Folks back in settler time were pretty religious to begin with. But add to that the fact that there's not much to do on the prairie other than work and pray, and you're bound to get some hardcore preachers into the mix.
Interestingly enough, it's not the travelling minister who turns out to be the most intensely religious figure in this book. It's Beret, who has become convinced the she and all of her loved ones are doomed to hell because they've defied God's wishes by living in such a barren place. Dang, Beret. Way to be a gloomy Gus.
Questions About Religion
- Is Beret's turn to religion portrayed as healthy or unhealthy? Why?
- Why is Tönseten so frightened when the minister first shows up in his settlement? What terrible secret does he need to confess?
- What does Per Hansa think about Beret's demand to have a minister at Hans Olsa's deathbed? What does he ultimately do about it?
Chew on This
In Giants in the Earth , O.E. Rölvaag shows us a world where everything is random and human efforts have no meaning.
In Giants in the Earth , we learn that religion can be the only thing standing between a functioning person and a total mental collapse.