Spirituality and religion overlap in Bel Canto, but they're not completely the same. Maybe we could say that spirituality involves the same kind of awe and amazement as making or appreciating art. So it's no surprise that a character like Father Arguedas experiences awe both in listening to opera and in worshiping God. It's also no shocker that the amazement someone like Fyodorov experiences in art almost sounds like a religious experience.
For Patchett, spirituality isn't so much about whether you're into organized religion as much as whether you marvel at something. That something could be an established religious institution like the Catholic Church, a page in a book of impressionist paintings, the face of someone you're in love with, or a song.
Questions About Spirituality
- Which characters seem most interested in spirituality in Bel Canto? How does their spirituality interact with their love for beauty?
- Why might belief in God and love for art be similar experiences in Bel Canto?
- How do romantic love and spirituality relate in Bel Canto? Are they ever at odds with each other, or do they always work together?
Chew on This
In Bel Canto, Mr. Hosokawa's love for opera and Father Arguedas' commitment to the Catholic faith are portrayed as very similar experiences.
In this novel, it's hard to be genuinely interested in spirituality without also loving beauty in some way.