Part 3: Chapter 3-4 (Pages 190- 210)

In chapter 3 the lieutenant appears, therefore the priest has no way out. This will probably be his end. They start talking and the reader can notice they might even like each other, but the circumstances force them to be enemies. The first thing the lieutenant asks the priest is why did he return. The priest's answer is one that makes him admirable and good: "Even a coward has a sense of duty" (page 190). Just for the fact that he accepts he has been a coward but he wants to face the world and whatever comes anyways makes me love this priest. How coward is a person who admits he is a coward? I would say he is not a coward at all. Apart from this, he confesses other things. For example he says he has been a bad priest and tells the lieutenant all about his committed sins, for example the conception of a child or the drinking. While I read this chapter I felt it was a confession in which the priest is the sin, and the anti-Catholicism police officer is the priest.

But the priest is not the only one who talks. The lieutenant tells him he is going to use the church money to improve education, so the people won't suffer. The priest's honest answer was very admirable because he contradicted him even though it was obvious that his life was on his hands.

Before leaving the mestizo reappeared and asked the priest for his blessing. I can't believe a person can be so terrible, he first walks him to his death and then says " you think the worst of people" (page 197). How dare he say this after betraying him? I can't believe this man.

When they get to prison the priest asks the lieutenant if he can be confessed before they kill him. He agrees and goes to look for padre Jose. But padre Jose's wife doesn't let him go, so the lieutenant returns. The priest's voice is very sad and he wants to do something about it, he even offers him brandy (even though it is illegal). But then a very crude moment takes place, the priest asks him if the other prisoners who have been killed suffer too much and the lieutenant answers "No, no. a second" (page 207). How can he be so honest and cold after acting as if he cared for the priest?

When the lieutenant leaves, the priest tries to confess. He begins whispering about his fornication with a woman and ends up thinking about his poor child and praying for her. He also remembers everyone he met in his final chapter of life. He prays for everyone of them. He even remembers the dentist (Mr. Tench). He fell asleep very hopeful and had a pleasant dream, but when he woke up He remembered it was his last day. He is facing a horrible situation and I don't think anyone can relate to this.