Show how the quote from the Queer Feet by GK Chesterton is an important element of the
structure and theme of Brideshead Revisited.
Khadijah-Amani Denton-Bennett
In Evelyn Waugh’s “Brideshead Revisited”, a quote from “The Queer Feet” is an important element of the
structure and theme of the book. Father Brown speaks this line after catching a criminal, hearing his
confession, and letting him go. Book Three of Brideshead Revisited is called, ‘A Twitch Upon the Thread’ and
the quotation acts as a metaphor for the operation of grace in the character’s lives. In this essay, I will explore
the different ways and techniques in which Waugh uses the quote as symbolism to contribute to the themes of
the novel and also why it is an element important to the structure of the book.
Throughout the entirety of the novel, most of the characters, especially within the Marchmain family, struggle
with Catholicism and staying grounded in their religion. The most devout and God-fearing member of the
family is Cordelia Flyte, the youngest child. Cordelia is described by Sebastian as “a fervent Catholic” as she is
passionate about her faith. The irony of Cordelia being the most pious in the family is that God wants people to
be like children and have childlike faith. This means listening and learning and loving instead of judging others,
which is what Cordelia does, unlike her brother Brideshead who tends to drive people away from the faith with
his theoretical rules and uptight personality. Waugh demonstrates through the use of characterisation that
although Cordelia is not a perfect catholic, she continues to love people and believes people will come to God
in their own time. Cordelia says, “But God won’t let them go for long, you know”, meaning that although many
people stray from God, even fewer will stay away as they will realise that they need God in their lives. Here,
Waugh introduces the notion of people being helpless without God and forced to turn back to him when things
get tough which is shown throughout the novel with characters such as Sebastian, Julia, and Charles. The first-
person narrative of the story means personalities and emotions are all presented as they are mirrored on
Charles’ mentality. The structure of the story allows for readers to follow the different walks of life that the
Flyte family go on.
In Book One, Et in Arcadia Ego, the quote from the story in Queer Feet is one Lady Marchmain had read years
before on the ‘bad evening’ during Charles and Sebastian’s days at Oxford. It reads, “I caught him (the thief)
with an unseen book and an invisible line which is long enough to let him wander to the ends of the world and
still to bring him back with a twitch upon a thread”. The quote is a metaphor for God as Cordelia knows that
only He can bring (them) back with a twitch upon the thread and ultimately ensure their salvation; God is able
to draw people back to Him even though they wander because of the operation of grace which is the most
prominent theme in the novel. Cordelia’s idea of grace through God is also linked with the structure and
conclusion of the novel. The first example of this is demonstrated through Cordelia’s brother, Sebastian, who
goes from being an alcoholic to later being recognised for his ‘holiness’ while staying in Morocco. Upon
Charles’ initial encounter of Sebastian, he is portrayed as childish when he carries around a teddy bear, called
Aloysius. Sebastian naturally grows out of Aloysius and turns to drink. Sebastian says, “Oh God, make me good
but not yet” which demonstrates a willingness to please his family and be accepted, but also a yearning to be
happy and carefree without burdens. Sebastian had always expressed how restricted he felt as a member of
the family, and especially as his mother’s son. He turns to alcohol constantly, trying to escape from the
responsibilities he faces on a daily basis. Sebastian, a child-like character, is burdened by the pressures his
family often place on him – he is able to relate well to his father (a ‘social leper’ due to the fact that he left his
wife and children for another woman) because his father also turned away from religion due to the
constrictions placed upon him. Et in Arcadia Ego translates to ‘Even in paradise, I am there'. Waugh shows that
Sebastian was only happy and felt secure in Book one when he was with his favourite person, Charles. Book
One demonstrates Sebastian’s yearning for love and understanding which links to the themes of the novel. The
structure is emphasised through the process of the characterisation and gradual progress the reader witnesses
through his character. The writer shows in this first book the characters' sin and pure indulgence overtaking
their lives as they are maturing and is the first element of structural importance.
Another example of how Waugh shows that the quote is an important element is through the characterisation
of Julia. In Book 2, “Brideshead Deserted”, Waugh introduces the reader to Rex, Julia’s lover, who we can infer
structure and theme of Brideshead Revisited.
