A Passage to India · Character

Mr. McBryde

The District Superintendent of Police, a reflective cynic whose courteous demeanor conceals a fatalistic theory that all Indians are born criminals.

supporting

Also known as McBryde, XVIII Mr. McBryde

First appearance: iv

As a supporting figure in A Passage to India, Mr. McBryde is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Fielding hopes to reason with McBryde, whom he considers sensible and cool-headed.

In the storyChapter XVIIOpen this moment free

See Mr. McBryde in Chapter XVII Book page

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McBryde is the most educated and self-aware of Chandrapore's officials, a man of unhappy marriage and settled pessimism who receives Aziz with unnerving gentleness. His philosophy, that climate determines character and natives south of latitude thirty cannot help themselves, lets him treat the accusation as inevitable rather than shocking. He becomes the instrument through which the novel's central charge is processed, and his calm certainty is more chilling than any bully's rage.

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See Mr. McBryde in iv

Character Web

22 connections

A slice of how Mr. McBryde sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Other

Character groups

Central trial figures
Protagonist

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

In this passage, the dramatic climax occurs when Adela Quested, having renounced her own people and been absor…

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In the story

Mr. McBryde appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Chapter XVII
Fielding hopes to reason with McBryde, whom he considers sensible and cool-headed.
XVIII
The District Superintendent of Police who detains Aziz and discusses the case with Fielding.
Chapter XXII
His wife bids Adela goodbye, representing the Anglo-Indian social circle that now envelops her.
XXIV
Prosecutes the case with contempt for the 'inferior race,' presenting evidence including the field-glasses and a plan of the caves.
XXVIII
Visits the reported tombs of Mrs. Moore and observes the beginnings of a cult; chooses not to irritate it.

Chapter companion notes

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See Mr. McBryde in iv

See Mr. McBryde in Chapter XVII