One of the most essential literary techniques when it comes to writing a novel is the subtle yet confident use of symbolism. Through the application of symbols the characters may gain depth, the scenery can carry a deeper meaning and the plot is further condensed, resulting in a work's raised complexity and a considerably higher value for the reader. Be it protagonists' emotions mirrored in their surroundings, the significance of a moment depicted in a sudden change of setting or elements of the story that contain more than their initial purpose, symbols often evoke and convey feelings and, thus, can separate simple writing from grand literature.
In his 1940 novel The Power and the Glory, Graham Greene portrays the life and struggle of a Catholic priest who is being persecuted for not forsaking his faith in the aftermath of the Mexican Revolution. The social and emotional hardships he has to endure are not only inflicted upon him externally, they also emerge from his own consciousness and his sense of moral. Issues like his alcoholism, his inability to leave the country and, thereby, protect his people from being treated as his collaborators and the fact that he has fathered a child constantly haunt him during his attempt to escape his conviction. Additionally, the nameless priest undergoes a serious crisis of faith as each of his actions marks another step closer to or away from Jesus' example of selflessness.
Throughout the novel, Greene makes extensive use of literary symbols and equips his characters, scenery and story line with certain aspects that hint on a deeper, yet cryptic meaning. The aim of this term paper is to give The Power and the Glory a close reading in regard to selected incidents of symbolism and to analyse the way Greene manages to entwine different layers of sociological, emotional, religious and political issues in a single plot through the application of allegory and symbols. Further, it will be focussed on the explanation and interpretation of his allusions and possible ways of relating them to the larger context of his novel. Finally, an identification of the characters' classical role allocations will be attempted with an emphasis on their particular purpose within the story and with paying attention to their embedding and relevance within the plot.
The Power and the Glory draws its narrative strength and literary depth from Greene's skill to build up a world filled with controversy that, nonetheless, in itself does not lack plausibility. Malamet calls it “a remarkable example of how the fundamental structural principle of the mystery story, that of deferral, can help to unfold the meaning of one of Greene's starkest theological dramas” (31), although the overall tension that his work evokes is not least based on a tightly woven network of symbols that can be traced throughout the novel. Thus, a critical analysis of his modus operandi concerning symbols and allegories appears promising.
Symbolism in Greene's Characters
One of the key factors that The Power and the Glory owes its vivid density to is the arrangement of the main and supportive characters, whose interactions and sentiments set the foundation on which the whole novel relies. The plot unfolds around a central protagonist, a Mexican priest who throughout the course of the story line remains nameless. The reader witnesses his torn personality as well as a process of constant motivational change that results either from his intervening consciousness or his encounter with various supportive characters. A striking feature of the characters in question is that each of them seems to typify one of the priest's emotional properties. Pattern explains:
[T]he people whom the priest meets are all symbolic of some aspect of the human condition: a trapped man (Mr. Tench), a criminal (the American gunman), purposefulness without purpose (the lieutenant), children who cannot be well understood (Brigida and Coral), a lapsed priest (Padre José), Judas (the mestizo), a beggar with inside information (nameless, but like the priest), a pious woman (likewise nameless, but art of his old self), lovers (his temptation) - in short,
[. . .] he travels an unknown way, continually meeting portions of his own character[. . .]. (321)
Apart from their collective existence in the priest, Greene's supportive characters hold further figurative value and attest an overwhelmingly complex character conception to the author.
2.1 The Priest
As the main protagonist of Greene's The Power and the Glory, the priest occupies a unique position within the plot's framework. Not only does his destiny set the readers' focus of attention, but he is also the character which unveils the most detailed insight into his personal sphere of emotions and, thus, becomes most approachable. This idea finds support in the assumption that he is far from being an ideal Roman Catholic priest who is by definition obliged to honour his vows given to his church and, thus, to completely submit to his god's commandments. On the contrary, the portrayal of the nameless priest as a simple human being, who is not immune to vice and sin rather than an example of moral values, crosses the gap between audience and lead character.
