Summary Of The Power And The Glory English Literature Essay

Summary Of The Power And The Glory English Literature maskI am a poorly non-Christian priest and a regretful man (Greene 126). In Graham Greenes The Power and the Glory, the main character, an unidentified priest, admits that he is a bragging(a) priest. The reader first encounters the priest when the priest is waiting for a boat to Vera Cruz because he is on the run from the police. The novel takes place during a time when the state is trying to eliminate Catholicism. At first, the priest expects equivalent a devoted Catholic who is just trying to spread his faith and help others. However, the priest does not set out the greatest example for bronco buster Catholics in fact, Greene some times even refers to him as a whiskey priest. He spends a lot of time in a state of self-pity. He examines his decisions and actions and realizes that he is in a state of mortal infract however, he does nothing to change his situation. Not only does he have an alcoholic drink addiction, a lone he also commits adultery. By the end of the novel the priest grows in his own relationship with God however, he does not set a good luxuriant example for other Catholics. A priest should sieve to give guidance and assistance to others, especially during a time when politics are trying to eradicate religion. Although the priest seems to grow strongly in his faith by the end of the novel, he exemplifies a bad priest.throughout the novel, the priest admits to himself and others that he has committed grave sins however, he does not render to correct his mistakes. Early on, Graham Greene reveals that the priest commits adultery about sextuplet years prior to the novels setting. This grave sin results in Brigitta, the priests illegitimate young lady. When referring to his act of adultery he admits that fear and despair and half a store of brandy and the sense of loneliness had driven him to an act which horrified him (Greene 66). Although he knows he has done misuse, the pri est cannot stop thinking about his illegitimate daughter all through the novel. When his execution is imminent, he finds that he cannot aby for this sin. In addition, his love for his daughter leaves him incapable of praying for anyone else, but in the moment of collection he switched back to his childand he knew it was for her only that he prayed (Greene 208). His sin distracts him from his priestly duties, and he is unable to ask for presumptioness. The priest also has a very noticeable drinking problem in fact, other characters sometimes refer to him as the whiskey priest. He frequently carries a feeding bottle of brandy while he is on the run from the authorities. When he must neglect a boat to Vera Cruz to help a son and his mother, he says, pass around me the brandy, and then he takes a long pull at it (Greene 17). The priest drinks a substantial amount of brandy before tending to a anxious(p) woman. It seems that he needs alcohol to help him continue his priestly duties a priest should not need alcohol to help him follow his duties. He continues to drink excessively, even on the day before the authorities act him without thinking what he is doing, he takes another drink of brandy (Greene 207). The priest realizes that he has a drinking problem however, he does not attempt to name it, and he continues drinking until the morning of his execution. A whiskey priest that cannot repent for committing adultery is not a good priest.When the priest performs a good deed, he usually does so with reluctance he acts as though someone is forcing him to carry out a good deed. When a boy asks the priest to help his dying mother, he does not want to go, but he gets up as though unwillingly he has been summoned to an occasion he cannot pass by (Greene 16). Reluctantly, as if he has no choice, the priest agrees to stick to the boy back to his house. As he leaves he says, It always seems to happen. standardised this this implies that he always seems to get pulled back to his priestly duties unwillingly (Greene 16). The rallying cry always indicates that the priest has responded to a similar situation in the same manner. It is good that the priest ultimately decides to help the boy however, it does not seem very priest- identical to be so reluctant when a situation like this occurs. The whiskey priest sometimes finds himself thinking that he has made the wrong decision in becoming a fugitive. At times, he thinks that it whitethorn have been more beneficial to follow sire Joses example and cease to the states demands. Near the end of the book, when the lieutenant captures him, the priest begins to think about the nuisance that is in store for him, and wonders if it is too late for him to renounce his priesthood like Padre Jose. He mulls over the fact that the authorities have not given him a chance to renounce his faith perhaps if he suggested it himself, he would escape yet (Greene 209). The priest regrets refusing the states conditions regarding his faith. It is good that the priest evades hold up and attempts to help people however, he does so reluctantly, which gives the impression that he takes no joy in helping others if it is inconvenient for him.Regardless of the spiritual realizations that the unnamed priest has, his actions and decisions indicate that he is a bad priest. He sets a bad example for anyone that seeks to him for guidance he even admits this multiple times throughout the novel. He is far from being an exemplary priest, which is someone that that observes his vows and follows the commandments. It is impossible, of course, to be perfect however, the priest makes a weak attempt at being a good priest. He has a unvaried sense of self-pity and uselessness. He even refers to himself as a bad priest and a bad man. After recognizing his sins of drinking and adultery, he should be able to submit altogether to God and repent. His illegitimate child prevents him from asking forgiveness for committin g adultery, and he does not even attempt to stop drinking. Although he tries to perform his priestly functions whenever possible, his constant sin sets a bad example for people who might look to martyrs for inspiration. The woman who the priest has an affair with says, Suppose you die. Youll be a martyr, substance abuse you? What kind of a martyr do you think youll make? Its enough to make people mock (Greene 79). The unnamed man sets a bad example for others and is a bad priest.