The Innocence of Father Brown

The Blue Cross relic that Father Brown guards in “The Blue Cross” is a symbol representing the beauty and endurance of Christianity. It is also a motif supporting The Psychological Approach to Solving Crimes. Hercule Flambeau intends to steal the relic for its monetary value, but Father Brown values the cross for its religious significance. His understanding of psychology prevents him from trusting Flambeau, and he leaves clues for the police to follow, understanding enough about the psychology of both criminals and detectives to predict their behavior. When Father Brown is explaining this to Flambeau, he tells him, “At every place we went to, I took care to do something that would get us talked about for the rest of the day. I didn’t do much harm—a splashed wall, split apples, a broken window; but I saved the cross, as the cross will always be saved. It is at Westminster by now” (14). With the sacred relic protected, Father Brown has done his duty to the Church.

In the short story “The Flying Stars,” the precious diamonds known as the “Flying Stars” are a motif supporting both