Question

"no thank you, father. i only came to ask you if you would bring your holy water to the graveyard." …"why didn’t you tell me he was dead? i could have brought the last rites anyway." leon smiled. "it wasn’t necessary, father." the priest stared down at his scuffed brown loafers and the worn hem of his cassock. "for a christian burial it was necessary." his voice was distant, and leon thought that his blue eyes looked tired. "it’s o.k. father, we just want him to have plenty of water." the priest sank down into the green chair and picked up a glossy missionary magazine. he turned the colored pages full of lepers and pagans without looking at them. "you know i can’t do that, leon. there should have been the last rites and a funeral mass at the very least." leon put on his green cap and pulled the flaps down over his ears. "it’s getting late, father. i’ve got to go." when leon opened the door father paul stood up and said, "wait." —"the man to send rain clouds," leslie silko. what inference can you make about why father paul decides to go with leon? a. he hopes that they will still allow him to perform the last rites. b. he hopes to integrate his beliefs with their culture as much as they will allow him to. c. he decides to go pray for teofilo without the people knowing about it.

Answer 1

Father Paul's decision to go with Leon suggests an attempt to integrate his beliefs with the local culture, showing a willingness to compromise and respect for local customs around burial and death.

Step-by-step explanation:

In the passage from “The Man to Send Rain Clouds,” by Leslie Silko, Father Paul initially seems resistant to the idea of blessing the grave without the proper Christian rituals, specifically the last rites and a funeral mass. However, when he decides to go with Leon, the inference can be made that he is attempting to integrate his beliefs with those of the local culture in spite of the limitations. This integration, while not complete, shows a willingness to compromise and respect the local customs surrounding burial and death. Even though it may not be fully in line with his beliefs or the standards of his church, Father Paul recognizes the importance of being present and providing whatever support he can, representing the blending of different cultural traditions regarding death and the afterlife.