# Arcade — The Revolt of the Angels character guide > Arcade in The Revolt of the Angels by Anatole France. **Role:** major **Also known as:** Monsieur Arcade, the kindly Arcade, dear Arcade, young Arcade, the handsome Arcade **First appearance:** 0000-i ## Snapshot Maurice's guardian angel, who trades celestial duty for freethinking rebellion and sets out to reignite Lucifer's ancient war against Heaven. ## Who they are Arcade begins as the dutiful guardian of young Maurice d'Esparvieu, but long hours in the family's library have led him to study theology, cosmogony, and natural philosophy — and to conclude that the God he served is an ignorant, cruel tyrant. He abandons his post, recruits disaffected angels across Paris, and dreams of renewing Lucifer's revolt, though his old comrade Théophile Belais, fallen for love of a music-hall singer, wants no part of it. His fervor and his willingness to argue theology with anyone make him the engine of the book's central rebellion. ## Relationships ### [Madame de la Verdelière](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/madame_de_la_verdelier) _social_ Arcade interacts with Madame de la Verdelière as a guest and acquaintance in her social circle. ### [Théophile Belais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/theophile_belais) _friendship_ Arcade befriends Théophile Belais, a scholarly and eccentric book collector who shares his rebellious ideas. ### [Zita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/zita) _friendship_ Arcade allies with Zita, a fellow fallen angel, as a co-conspirator in the rebellion against heaven. ### [Prince Istar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/prince_istar) _friendship_ Arcade teams up with Prince Istar, a powerful fallen angel, as a key ally in the celestial revolt. ### [Ialdabaoth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/ialdabaoth) _rivalry_ Arcade opposes Ialdabaoth, the demiurge and false god, as the primary antagonist of the rebellion. ### [Zita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/zita) _friendship_ Arcade allies with Zita, a fellow fallen angel, as a co-conspirator in the rebellion against heaven. ### [Madame de la Verdelière](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/madame_de_la_verdelier) _social_ Arcade interacts with Madame de la Verdelière as a guest and acquaintance in her social circle. ### [Théophile Belais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/theophile_belais) _friendship_ Arcade befriends Théophile Belais, a scholarly and eccentric book collector who shares his rebellious ideas. ### [Ialdabaoth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/ialdabaoth) _rivalry_ Arcade opposes Ialdabaoth, the demiurge and false god, as the primary antagonist of the rebellion. ### [Zita](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/zita) _friendship_ Arcade allies with Zita, a fellow fallen angel, as a co-conspirator in the rebellion against heaven. ### [Prince Istar](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/prince_istar) _friendship_ Arcade teams up with Prince Istar, a powerful fallen angel, as a key ally in the celestial revolt. ### [Théophile Belais](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/theophile_belais) _friendship_ Arcade befriends Théophile Belais, a scholarly and eccentric book collector who shares his rebellious ideas. ## In the story ### [The Angel's Confession](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/x) Reveals himself as a fallen angel who has lost his faith through study; declares his plan to rebel against Ialdabaoth. ### [XI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xi) The angel, now in human form, explains his celestial origin and departs from Maurice. ### [XII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xii) Seeks to organize a new revolt against Ialdabaoth; meets with Théophile and later searches for rebel angels in a restaurant. ### [XIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xiii) Maurice's guardian angel, now a revolutionary, shares his plans for rebellion with Zita. ### [XIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xiv) Newly incarnated, stays with Istar, works as a printer, struggles with earthly desires and the disdain of faithful angels. ### [Chapter XV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xv) Observes the suffering city from Montmartre with Zita, having left Maurice to pursue the rebellion. ### [XVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xvii) Works at a printer's and lives in an attic; conducts propaganda among guardian angels, winning 50,000 to revolt; seeks funds from Max Everdingen. ### [XVIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xviii) Present in the arbor, listening to Nectaire's story. ### [XIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xix) Arcade is the listener to Nectaire's story, addressed directly as 'dear Arcade'. ### [Chapter XXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxiii) Maurice is still seeking his guardian angel, but Arcade does not appear in this chapter. ### [XXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxv) Reveals his revolutionary stance against Ialdabaoth and explains he can no longer be a guardian angel. ### [The Conclave](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxvi) Convokes the conclave and delivers a fiery speech denouncing Ialdabaoth and advocating for revolt. ### [XXVII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxvii) Discusses the limits of rebellion with Zita, argues with Maurice about morality, and is moved to a safe flat by Maurice. ### [Chapter XXIX](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxix) Begins an affair with Gilberte, is confronted by Maurice, and refuses the duel citing his invulnerability. ### [The Wounded Angel and the Skeptical World](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxx) Reveals his atheism and rebellion, defends angelic love, and reconciles with Maurice. ### [XXXII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxxii) Drives away Madame de la Verdelière with a crude analogy; enjoys an outing with Maurice and Gilberte; is rebuked by Zita for his dalliance; attends the revolutionary meeting. ### [XXXIII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxxiii) Discusses Thrones and Dominations with Zita, fights the bakers, and later debates with Maurice about the murder. ### [XXXIV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxxiv) Defends his education in Heaven; prepares to leave Earth for the rebellion, embracing Maurice before departure. ### [XXXV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/chapters/xxxv) Smiles at Satan's proclamation of being a triune god and is driven from his presence. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters/arcade - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/the_revolt_of_the_angels_se/characters