Role of Women and Judas is Reborn

The Power and the Glory

Pg. 72-103

September 1st, 2007

5:00 P.M.

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........In this section we are introduced to the town of Concepcion, and to Maria, once the priest's lover. Just as well, the reader quickly finds out about Brigitta, the priest's daughter. The more the reader indulges in the novel, the more obvious the role of women in this society becomes. Graham Greene is clearly portraying a very feministic point of view in his novel, constantly placing women in the dominating role compared to men. In this society, women are the moving force behind the men; the men might take care of the action, but it's the women that actually plan it. Women are the motor of the society, the control men and can manipulate them to get what they want. Women have the upper hand. In Part I, we were introduced to Coral Fellows, an American girl that gave the priest shelter and protected him from the lieutenant when no one else would. She comforted him when he felt alone in the world; it was probably thanks to her help that he was able to make it to Concepcion in the first place.
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.......Once again, in this section the reader witnesses Maria's willingness to help him escape alive. Right after the service, when the police came into the village, Maria was aware that the smell of wine in the priest's breath would give away his true identity. In order to prevent this from happening, she gave him "a small raw onion" to bite, "it was a trick all women seemed to know (73)." Just as well, the priest was about to give up; he had no plan, "It was the end (72)." However, as soon as he saw Maria he thought she would have a plan, Maria prevented his capture. She gave him the tools, and the strength confidence he needed in order to continue running away. Just as well, her actions symbolize how astute women are, and how they can get around the obstacles men place. Another clear example that shows how Maria is in control is the wine bottle and the priest’s case. She knows that the bottle will bring trouble not only for the priest if it’s ever found but also for Concepcion, so she breaks it. “I’m not going to bring trouble on you and everyone else. I’ve broken the bottle (78).” She takes the initiative without even hearing what the priest (man) has to say about it. This example shows how women have the instinct to protect people around them, unlike men; they know when to avoid risks that could put everyone they love in danger. However, it isn’t only the actions that Greene describes that allow the reader to connect women as the dominating character. The subtle sentences he uses to praise women are also evident. "...women were appallingly practical; they built new plans at once out of the ruins of the old (72), " and "it was a trick all women seemed to know (73)."

…..Another example of women’s dominating role over men is Brigitta, the priest’s daughter. He’s a priest, and he should be ashamed of having an illegitimate child. Any other priest would probably hate this child; she would be the cause of rumors and shame tainting his name. However, “He felt weak with longing (81)” when he saw her. In the scene where the priest is grabbing the papers from his case, Greene makes it obvious to the reader how Brigitta is the one that’s in control of the situation. “He was appalled again by her maturity (81),” how could she impress him so much, she was only seven years old! Just as well, when he wants to give her a kiss “she screeched at him in her ancient voice and giggled (81).” An innocent seven year old that doesn’t want to be kissed by her father and is actually able to pull away? That scene clearly shows how this little girl obviously controls the priest.

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….. The mestizo, I think, will play a very important role in the remainder of the storyline. Since the mestizo was first introduced into the storyline, Greene has always foreshadowed his suspicious nature. “It was as if he had a secret purpose which nobody but the priest must hear (85).” The priest attempted to ignore him because “uneasiness was lodged in his brain (85).” Another very important quote that clearly foreshadows the mestizo’s intention is: “…it was like a slot machine into which any coin could be fitted, even a cheater’s blank disk (89).” Another very important aspect of this first chapter is the allusion of the mestizo to Judas. “His conscience ceased to accuse him of uncharity. He knew. He was in the presence of Judas (91).” Judas was the biblical character that betrayed Jesus in the Bible for some gold coins. If the mestizo was Judas and “he was the man that wanted to betray him (95),” then that would make the priest Jesus if the metaphor continued. What is significant about this allusion is that it portrays the priest as the Savior. He is like Jesus willing to die for his cause rather than giving in to sin. He represents the faith of religion, and its desire to continue its influence on people. The priest ultimately represents religion as he is the only living symbol of the Church. All priests are dead, except for Father Jose which represents a weak link in the religious institution. This means that only the priest can save religion as a whole, it’s up to him to save religion from complete extinction.

…..With all this said, the last words the mestizo says to the priest are very perturbing. “Of course, he had every reason to be angry; he had lost seven hundred pesos. He shrieked hopelessly, ‘I don’t forget a face.’ (102)” This clearly foreshadows that this isn’t the last time the priest is going cross paths with the mestizo; he obviously wants revenge and is willing to do whatever it takes to get it.