Brother Eduardo Diaz: The Hypocritical Monk Leading Monsters in The Devils

Overview

Brother Eduardo Diaz is a central protagonist in Joe Abercrombie’s The Devils—a cowardly, ambitious monk who stumbles into the role of vicar for the secret Chapel of the Holy Expediency. Tasked with leading a band of literal monsters on a holy mission, Diaz embodies religious hypocrisy and moral compromise from his very first scene. He never wanted to be a monk; his mother forced him into the Church to spare his family embarrassment. Yet he dreams of status, comfort, and recognition. By the end of the novel, Diaz has broken his vows, faced mortal danger, and begun to question whether the devils he commands might actually be tools of divine will. This character analysis traces his journey from a self-interested bureaucrat to a reluctant leader forced to confront his own flawed morality.

Plot Role and Significance

Diaz serves as the reader’s entry point into the satirical world of Abercrombie’s Church. He is introduced in Chapter 1 as a latecomer to an audience with the Pope, trapped in a carriage amid the chaos of the Holy City. His petty bribes and prayers to Saint Beatrix establish his shallow faith. Rather than meeting the Pope, he is redirected to Cardinal Zizka, who appoints him vicar of the Thirteenth Chapel—a branch that uses morally questionable methods to fight supernatural threats. From that point, Diaz becomes the reluctant leader of a team including a vampire, an elf, a werewolf, and a sorcerer. He must navigate their dangerous personalities while trying to preserve his own skin and advance his career. His role highlights the novel’s central tension: the gap between the Church’s righteous ideals and its pragmatic, often corrupt, operations.

Motivations and Traits Shown Through Actions

Ambition and hypocrisy define Diaz early on. He inflated his administrative achievements to secure a better post, and his first thought upon being summoned is advancement. In Chapter 1, he prays fervently only when danger strikes, revealing that his piety is performance. At the monastery, he weeded herb gardens and reorganized books, never confronting real evil. When Cardinal Zizka reveals the threats of demons and elves, Diaz tries to back out, claiming his specialty is “bureaucracy.” Yet he quickly accepts when it becomes clear refusal is impossible, telling Zizka he will “do good” (Chapter 3).

Cowardice and self-preservation drive many of his actions. In Chapter 5, he is almost ensorcelled by Baron Rikard the vampire, stepping too close to the cage until Jakob warns him. He feels dizzy and regrets leaving his quiet monastery. During the siege at the inn (Chapter 9), he prays hysterically, clutching the blood of Saint Beatrix, but his prayers die on his lips as monsters breach the wall. Later, he tries to keep his identity secret when traveling under the alias “Brother Lopez,” but his lies easily unravel when Bishop Apollonia exposes him.

Desire for approval and comfort remains constant. He admires Bishop Apollonia’s humble smile and wants to emulate her. He dreams of a comfortable living in a sunny place. His affair with Vigga, the werewolf, reveals his lust and weakness (Chapter 47). After breaking his vows, he chases after Princess Alexia to apologize, but his excuses are hollow. He admits he “never really wanted to be a monk.” This honesty is a rare moment of self-awareness.

Chronological Arc of Development

Diaz’s arc moves from naive ambition through shock, reluctant compliance, to a fragile awakening of conscience.

Chapter 1: Diaz is arrogant yet panicky, trying to manipulate his way into a papal audience. He ends the chapter physically thrown forward by a thud, symbolizing his loss of control.
Chapter 3: He meets Zizka and is appointed vicar. He protests his unsuitability but accepts, marking his first step into moral compromise.
Chapter 5: Visiting the dungeon, he meets his monstrous flock. He is horrified yet fascinated, nearly falling to the vampire’s charm. He learns his predecessor died “as fuck,” which terrifies him.
Chapter 9: During the attack on the inn, Diaz prays desperately but fails to save anyone. The violence shatters his illusions about faith’s power.
Chapter 19: While traveling, Diaz struggles with his desires as Vigga flaunts her sexuality. His hypocrisy is exposed when he tries to shame her while feeling jealousy and arousal.
Chapter 47: He sleeps with Vigga in a chapel, breaking his vows. Alex catches him, and he can’t explain. This is his lowest moral point, but it forces him to confront his identity.
Chapter 57: In Troy’s Athenaeum, Diaz witnesses the remnants of Empress Eudoxia’s experiments. He reflects on his own flaws and tells Lady Severa they must “do better.” This shows his first genuine attempt at reform.
Chapter 71: In the final chapel scene, Diaz talks with Alex about whether saints or devils saved her. He suggests the devils may have been chosen by Saint Beatrix, indicating a shift toward pragmatic acceptance. He is now leading the group more confidently.
Chapter 72: Mother Beckert arrives, representing a principled alternative. Diaz is absent from this chapter, but his path is contrasted: he has become complicit in the Church’s dark methods.

