men’s desire to take vengeance, even for divine good, can be, and often is, harmful.

“Then something snapped in your soul, and you let God’s thunderbolt fall.”

Father Brown details how Wilfred murdered his brother, using the hammer as a “Hammer of God” to strike his sinful brother and bring God’s justice to him early. This establishes the hammer of God as a symbol of God’s divine, righteous wrath against the wicked and a motif supporting both The Exploration of Human Nature and Morality and The Role of Religion and Ethics in Understanding and Solving Crimes. This confrontation eventually pushes the remorseful and mostly moral Wilfred to confess.

“Let Cain pass by, for he belongs to God.”

As Kalon leaves in a rage after Joan thwarts his plans to take Pauline’s inheritance, Father Brown says this to Flambeau when he asks if he should go after him. Father Brown uses this biblical quote and reference to show that he is leaving Kalon in God’s hands. It also shows that he believes that God and the law will hold him accountable, supporting The Role of Religion and Ethics in Understanding and Solving Crimes.

“These pagan stoics…always fail by their strength.”

Father Brown’s quote shows his association of reason with the Catholic Church as a priest. Seeing the lack of reason in Kalon’s sun-worshipping cult, Father Brown became aware of his responsibility in Pauline’s death immediately and knew that his cult was dangerous and insidious. This shows The Role of Religion and Ethics in Understanding and Solving Crimes.

“Of course, he found in the Old Testament anything that he wanted—lust, tyranny, treason.”

Father Brown explains to Flambeau that while Sir Arthur St. Clare is celebrated as a British war hero, he was guilty of many atrocities and human rights violations, showing that St. Clare’s death by hanging was warranted. The stark disparity between St. Clare’s public reputation and his real biography shows The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality.

“If it were only that St. Clare was wrongly praised, I would be silent. And I will.”

Though Flambeau now has a distaste for St. Clare upon learning how horrible of a person he was, Father Brown tells him that his mark on England will not disappear anytime soon. Though he understands the horrible nature of St. Clare in his life, Father Brown knows that Olivier is revered everywhere else in the world and that God will judge St. Clare for his wrongdoings. For this reason, Father Brown is able to make peace with the whitewashing of St. Clare’s life, showing his understanding of human complexity and supporting The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality.

“People like laughter…but I don’t think they like a permanent smile. Cheerfulness without humor is a very trying thing.”

Father Brown’s consideration of why Armstrong might have been killed despite his cheerfulness shows the value of The Psychological Approach to Solving Crimes. Father Brown’s psychological insight tells him that no one can be cheerful all the time, and he realizes that Armstrong’s enforced cheerfulness cut him off from his true emotions and led to depression.

“But I can’t help sometimes feeling that men like Armstrong want an occasional glass of wine to sadden them.”

Father Brown’s assertion foreshadows his reveal that Armstrong’s distance from his emotions led him to relapse so that he could feel his other emotions. This highlights The Exploration of Human Nature and Morality and The Contrast Between Appearance and Reality.