Characters from The Power and The Glory

Where are you guys? I thought SOME of you would come to class!!?? Here's what we were going to do in class today; hopefully it will help you as you continue to read.

characters- it is easy to see as the novel goes on, that the WP is a christ figure. It is also important to note as well that each of the characters shows in part a side of the priest.

Mr. Tench- the dentist. married. two children. one dead. wife has gone "home." he can't leave Mexico because he is trapped by his financial and emotional investments

Whiskey priest- the main character. once a young, well-fed, proud, contented priest. now the last one left in Mexico. He too is trapped because he can't leave the people. he has moments of doubt, anger, etc. very human.

Lieutenant- character foil in many ways. he is driven and feels he is doing the right thing by ridding the country of priests and the church. he has a strong sense of right and wants to change things for the better. he is an idealist.

Chief of Police- corrupt. won't even give the order that will allow the lt. to capture the priest. lots of examples of corruption as the book continues.

Padre Jose- priest who married rather than suffer death. weak, but there is a part of him in all of us.

Captain Fellows-owns a banana plantation. forces himself to think he is happy.

Trixie Fellows- his wife who is focused only on her own mortality and fear. they overwhelm her.

Coral Fellows- daughter who has become a woman. too young to be scared of anything.

James Calver- the gringo who is wanted in Mexico. he killed two men. the lt. sees him as an easier foe than the priest.

Juan-the perfect young boy in the story who becomes a priest and later a saint. he is too perfect.

Luis-the young boy who is forced, by his mother, to listen to the story. he knows it is not true. he is a realist.

Luis' sisters-they listen to the story as well, but believe it and are awed by it. they are young: 6 and 10.

Maria-the woman the whiskey priest committed adultery with.

Briggitta- the whiskey priest's daughter. her existence changes everything for him.

Mestizo- the half-breed. he is a Judas figure.

How is the WP all these characters? He is trapped. He is an idealist. He is corrupt or tempted by corruption. He forces himself to be happy. He is scared. He sees beauty in the youth of Coral and Briggita. He is a "bad guy." He will be sainted if he is killed. He doesn't believe he is a good person. etc.