# Inspector Ratcliffe — The Man Who Was Thursday character guide

> Inspector Ratcliffe in The Man Who Was Thursday by G. K. Chesterton.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Ratcliffe, the gloomy Ratcliffe

**First appearance:** 0005-iv-the-tale-of-a-detective

## Snapshot

A gloomy detective posing as an anarchist secretary, whose crooked smile and morbid eyes made him a natural choice for the role.

## Who they are

Ratcliffe is the Secretary of the council, a man who admits he looked the part of a conspirator from the first. His gloom contrasts sharply with Bull's optimism, and he speaks of Sunday with a knowledge that borders on dread. As the detectives reunite to confront their enigmatic president, Ratcliffe's strained voice and haunted recollections underscore the psychological toll of their deception.

## Relationships

### [Gabriel Syme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/characters/gabriel_syme)

_professional_

Syme and Inspector Ratcliffe are colleagues in the police force, working together on the case.

### [Gabriel Syme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/characters/gabriel_syme)

_professional_

Syme and Inspector Ratcliffe are colleagues in the police force, working together on the case.

### [Gabriel Syme](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/characters/gabriel_syme)

_professional_

Syme and Inspector Ratcliffe are colleagues in the police force, working together on the case.

## In the story

### [X: The Duel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/chapters/x-the-duel)

Ratcliffe warns against making noise, fearing Sunday may hear. He delivers a passionate speech revealing that Sunday controlled the entire anarchist movement and set the detectives against each other.

### [XI: The Criminals Chase the Police](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/chapters/xi-the-criminals-chase-the-police)

Takes charge of the group, advises flight, and explains that Sunday's anarchist network is composed of wealthy millionaires, not the poor.

### [XII: The Earth in Anarchy](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/chapters/xii-the-earth-in-anarchy)

Remarks that everyone is becoming an anarchist and later expresses hopelessness, stating they will all be dead soon.

### [The Pursuit of the President](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/chapters/xiii-the-pursuit-of-the-president)

Gloomy about Sunday's motives; receives a cryptic note during the chase.

### [The Six Philosophers](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/chapters/xiv-the-six-philosophers)

Ratcliffe offers a more mundane view of Sunday, noting his absentmindedness and comparing him to an absentminded tiger in a forest.

### [XV: The Accuser](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/chapters/xv-the-accuser)

Ratcliffe is clad in spring green with a pattern of trees, representing the third day of Creation. He joins the others on the terrace.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/characters/inspector_ratcliffe
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_man_who_was_thursday_se/characters