Chapter 16 Of The Inquisitor's Tale By Adam Gidwitz

Through chapter 16 of “The Inquisitor's Tale” by Adam Gidwitz, From the monk's perspective, Michelangelo is higher on the hierarchy than the rest of them. The narrator of this chapter is a Companion of the king named Joinville. In this chapter, Michelangelo brings the kids and Gwenforte to an abbey where he knows the monks, who are called Grandmontines. Meanwhile, Joinville examines how silent the abbey is and later explains, “The monks there are silent. Always. Only the abbot may speak, and then only to distinguished guests.” This shows that Michelangelo is important and distinguished. No matter whom he brings to the abbey, The Grandmontines still regard them as well. The reader can see this from the monk who welcomes them and that he thinks very highly of Michelangelo. Joinville clarifies,

Although he responds by tilting his head, titling is still a less dramatic action. From this, we can tell that he has more power than the monk which is why he doesn’t bow all the way. This small moment further supports how Michelangelo is higher on the hierarchy than the other monks. When the monk invites them inside the abbey, he stares in confusion and wonders what a peasant, giant Saracen, girl peasant, and dog are doing in an abbey. “His eyes went wider and wider as they passed from Jacob, who was dressed like a peasant, to William, who looked like no monk the Grandmontine had ever seen, to Jeanne, who was not just a peasant, but a girl, and finally to Gwenforte, who was, it will be remembered, a dog.” An interesting part of this quote is the order that the Grandmontine notices the kids. First, he notices the peasant, since he seems the most normal as he is a white boy. White at the time was the standard and so was being a male. Males were considered the breadwinners and the most important people in the family unit in that time