The Quest for Salvation in The Power and the Glory (1940) by Graham Greene
The Quest for Salvation in The Power and the Glory (1940) by Graham Greene

Summary/Abstract: The anthropology of religious consciousness occupies a central position in Graham Greene's novelistic aesthetics, placing man at the heart of his literary production. Indeed, The Power and the Glory bears the mark of the writer's concerns and anxieties, as he consistently cast a critical eye on human behavior in the practice of religion and its interactions with others in a society deeply rooted in religious beliefs. It is within this literary perspective that his works emerge as a mirror, reflecting societal dynamics.The present study seeks to examine the troubling question of salvation in The Power and the Glory by showing how Graham Greene's main character, despite being deeply devoted to religion, grapples with temptation. However, the fact of being conscious that he is going astray from his creator plunges him into a state of dereliction to the extent that he envisions himself as a useless man. Will man be saved by his deeds or by divine grace? In any case, Greene's unmistakable interest in eschatology is evident, as he has consistently explored the fate of man after death. This is reflected in the divided consciousness of the main character, symptomatic of a tormented soul.

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