Character Analysis of Jean Latour from Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather

Willa Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop is an American novel published in 1927 which tells the story of a bishop and priest who try to establish a diocese in the New Mexico Territory. Their objective was to restore the Catholic faith and traditions into a country that has seemingly lost its way. Cather’s Death Comes for the Archbishop creatively reveals the characteristics of Bishop Jean Marie Latour by his own actions and interactions.

The Prologue opens with three Cardinals and a missionary Bishop “from America dining together in the gardens of a villa in the Sabine hills, overlooking Rome (pg 1).” They were having a discussion about “an anticipated appeal from the Provincial Council at Baltimore for the founding of an Apostolic Vicarate in New Mexico-a part of a North America recently annexed to the United States (pg 2).” Although the New Mexico territory was not in need of salvation, they were in desperate need of correction and guidance. The missionary Bishop Ferrand introduced Bishop Jean Marie Latour to the other Cardinals and missionary Bishop.

Bishop Ferrand discusses where Bishop Latour is from and where he is now. “He is a parish priest, on the shores of Lake Ontario, in my diocese. I have watched his work for nine years. He is but thirty-five now. He came to us directly from the Seminary (pg 9).” He also describes Bishop Latour as intelligent. After attaining the other priests’ attention, Bishop Ferrand continues to sell his idea and even suggests that Maria de Allande to use his influence the Provincial Council.

The story of Jean Marie Latour begins with him wandering in the “arid stretch of country somewhere in central New Mexico (pg 14).” The bishop has obviously lost his way, and since no has ever really travelled to this new territory, no one could give him a shorter or clearer way to reach his destination. Latour is obviously a patient and tolerant man because there is no way that someone of today would wander around in a desert without any water for days on end. Instead of complaining he focused on God which further develops his faith.

Bishop Latour's calm and friendly manner allows him to get along with others. Jacinto did not care for the bishop at first. After observing him for awhile, Jacinto sees that Latour treats everyone the same. No one is above the next. For that Jacinto relaxes and begins to trust the bishop. Willa Cather paints a wonderful description of Bishop Jean Marie Latour through his actions and interactions.