In his work, Gide intricately weaves a narrative that juxtaposes the worlds of fools and sophisticates, while simultaneously exploring the tension between religion and science. He delves into the dichotomies of conventional morality versus immorality, and reality versus illusion. Through a skeptical lens, Gide examines religious fervor, using it as a metaphor for human irrationality. The character of Anthime embodies this internal conflict, oscillating between extreme scientific rationalism and religious fanaticism. As a scientist, Anthime displays cruelty, yet his devotion to Catholicism leads to self-denial. His zeal in both realms, science and religion, is portrayed as excessive, highlighting Gide's suspicion of science, rooted in the belief that intelligence, devoid of moral guidance, is inherently questionable.

In the labyrinthine interplay between reality and illusion, characters like Julius, Lafcadio, and Protos each wield deception and intelligence in distinctive ways. Julius is ensnared by his propensity to confuse appearance with reality, a common pitfall for the unwary. Conversely, Lafcadio, armed with sharp wit, treats intelligence as a weapon. He imagines himself beyond the bounds of conventional morality, a self-styled superman who navigates the complexities of life with an air of superiority.

Meanwhile, Protos, a figure who straddles the line between mischievousness and malevolence, orchestrates an elaborate charade that preys on gullibility. In Gide’s universe, absolute evil is a rarity, yet Protos flirts with its borders by spreading the outrageous fiction that the Pope has been abducted by Freemasons and other scoundrels. His art of disguise is so masterful that he cloaks reality, leaving only the illusion for the world to see and believe.

Through his cunning schemes, Protos manipulates the unsuspecting Amedee and bamboozles others, demonstrating how easily reality can be distorted. In this intricate dance of truth and deceit, the boundaries between what is real and what is fabricated blur, leaving one to ponder the complex dynamics of perception and the artifice of belief.

Within Gide's intricate universe of uncertain ethical decisions, traditional religion fails to provide reliable guidance. Each individual stands alone, navigating a landscape where one might easily find themselves as either the deceived or the deceiver. This moral ambivalence places everyone on a precarious moral tightrope, with every person potentially serving as either prey or predator. It is a world where the lines between right and wrong blur, leaving individuals to forge their own paths without the certainty of established doctrines to light the way.