Essay Questions

Does Graham Greene use alcohol metaphorically to depict the catastrophic disposition blemish of the whiskey priest?

The author uses alcohol as a multifaceted sign in his novel to depict the flawed character of the priest. Alcohol is seen as an object that leads to sin despite being the one used in the sacrament ritual. People who use alcohol tend to be unstable in their thinking and they are easy to commit sin. The priest is portrayed as a sinful person because he is using alcohol. Perhaps, Graham Greene wants to paint a picture that an object or individual should be viewed from more than one perspective before a judgment is made. For instance, besides the alcohol being considered evil, the Catholic Church when performing the sacrament ritual also uses it. Therefore, as much as alcohol is blamed as an object leading to sin, it can also be described as an object used in holy places of worship.

Which theme is most prevalent in The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene?

The theme of sin and salvation is the most progressive in the novel. The whiskey priest is portrayed as evil because he uses alcohol, which many consider as a sin. The priest is struggling between guilt and his redemption. He is considered as an individual who has broken both the secular and the sacred law. Despite being a fallen man, his salvation is evident because at some point he was a committed man of God. The reader can conclude that the whiskey priest is a fallen soldier of belief. It is also evident from the novel that the fallen priest turned a revolutionist beyond political imagination a fact that crumbled his beliefs.

How does Graham Greene use the literary device irony in his literary work?

It is ironic that the priest of the Catholic Church who is supposed to be leading the flock to eternity is the one being searched by police for murder charges. The police are searching for the priest everywhere. According to the Lieutenant, the case before the priest is high treason. When the Lieutenant asks Captain Fellows about the whereabouts of the hiding priest, Captain inquires why he is looking for him. The officer says it is due to treason charges. Captain remains flabbergasted when he hears about the treason charges.