Transformation of Gabriel Syme Gabriel Syme, one of the undercover detectives in Chesterton's novel, The Man Who Was Thursday, has undergone a personal transition throughout the novel. His attitude, actions, and opinions (his entire self) changed from the beginning of the strange sequence of events to the end of his adventure. When Syme is first introduced, he has an arrogant quality, he is a self-centered nuisance, yet he transforms into a citizen who accepts that he knows almost nothing and is very humiliated. This transition is the decay of a mask. The conversion and decay of Syme's facade occurs throughout the novel, but most of his transition is due to the risks he is forced to take, the unanswered questions, and the realization that his knowledge is truly limited. plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an original essay The story opens in the park where Gregory and Syme first meet (ch. 1). Syme quickly irritates Gregory as they discuss order and chaos. Syme appreciates the order, even if he is stubborn on the subject. It is not his opinion or his examples (p 9-10) that bother Gregory, but Syme's childish interruptions here and there. These remarks are very reflective of his character, he is selfish, selfish, and the scene where he becomes "Thursday", one could even argue that he is delusional. Brought before the council with Gregory, he steals the "spotlight" and is inaugurated "Thursday". Blinded by his selfish thirst for adventure and thrills, he puts himself in a strange position; a president of anarchists, the very thing he disagrees with and is even working to stop. This is where his transformation begins. The fact that it is "Thursday" does not materialize until Syme goes to the hotel to meet the other days of the week. Slowly realizing he's in trouble. We see the first signs of the decay of his arrogant facade, as he becomes uncomfortable with the situation. As he contemplates snitching on the anarchists to a policeman from the balcony, he finds himself in a humiliating position, between the breaking of his promise and the president's intense gaze. This situation does not completely change Syme, it is this and the events that follow. As the anarchists resume discussion of their next act of destruction, the further decay of the arrogant and "omniscient" Syme is seen, and he is introduced to the humiliated patient. By acting and speaking like an anarchist it is natural for him to think like an anarchist to maintain his cover. In this meeting Syme is shaken, as he believes he is almost discovered. After the suspicion dissipated, Syme "slumped in his seat trembling, in passionate, paralytic relief." (Ch 6./p 66). This is not the same Syme we were introduced to. In less than 24 hours he accepted his position. He knows nothing, he is in constant danger and he accepts it. It can be assumed that the arrogant poet in the park was nothing more than a facade. At the anarchists' table Syme humiliates himself. His job is to survive and prevent the anarchists from reaching chaos, but it is through the ensuing chaos that Syme becomes even more himself. He is bound by a promise and the magnificent President, a man who forces Syme out of his omniscient shell. At the end of the novel the other days of the week are in the same situation as Syme. Everyone as they learn and experience more, realize they know less and are at peace with the chaos. They find order in chaos. Syme finds himself in chaos. The President/Sunday/the man in the dark room leads them on an extraordinary journey that answers everything and at the same time nothing. Please note: this is just an example. Get a document now.