I.  Overview
 Captain Fellows is visited by a lieutenant who is in search of a priest wanted for “treason.”  By treason, the lieutenant refers to the anti-Catholic purges of 1930’s Mexico. Fellow confirms that he does not know of such a man but if he came in contact of him, he would turn him in.  The lieutenant rightly leaves with a feeling of suspicion.  Coral reveals that she is harboring the priest but at her father’s request, the man must go.  The priest sets off and finds refuge with an old man, where he is persuaded to confess the town even though he does not desire to.  The Lieutenant then speaks to his chief and learns that the government will hold him responsible if the priest is not found.  As a desperate measure, the lieutenant will maliciously motivate the town‘s people into helping him find the priest by holding individuals hostage and, if necessary, by shooting them.

II.  Analysis: No Escape
 Graham Greene uses the idea of no escape as a theme for his novel.  This theme serves many purposes for the text.  For the priest, escape is a matter of life and death, “I hope you’ll escape…If they kill you I shan‘t forgive them-ever”(40).  When his escape fails, Greene adds suspense to the novel, “another six months living like this”(p.40) .  Greene also implies that there is no escape from one’s emotions.  For instance both priests cannot battle their feelings of fear and cowardice, For Padre Jose, “Fear came back, like a drug…he wanted to get away.  He sank hopelessly down on his knees and entreated them: Leave me alone.  I am Unworthy.  I am a coward”(49).  As for the priest, he dreads getting caught and attempts to escape this impending fear through the consumption of alcohol, “A little drink…will work wonders in a cowardly man” (42).  The alcohol may function for the time being, but as soon as the effects wear off and he is back to square one.   The theme also refers to no escape from one’s role.  Green reveals that priesthood is a twenty four hour commitment.  At the most inopportune time—before sleep or after a long journey--priests must attend to their duties because their services are desired.  The priest displays his loyalty to his job by obliges to the request for confessing, ”Oh let them come.  Let them all come…I am your servant”(49).

III.  Questions
 1.  How does the notion of fear operate in the text?
 2.  How do the vultures function as a symbol?