setting

Cather uses setting in "Death Comes for the Archbishop" as a way to describe the emotions of the characters. In the first half of the book, the rough routes that Latour must take are described in great detail. Cather gives you the feeling when Latour first enters New Mexico that the lands are ragged and when he gets lost is when he starts somewhat admiring the scenary.
I think that Latour's journey through Mexico was very fullfilling because he got to spread his religion everywhere he went. In book 5 he goes to see Martinez in Taos. Martinez is a bad priest. He is the one responsible for the rebellion on the white men. Even though he is not a good man, he is the wealthiest in the land and has all the fertile land. (Cather book 5). The Taos is described as beautiful land.

Towards the end of the book Latour buys a house that is just outside of Santa Fe. It has an apricot tree in the yard. I believe this is a symbol of Latour spreading his religion throughout. This is where Latour goes to live the rest of his life out. I feel like the tree's old roots is just like Latour, he has a lot of roots.