Throughout history in various cultures and societies, money has meant success. This, has been showed in two ways. The first way, is the way everybody should gain succes; by hard work and effort. But the second way is the easy way to get money and to get what people want, this, is called corruption. History has demostrated that in various conflicts and situations, the major power has most of the times used corruption to avoid problems or to get what they want. This "major power" most of the time has been the church or a religious figure, that have had the power of the word of the townspeople. People, bribe people usually that have no means what so ever and have no idea of the mistake they are making.
In The Power and the Glory, the power of the church is inmense and the conflicts are all because ot this major power. When collecting the indulgences, the church is strict and does not permit anybody to skip this payment. "And the priest came round with the collecting bag taking their cetavos, abusing their small comforting sins and sacrificing nothing at all in return-exceot a little sexual indulgence."Pg. 22-23. Church, is seen as an authority that no one can challenge and everybody is afraid of this power. This means that if people pay idulgences they will be free and they will be at peace and therefore have a succesfull life but others, that have no money will suffer the consequences. But is that suffering in the church's principals?
Another example in the book of money eaqual to succes is when Mr. Tench narrates the situation in jail. " They came bowing, hat in hand, ne behind the other. 'so-and-so drunk and disorderly.' 'Fined five pesos.' 'But I cant pay your excellency.' 'Let him clear out the lavatory and the cells then.'"Pg. 20. Here, the major power is the Leuitenant and he is using corruption, to gain money and permit the people leave with no charges ans therefore have succes. But people who cant pay this "five pesos" will be in jail. These people who can not pay maybe are the good people and the ones that can pay can cause more trouble if they are set free.
These two powers, the church and the Leuitenant are important in the book because both are powers that people look up to and are afraid. This, makes me wonder if both authorities are connected or work by separated? Is the church allied with the Leuitenant to gain power and to corrupt the townspeople?
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