Khadijah-Amani Denton-Bennett
In Evelyn Waugh’s “Brideshead Revisited”, a quote from “The Queer Feet” is an important element of the
structure and theme of the book. Father Brown speaks this line after catching a criminal, hearing his
confession, and letting him go. Book Three of Brideshead Revisited is called, ‘A Twitch Upon the Thread’ and
the quotation acts as a metaphor for the operation of grace in the character’s lives. In this essay, I will explore
the different ways and techniques in which Waugh uses the quote as symbolism to contribute to the themes of
the novel and also why it is an element important to the structure of the book.
Throughout the entirety of the novel, most of the characters, especially within the Marchmain family, struggle
with Catholicism and staying grounded in their religion. The most devout and God-fearing member of the
family is Cordelia Flyte, the youngest child. Cordelia is described by Sebastian as “a fervent Catholic” as she is
passionate about her faith. The irony of Cordelia being the most pious in the family is that God wants people to
be like children and have childlike faith. This means listening and learning and loving instead of judging others,
which is what Cordelia does, unlike her brother Brideshead who tends to drive people away from the faith with
his theoretical rules and uptight personality. Waugh demonstrates through the use of characterisation that
although Cordelia is not a perfect catholic, she continues to love people and believes people will come to God
in their own time. Cordelia says, “But God won’t let them go for long, you know”, meaning that although many
people stray from God, even fewer will stay away as they will realise that they need God in their lives. Here,
Waugh introduces the notion of people being helpless without God and forced to turn back to him when things
get tough which is shown throughout the novel with characters such as Sebastian, Julia, and Charles. The first-
person narrative of the story means personalities and emotions are all presented as they are mirrored on
Charles’ mentality. The structure of the story allows for readers to follow the different walks of life that the
Flyte family go on.
In Book One, Et in Arcadia Ego, the quote from the story in Queer Feet is one Lady Marchmain had read years
before on the ‘bad evening’ during Charles and Sebastian’s days at Oxford. It reads, “I caught him (the thief)
with an unseen book and an invisible line which is long enough to let him wander to the ends of the world and
still to bring him back with a twitch upon a thread”. The quote is a metaphor for God as Cordelia knows that
only He can bring (them) back with a twitch upon the thread and ultimately ensure their salvation; God is able
to draw people back to Him even though they wander because of the operation of grace which is the most
prominent theme in the novel. Cordelia’s idea of grace through God is also linked with the structure and
conclusion of the novel. The first example of this is demonstrated through Cordelia’s brother, Sebastian, who
goes from being an alcoholic to later being recognised for his ‘holiness’ while staying in Morocco. Upon
Charles’ initial encounter of Sebastian, he is portrayed as childish when he carries around a teddy bear, called
Aloysius. Sebastian naturally grows out of Aloysius and turns to drink. Sebastian says, “Oh God, make me good
but not yet” which demonstrates a willingness to please his family and be accepted, but also a yearning to be
happy and carefree without burdens. Sebastian had always expressed how restricted he felt as a member of
the family, and especially as his mother’s son. He turns to alcohol constantly, trying to escape from the
responsibilities he faces on a daily basis. Sebastian, a child-like character, is burdened by the pressures his
family often place on him – he is able to relate well to his father (a ‘social leper’ due to the fact that he left his
wife and children for another woman) because his father also turned away from religion due to the
constrictions placed upon him. Et in Arcadia Ego translates to ‘Even in paradise, I am there'. Waugh shows that
Sebastian was only happy and felt secure in Book one when he was with his favourite person, Charles. Book
One demonstrates Sebastian’s yearning for love and understanding which links to the themes of the novel. The
structure is emphasised through the process of the characterisation and gradual progress the reader witnesses
through his character. The writer shows in this first book the characters' sin and pure indulgence overtaking
their lives as they are maturing and is the first element of structural importance.
Another example of how Waugh shows that the quote is an important element is through the characterisation
of Julia. In Book 2, “Brideshead Deserted”, Waugh introduces the reader to Rex, Julia’s lover, who we can infer
