Death Comes for the Archbishop

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?

Discuss the novel’s politics of race. How does it represent Indigenous characters and communities? In which instances does it treat Indigenous people with respect, and where does it replicate problematic stereotypes? How might this novel be said to both succeed and fail in its effort to respectfully depict Indigenous peoples?

Research the role of religion within Spain’s assimilationist project in the Americas. How did Spain use religion within the territories it colonized, and what impact did that have on Indigenous communities? How does the novel engage with that history? In what ways does it “whitewash” official policy, and in what ways might it depict Spain’s assimilationist practices in a realistic (and unflattering) light?

What cultural differences between white and Indigenous practices do the foreign-born priests encounter in the territory of New Mexico? How might, for example, Indigenous versus white attitudes toward landscape and the environment reflect differences in their broader cultural values and belief systems? Use textual evidence in examining these questions.

Research one of the historical figures or events that the novel depicts, such as Kit Carson or the Gadsden Purchase. Using textual evidence, evaluate the accuracy of the author’s representation and to what extent the story helps provide detail and context to actual history.

Many corrupt ecclesiastical figures appear in the novel. How do characters such as Father Martínez or Father Gallegos impact the narrative? How do they contrast with devout men like Fathers Latour and Vaillant?

Cather was interested in how frontier territories shaped individuals and communities. Using textual evidence, examine how New Mexico’s harsh landscape helps shape the characterization of Fathers Latour and Gallegos.