Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in The Power and the Glory, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
The Complexity of Religious Figures
Ideology and Reactionary Ideas
The Nature of Sin
Government vs. Religion
Duty, Sacrifice, and Persecution
Summary
Analysis
A man named Captain Fellows sings as he canoes down a river to his bungalow home. While on the river, Fellows is happy; he is completely isolated and feels as if he is one with nature. However, as he arrives home, he sees clouds in the sky, which slightly disrupt his happiness. Fellows is surprised his daughter, Coral, is not around to greet him as she normally is. Instead, he goes inside and speaks with his wife, Mrs. Fellows, who appears frightened. Fellows asks where Coral is, and Mrs. Fellows responds that Coral is speaking to the police.
The dark clouds in the sky are an omen. They signal to Captain Fellows that his idyllic life is about to be disrupted. The look on Mrs. Fellows’s face also suggests that something is out of the ordinary and that Coral may be in danger. Mrs. Fellows is not concerned about whatever or whomever the police are looking for, but rather the police themselves, who are a threat to the community.
Themes
A moment later, Coral enters the room and leads Fellows to the lieutenant, who is waiting outside. Fellows and the lieutenant discuss the whisky priest, who is on the run in the area and has thus far evaded law enforcement. Fellows honestly tells the lieutenant that he has not seen nor housed the whisky priest. However, the lieutenant is skeptical. He reminds Fellows that Fellows is a foreigner and is therefore expected more than most to comply with law enforcement. Fellows responds that he is aware of his duties and repeats that he has not seen the renegade priest. Annoyed, the lieutenant leaves.
This conversation between Fellows and the lieutenant underscores the power struggle between local law enforcement (represented by the lieutenant) and the individuals resisting it, particularly the whisky priest. The lieutenant's insistence on searching the grounds despite Fellows' denial reflects the authoritative nature of the regime and its determination to root out dissent. There is a veiled threat in the lieutenant’s tone as he reminds Fellows that Fellows is a foreigner.
Themes
Once the lieutenant is gone, Coral explains that he was annoyed because she would not let him search the grounds. Fellows says that she should have let the lieutenant do as he liked since they have nothing to hide. Now, they seem more suspicious and law enforcement is more likely to continually harass them. Then, Coral tells her father that she lied to the lieutenant; in reality, the whisky priest is holed up in their barn. Fellows chastises Coral for doing something so dangerous. However, at this point, nothing can be done, so Coral leads Fellows to the barn.
Fellows' refusal to cooperate with the lieutenant is a form of passive resistance against the oppressive regime. However, Coral's decision to lie to the lieutenant and harbor the priest in their barn represents a more active form of resistance, which puts their entire household in danger. Often throughout the novel, characters have to choose between their own best interests and the best interests of other people. Here, Coral chooses the latter.
Themes
When Fellows sees the whisky priest, a shabby and frightened looking man with an attaché case, he tells him he must leave immediately. However, when the priest quickly agrees, Fellows softens and allows him to stay until it is dark, when it will be safer for him to travel. Fellows also asks the priest if he wants something to eat. The priest declines the offer and asks Fellows for brandy instead. Fellows refuses, claiming he is already breaking the law enough for the priest as it is. Then, he leaves the barn, shaking his head, while exclaiming that the priest and his religion are “shameless.”
Fellows's refusal to provide the priest with brandy highlights the internal conflict he experiences between his duty to obey the law and his empathy toward the priest's plight. Despite already risking his safety by harboring the priest, Fellows draws the line at providing alcohol (which is illegal) because it seems like an unnecessary sacrifice. Additionally, he may be angry that his family is in danger because they are helping a priest with loose morals.
Themes
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That evening, Coral sneaks the whisky priest some beer and food. Fellows hears his daughter sneaking outside but decides to let her go. In the barn, Coral talks to the priest about his future. She recommends that he go north, as the police are searching in the south. Then, Coral asks the whisky priest what would happen if he was caught. The whisky priest responds that law enforcement would kill him. He had a chance to escape but missed his opportunity. Now, he is doing his best to hold out until the wet season, when the police will have a hard time searching for him and therefore won’t bother. Coral asks if everything will be better then. The priest says that he will likely live the same life he is living now, which is far from glamorous. However, at least no one will come after him.
Again, Coral is more interested in taking an active part in aiding the whisky priest, while her father would rather be passive. She does not judge the priest the same way as her father, and she therefore is willing to let the priest indulge his vice by giving him alcohol. Largely, the novel shares Coral’s perspective, as it argues that the whisky priest can be a man of God despite his many personal flaws. The duality of his character, which is both profane and sacred, is reflected in the name “whisky priest.” Despite his character defects, in this section the priest also showcases his most noble quality; that is, he demonstrates his willingness to live a difficult life in order to continue to serve his God.
Themes
After finishing his food and beer, the whisky priest leaves. Exhausted, he makes his way to the next shelter he can find, which is a small group of mud huts. An old man spots the priest and offers him shelter, though he has very little else to give. In return, he asks the whisky priest to baptize a young boy and listen to everyone’s confession. The whisky priest, irritated, agrees to do whatever the man wants. However, for the moment, he wants to sleep.
The whisky priest constantly stays on the move because he does not want to risk the lives of those who shelter him. The old man wants to help the whisky priest but is eager to receive sacraments in return because they are so difficult to come by. He also knows that the whisky priest’s pact with God will not allow him to say no.
Themes
The old man does not take a hint. Instead, he begins confessing his sins to the whisky priest, claiming it has been five years since he last had the opportunity. The whisky priest briefly argues with the old man, but he quickly gives in and decides to listen to him. When the old man is finished, he also sends in his family for confession. They complain that they would rather wait until morning, but the old man insists. Annoyed, the whisky priest hears them all out.
Confession is an important part of the Catholic faith, as it allows a person to repent their sins and make good with God. Living in such a harsh and dangerous world, the old man is eager to confess his sins immediately. After all, if the authorities caught him sheltering the priest, he could lose his life.
Themes