Key Relationships

Cardinal Zizka: She is Diaz’s mentor and manipulator. She sees his ambition and uses it, assigning him the dangerous post. He fears and respects her, but she treats him as a disposable tool.
Jakob of Thorn: The scarred Knight Templar is a voice of grim experience. He repeatedly pulls Diaz back from danger (e.g., in Chapter 5, Chapter 9). Diaz relies on him but finds his severity unsettling.
Baptiste: A flamboyant lay minister, Baptiste is both ally and foil. She is comfortable with moral ambiguity, while Diaz is not. Her cheerful cynicism unsettles him.
Princess Alexia (Alex): Diaz forms an uneasy bond with her. He tries to protect her, but his hypocrisy makes him a poor moral authority. Her sharp words in Chapter 47 (“I’m a thief, what’s my forgiveness worth?”) force him to see his own emptiness.
Vigga the Werewolf: Diaz’s affair with Vigga reveals his repressed desires. Despite her monstrous nature, he finds her attractive. She shows him that good and evil are not cleanly divided.
Sunny the Elf: Diaz is initially terrified of Sunny, but she becomes a quiet observer. Her presence challenges his prejudices.
Balthazar the Sorcerer: The naked magician represents raw arcane power. Diaz is repulsed yet oddly fascinated.
Baron Rikard: The vampire nearly ensorcels Diaz, teaching him that charm can be as dangerous as fangs.

Key Decisions and Consequences

Accepting the vicar position: Diaz had little choice, but he could have tried to flee. Instead, he rationalizes it as a path to advancement. Consequence: He becomes complicit in the Church’s dark operations, leading a team he can barely control.
Participating in the siege defense: Rather than running, he stays with the group. Consequence: He survives only because Jakob and others protect him. This decision bonds him to the team but also traumatizes him.
Using the alias “Brother Lopez”: He tries to hide his identity from Bishop Apollonia, hoping to maintain a clean reputation. Consequence: The bishop exposes him, forcing the group to flee. This costs them a safe ally and nearly costs Alex her freedom.
Sleeping with Vigga: In a moment of weakness, he breaks his chastity vows. Consequence: His hypocrisy is laid bare before Alex; he loses moral credibility. Yet it pushes him toward greater self-honesty.
Continuing the mission after Troy: Even after seeing the horror of Eudoxia’s experiments, he chooses to proceed with the task. Consequence: He embraces the pragmatism of the Holy Expediency, a decision that may ultimately corrupt his soul.

Connections to Major Themes

Religious Hypocrisy and Moral Compromise: Diaz is the novel’s prime example. He prays for help but lacks true faith; he preaches virtue while breaking vows. As Cardinal Zizka says, “To fight devils, one must use devils” (Chapter 3). Diaz realizes this firsthand.
Identity and Deception: Diaz spends much of the story pretending to be what he is not: a holy monk, a capable leader, a man named Lopez. His false identities crumble, forcing him to face his true self.
Survival and Pragmatism: Diaz’s overriding instinct is survival. He adapts to each crisis by bending his morals, showing that pragmatism often trumps principle.
Redemption and Guilt: After his affair, Diaz feels genuine guilt but doesn’t know how to atone. His final suggestion that the devils might be heaven-sent is both a rationalization and a step toward accepting his role.
Power and Corruption: The Church’s hierarchical power—embodied by Zizka and the Pope—uses Diaz as a pawn. His desire for power makes him vulnerable to corruption.

5 Book-Specific Questions and Answers

1. Why does Brother Diaz pray to Saint Beatrix in Chapter 1? Diaz prays to Saint Beatrix because his carriage is stuck in a chaotic crowd and he is late for his audience. He treats prayer as a transactional tool, hoping for immediate help. This demonstrates his shallow faith—only turning to heaven when it serves his ambition.

2. What does Cardinal Zizka mean when she says “You see it” in Chapter 3? After Diaz realizes that fighting devils requires using devils, Zizka quotes him back. She means that Diaz has grasped the core philosophy of the Chapel of the Holy Expediency: the Church must sometimes employ evil means to achieve good ends. This confirms his appointment as vicar.

3. How does Diaz almost get himself killed by Baron Rikard in Chapter 5? Diaz steps close to the vampire’s cage, charmed by Rikard’s cultured voice and the promise of friendship. The baron attempts to ensorcel him into reaching through the bars to be bitten. Jakob stops Diaz just in time. This shows Diaz’s naïve susceptibility to manipulation.

4. What is the significance of Diaz’s affair with Vigga taking place in a chapel (Chapter 47)? The location underscores Diaz’s hypocrisy. He breaks his chastity vow on sacred ground, in a place meant for prayer. When Alex catches him, he can offer no explanation, symbolizing his complete moral failure. Yet it also strips away his pretenses, making him realize he is “the pretence of a monk.”

5. Why does Diaz tell Alex in Chapter 71 that the devils may have been chosen by Saint Beatrix? Diaz is offering a theological rationalization for the Holy Expediency’s methods. By suggesting that even monstrous tools can be agents of divine will, he justifies his own role leading monsters. It also reflects his evolving belief that good and evil are not as distinct as he once thought.