Mr. McBryde Character Analysis in A Passage to India

The superintendent of police, who has his own theory that India’s climate makes Indians behave criminally. He is generally more tolerant than most of the English at Chandrapore, but still generally assumes the superiority of the English and isn’t much inclined to investigate the case against Aziz, instead assuming there isn’t any way that Aziz won’t be found guilty. Later, McBryde is caught having an affair with Miss Derek.

Mr. McBryde Character Timeline in A Passage to India

The timeline below shows where the character Mr. McBryde appears in A Passage to India. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.

...to dinner with Miss Derek (an English employee of a local Indian ruler) and the McBrydes (the superintendent of police and his wife). They eat traditional English food, “the food of... (full context)

Mr. McBryde, the superintendent of police in Chandrapore, is more educated and open-minded than his colleagues, and... (full context)

Fielding arrives and McBryde gives him all the details of the case. Adela claimed that Aziz followed her into... (full context)

McBryde says that Miss Derek has also given her account – she was looking for the... (full context)

Fielding asks to see Adela, but McBryde says she is too upset and sick. Fielding states his theory that Adela is somehow... (full context)

...Adela again, hoping to clear things up before the situation gets out of control, but McBryde says that the decision is up to Major Callendar. He calls Callendar, who automatically refuses... (full context)

McBryde tries to reach out to Fielding, warning him to “toe the line” and not let... (full context)

Hamidullah is waiting outside McBryde’s office, and Fielding runs into him as he exits. Fielding is emotional about the case,... (full context)

Adela stays bedridden at the McBrydes’ bungalow for several days. She has been sunburned and had hundreds of cactus spines embedded... (full context)

...Adela’s fever breaks and the cactus spines are all removed, Ronny fetches her from the McBrydes’. Adela learns that there was nearly a riot during the Mohurram festival, when a procession... (full context)

McBryde gives Adela a letter she received from Fielding, which he has already opened. McBryde explains... (full context)

Adela says goodbye to Miss Derek and Mrs. McBryde, and Ronny drives her to his bungalow. Adela is excited to see Mrs. Moore, but... (full context)

The trial begins, and McBryde opens the case for the prosecution. He doesn’t bother being eloquent, as he assumes that... (full context)

McBryde continues with his evidence, arguing that Aziz “duped” many people beforehand, including Fielding, the servant... (full context)

...she tells her friends that she is feeling stronger and more sure of herself. Amritrao, McBryde, and Das discuss Mahmoud Ali’s departure, and soon quiet is restored to the courtroom. Adela... (full context)

McBryde questions Adela, and she retreads all her steps of that day, feeling like she is... (full context)

...memories, and she cannot locate Aziz in the picture. She stammers that she is unsure. McBryde tries to direct her towards the assumed answer—that Aziz did indeed follow her—but then Adela... (full context)

The courtroom erupts into a frenzy. McBryde is enraged, while Mrs. Turton yells that no one is safe, and then screams insults... (full context)

Fielding explains that he thinks Adela’s hallucination was dispelled in court by re-visualizing the incident—that McBryde’s questioning somehow “exorcised” her. This brings up the subject of ghosts, which Fielding sharply says... (full context)

...Fielding at the station when he returns, and brings up the subject by mentioning that McBryde and Miss Derek had been caught having an affair. Aziz jokes that McBryde will surely... (full context)