Chapter Seven Summary

Rodrigues meets for a second time with the evil magistrate, Inoue. This time they discuss Christianity in a series of metaphors about a man with many wives. The interpreter seems to take pleasure in the conversation until Inoue admits that thirty years ago he used to consult with fathers and has never considered Christianity to be an evil religion.

Left alone in his cell Rodrigues once again contemplates the similarities between his own situation and that of Christ. As he traces the series of events leading up to Christ's crucifixion Rodrigues realizes that unlike the Savior, he has not had to suffer any physical pain. The priest then begins to wonder if Inoue has purposely ordered the guards to treat him well in order to affect a more terrific torture at a later time. Rodrigues resolves not to let their soft...