The Power and the Glory is a story concerned with power—you can tell that much just from looking at the title. The whole story is premised on an authoritarian government purging the state of all vestiges of Catholicism, but in addition to the power of the state, Greene explores the power of the Church, the power of the rich, and even the power of the poor. As an author, Greene is well aware of how all these levels of power interact and he's not afraid to show all their warts. Quick, someone get the duct tape—it's about to get bumpy.
Questions About Power
- Which character has the most power in this story? How so?
- Why does the lieutenant fight against the influence of the Church and its ideas?
- Why does the priest say that it is out of his power to renounce the faith?
- How does the priest have more power while on the run than when he lived in relative luxury? How does he have less?
Chew on This
The lieutenant believes that getting rid of priests will eradicate the ideas they teach. He seems to think that these ideas get their power from the priests and not also the people, but the continuation of the faith in places where no priests can go proves him wrong.
The Power and the Glory is as much a critique of clerical power as it is of governmental power: the novel highlights the corruptions of both equally.