The Image of a Priest in Graham Greene’s Novel «The Power and the Glory»

Abstract

This article is a study of Graham Greene’s novel «The Power and the Glory» for ways of literary depiction of the image of a priest contained in the text. The historical context which was chosen by the author makes to very acutely reveal the essence of the contradictions between the principles of religious and secular, materialistic ideologies, while demonstrating the process of dynamic development of an individual, who finds himself in the vicissitudes of fate. In addition, in the complex image of the priest (composed of literary characters identified with pastors), a certain direction of introspection can be traced, focusing on the contradictions between one’s own calling and personal inclinations, military situation and the Gospel teaching, desires and responsibilities. Thusly the author reaches the climax of revealing the character through not the most conventional methods: separating several radically different characters, which in their totality fullness of qualities, reflecting the internal struggles and experiences that lead the main character to death, which, however, is only the next stage in the development of higher service, the executor of which is the priest.