Analysis of the Setting of Willa Cather's Death Comes for the Archbishop

Death Comes for the Archbishop entails many descriptions of the story’s settings. Not only that, the main setting contains “mini” settings of different events that take place throughout the story. Willa Cather expertly depicts the settings in Death Comes for the Archbishop by utilizing details with numerous descriptions of the background to engage the reader.

Book One contains many memorable settings that capture the reader’s attention. Notably, the experience Juan Diego has with the Virgin Mary and the experience Bishop Jean Marie Latour has with the juniper tree. Book One Chapter One begins with the time frame and place in which Bishop Latour is on his journey. “One afternoon in the autumn of 1851 a solitary horseman, followed by a pack-mule, was pushing through an arid stretch of country somewhere in central New Mexico (pg 14).” Assumingly, after the reader reads this opening line, he or she begins to get into the setting. One can almost creates his or her own image of New Mexico and can imagine how hot it may have been on that day. The year 1851 also presents a historical feel to the story as well. A number of events took place in the year 1851 such as the city of Winona, Minnesota being founded on October fifteenth. The author also states that the horseman has been traveling through an “arid stretch of country somewhere in central New Mexico” which gives the reader a clue that the horseman is lost in a dry place somewhere out in New Mexico. The author then tells how many miles the traveler must have traveled. “He must have travelled through thirty miles of these conical red hills, winding his way in the narrow cracks between them, and he begun to think that he would never see anything else (pg 15).” The setting begins to take a toll on the character. After seeing the same things over and over the reader begins to get confused. The reader may then feel a sense of sympathy for the character. This particular setting reveals Father Latour’s patience and need to do God’s will regardless of the circumstances.

Additionally, Book Nine also reveals some settings that may draw the reader’s attention. “Long before his retirement…Father Latour bought those few acres in the red sand-hills near the Tesuque pueblo, and set out an orchard which would be bearing…the red hills spotted with juniper…admirably suited for the growing of fruit (pg 265-266).” The author describes this place as a must-have for the bishop. The bishop had to have his fruit and obviously enjoyed watching them grow and blossom. The author also describes how Father Latour came to own this estate against his friends advice. An old Mexican who lived on the estate told Father Latour that the apricot tree must have been 200 years old. He did not mind selling it because he wanted to live in Santa Fe, so Father Latour bought it from him a few weeks later. The tree was described as having had “two trunks, each of them thicker than a man’s body, and though evidently very old, it was full of fruit. The apricots were large, beautifully coloured, and of superb flavor (pg 266).” The description here is absolutely amazing. It makes one envision a large, entwined apricot tree with beautiful fruit. If one has never seen an apricot tree in person, then he or she will be able to envision one here. Father Latour chose this place as his resting grounds. He built an adobe house and chapel “high up on the hill-side overlooking the orchard (pg 267).” This place helped Father Latour to unwind after he completed his daily tasks.

Willa Cather skillfully utilizes the setting to tie into her character's lives. The settings help shape the tone and mood of, not only the novel itself, but the characters. Some settings hint at what is to come in the story. For example, Father Latour was lost in his travels and obviously tired. Wandering around in the desert may have showed the hardships he would have to face when he reached his destination. It is noted that he was not well recieved. The part where he bought an country estate may reveal that he is now reaping the fruits of his labor. He was almost at the point where he could finally rest after years of hard work. Willa Cather somehow connected the setting with the character lives which made for a lasting impression.