Introduction:
As we study the story of the novel “The Power And the Glory” we find that the writer has written it with a definite purpose. For example, the character of the whisky priest has been described by his outward actions as well as through dialogue with some other characters in the story. He has used the method of psychological analysis. The thoughts go on in the mind of the priest and they reveal his character. According to the writer such psychological analysis not only becomes useful but it also becomes very essential and significant.
The Use of the Stream of Consciousness Technique:
The study of the story clearly shows that the writer has used the stream of consciousness technique in the same style of Virginia Woolf. For this, we find interior monologues through the characters of the Priest and the Lieutenant. Prior to them, Virginia Woolf and James Joyce had used the same technique in their novels. Through this technique, Graham Greene revealed the innermost feelings and thoughts of his characters in a highly successful manner. He has shown the subconscious mind of a particular character. It is known as the interior monologue.
The Priest's Interior Monologue about Maria and his Daughter, Brigitta:
We find a very good example of the interior monologue and psychological analysis of the priest's mind. When he was going to that village where his kept - wife, Maria and his illegal daughter, Brigitta used to live. His thoughts came back to his past life when he had made an illegal physical contact with Maria. As a true priest, he cursed himself for that sin out of the weakness of his character. He had taken part in that sin about five or six years before. He realised in his heart of hearts that he was a bad priest, so he was called as a ‘whisky priest’ by the people. He hoped that one day God would punish him for that looseness of his character.
When the priest reached that village where Maria and her daughter used to live, he found himself in a dilemma. He thought that he would stay in that village for sometime more to do good acts with the people. As soon as he saw his wife and his daughter, he felt deep love and affection in the innermost heart. Maria, who used to love the priest as her husband offered him some brandy which could remove his weariness. Though the priest had a strong desire to stay there for some days more, yet he was informed that the policemen used to visit that village daily. Such news broke his heart and he became nervous. He clearly remembered his sexual act with Maria vividly by means of his interior monologue. As he was about to leave that village he thought about the future of his daughter saying these words , “O God, give me any kind of death - without contribution, in a state of sin - only save this child.”
In the later part of the story, the priest felt regret for his weakness of pride as well as about his addiction to liquor. Another example of interior monologue is related to his company with the mestizo whom he used to suspect that he might betray him with the greed of getting a reward after getting him arrested. Many thoughts passed through his mind. He could not sleep whole night with the fear of his arrest.
His Final Interior Monologue:
The concluding part of the story shows that the priest expressed his hearty regret for his sins. His regret is clear from his such confession, “O God, forgive me - I am a proud, lustful, greedy man. I have loved authority too much. These people deserve a martyr to care for them - not a man like me, who loves all the wrong things.”
When the priest was put into the prison for carrying a bottle of brandy in his pocket, he had enough time for his interior monologue. He thought not to enter any village where some more hostages should be shot dead. He also realised that he was not a saint because he had committed many sins. When he was finally captured and he was going to be sentenced to death next morning, he passed that last night through an interior monologue. He thought that he had lived a worthless life, so he would return to God empty - handed. On that night he recalled his past life very vividly. He was very sorry for his main defects of sex and addiction to liquor. He prayed to God for the welfare of his child, Brigitta who was in his subconscious mind.
The Lieutenant's Interior Monologue:
The study of the present story clearly shows that the next important character in the story is the Lieutenant who also underwent interior monologue which was the part - and - parcel of his character. He thought about those priests who had been shot dead by the Red Shirts. He also thought about Padre Jose who had been living in that state with his wife after giving up his priesthood.
The second example of interior monologue of the Lieutenant is through his meeting with the boy Luis who had been hating him for capturing the whisky priest. After completing his mission, the Lieutenant was a very hopeless man. As soon as he entered his office, he tore the pictures of the whisky priest and some gunmen. Nothing was left for him to do any more. Certainly he had been feeling very sorry for arresting the whisky priest who was later sentenced to death in the end.
The Lieutenant also had a soft corner for the priest. When he desired to make his confession, the Lieutenant himself went to the house of Padre Jose who had refused to hear his confession. He had also offered a bottle of brandy to the priest on the last night before his execution.
The mind of Padre Jose also shows an element of interior monologue. He was under a dilemma when he had given up the priesthood, married a woman and started living as an ordinary citizen in that state. In the same way, Mr. Tench suffered from mental agony when he had seen the priest having been shot dead.
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