Monsignor Quixote by Graham Greene: Day 15
Part II, Chapter IV, 1-2 (p. 177-185)
"They take on an appearance of life, as sad memories do, when the dark has fallen.”
One gets a sense that Graham Greene was fairly disciplined when he was writing the book. Very few lines like this one, quintessential Greene-isms, slipped through into the book.
“I haven’t much time for fiction. Facts are what I like. If I could unearth one undiscovered document about Saint Ignatius, I would die a happy man.”
There are too many Professor Pilbeams in this world! I wonder if this is a good time to brag about the best interview I’ve done. I was asked, by an interviewer, what I would say to people who claim that they don’t read fiction at all. My answer is: “I’m sorry for your loss.”
“When one has to jump, it’s so much safer to jump into deep water.”
Father Leopoldo deserves another novel all to himself. (I’m fairly certain Father Leopoldo is the namesake of Father Leopoldo Durán, one of the closest friends of Greene in his later years, who was the priest by Greene’s deathbed.)
Join us on December 3 for a virtual discussion of Monsignor Quixote with Yiyun Li.
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These first several pages of the final chapter seem to me to represent a shift of some kind in the narrative. First there is the beautiful and evocative description of the monastery, followed by some verbal sparring between Father Leopoldo and the unimaginative Professor Pilbeam which reminds us of discussions MQ and Sancho have had throughout the book.
I agree with Yiyun that Father Leopoldo deserves a novel all to himself, for like the monsignor he is a man of faith but a complex and introspective one.
The mass scene, especially the phantom communion, was fascinating. The moment the Father touched the Mayor's tongue with his fingers "like a Host" it was such an intimate gesture. So much love shown by the Mayor. Kneeling & playing along with the communion as a non-believer. "Anything which will give him peace, he thought, anything at all." And when "he felt over and over again" for the Father's heartbeat. And at the end the Mayor ponders "love constant beyond death." It's a beautiful way to end the book. (That last quote isn't from the book. It's the title of a poem by Francisco Gomez de Quevedo, contemporary of Cervantes.) Also, I need to read some Descartes.