K Chesterton's 'The Man Who Was Thursday' a young detective believes himself to be in the presence of the six most evil men in Europe. However as the story progresses, confusion about which members of the secret council are anarchists and which are in fact policemen sets in and the line becomes blurred. The evil Syme once thought he faced simply isn't there as he struggles to determine friend from foe, a favorable circumstance compared to the six enemies he originally thought he had to face however. In contrast to pessimistic attitude his fellow officers display it is Syme's optimism that gets the job done. In this paper I will argue that the perceived evil presented by Chesterton in the form of Sunday, can only be thwarted by the noble qualities presented by Syme throughout his journey within the story. .
The first quality Syme displays is that of honor. As soon as he finds himself in the meeting with Gregory, he reveals his true identity. As shocked as Gregory is, they both swear not to turn each other in to their respective governing bodies. Syme is often tempted to break his promise and turn all the anarchists in to the police. He even wonders if he is really bound by, "a rash vow made to a villainous society" (Chesterton 65). However, the honor shown by Syme and his compatriots, really lies within a sense of trust and keeping ones word. So despite his initial thought to turn them in, he bites his tongue and eventually is rewarded for his patience. So when the opportunity presents itself, Syme believes that it is in being loyal to his virtues he would have the: "pride in keeping his word. It was his last triumph over these lunatics to go down into their dark room and die for something that they could not even understand" (69-70). Here in this instance Syme is mistaken however as they actually do possess the ability to understand it. Despite their dislike for society and its rules, even the anarchists hold honor sacred.