Death Comes for the Archbishop

Pick one of the religious symbols used in Death Comes for the Archbishop and explain how it helps explicate the novel’s broader thematic structure. How does Cather treat religion with complexity and nuance, and what does that depiction say about her broader message?

Discuss the relationship between Fathers Latour and Vaillant. What kind of men are they, and what defines their friendship? How do their different characters and leadership styles complement one another?

Consider the novel’s representation of women. Although the protagonists are men, several female characters are key figures. Cather, as an author, was interested in gender and in the gendered experiences of women on the frontier. Using textual evidence, examine how the novel engages with gender and the issues that women faced during the early days of US expansion into the West and Southwest?