Bring on the tough stuff - there’s not just one right answer.
- If you could give the priest advice about what to do—staying in danger to minister to his people, fleeing the state, or turning himself in to the authorities—what would you tell him and why?
- Why does Greene write so negatively about piety? What does he mean by the word?
- Why do you think Greene chose not to name main figures of the story—the priest, the lieutenant, and the half-caste—while he gave names to many of the supporting characters?
- What's with the structure of the book? In the first part, the four chapters have titles. The chapters in the second and third parts are numbered but not given any name. The final part has no chapters. Is this inconsistency related to any of the themes of the novel?
- Why does the priest drink?
- How is the priest's story different from the tale of the valiant Juan the mother reads to her children? How it is similar?
- Do you find the decisions of the priest credible given his character? Why or why not?
- What might Pope Francis do in the priest's situation?
- If you were casting actors and actresses to play the characters, who would you pick?