Chapter 2 - The Runaway Abbot Summary and Analysis

This chapter begins the actual biography of Thomas Aquinas. Its basic purpose is to depict the political and social background into which Thomas Aquinas was born, and to show, given his circumstances, the significance of his decision to join the Order of Preachers. The chapter begins with a lengthy description of Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor, who is used as a symbol for Europe as a whole. The discussion is then narrowed down to the Aquino family, which Chesterton also uses to represent the social situation of the time. The third and final part of this chapter is the story of Thomas' decision to enter into the Order of Preachers and the difficulties he faced in pursuing this vocation.

The chapter begins by explaining the family into which St. Thomas was born...