Please be aware that this discussion guide may contain spoilers!
Institutions loom large in the book, from public school (which
is the equivalent of private school in the US), to the Communist
party, to the Catholic Church. How do the main characters
reinforce and/or defeat them? Bernie begins the book as a
devoted Communist, yet eventually becomes disillusioned with its
ideology. Disillusionment with the Catholic Church also plays a
large role in the book. Why does the author juxtapose the two?
What are the dangers of ideology? The threat of approaching
winter permeates the book. What does the cold weather symbolize?
Why did the author choose to set the book during the Each of the
books main characters is tempted by corruption and bribery. Is
corruption a by-product of war? Can corruption ever be positive?
Bernie is a fervent believer in communism and also an atheist.
Yet in the labor camp, he is threatened by the power-hungry
Estalbo, a fellow prisoner and Communist, and shown kindness by
Father Eduardo, a