Religion never really takes center stage in the Nostromo: A Tale of the Seaboard, but it's always hanging out there in the background. There are three primary forms of religion in the novel: Catholicism, Protestantism, and silver. Okay, we're (mostly) kidding about that last one.
Of course, it's worth noting that Catholicism and Protestantism were imports to Costaguana, and (as you'll see in the quotes) they become the means by which certain political games play out. Hey, we told you politics touched everything in this novel.
Questions About Religion
- Is religion portrayed as a refuge from politics at all? If so, where/how?
- Are Catholicism and Protestantism portrayed differently in the novel? If so, where/how?
- Is religion overall portrayed as a positive force amid all the political nonsense?
Chew on This
Even though they are both "imports," Catholicism is portrayed as more "Costaguanero" than Protestantism.
By keeping religion in the background, Nostromo suggests that wealth is really the "God" that governs modern life.