Clamence's Profession as Judge-Penitent

Clamence explains his new profession as a judge-penitent, which he practices at Mexico City. The method involves publicly confessing his own sins in great detail, constructing a portrait that is both himself and a mirror for his listener. By accusing himself, he gains the right to judge others, provoking them to confess their own guilt. This allows him to escape judgment by extending it to everyone, creating a democracy of guilt where he sits enthroned as the sole judge.