Requiem Guatemala by Marshall Bennett Connelly - Essay Example

The chapter on “Three Dirges” is effectively incorporated with an omniscient point of view to better portray the efforts to search for the hope of salvation in the midst of military threats and unmitigated fear. One of the main characters focused on the omniscient point of view is Don Lazaro, the mayor of San Martin Comitan. As the man in the authority of a town, he is confronted with the horrific task of delivering a severely threatening message issued by a high-ranked official; eliminate the five subservient men in exchange for the townspeople’s lives.

In either way, lives will be lost. As the mayor asked “what’s a man supposed to do” to no particular person, there is a connotation of inner struggles on the right course of action to take, as options seem dire in those circumstances (Connelly 1). The urgency with which related lines are delivered speaks of a desperate attempt to look for another way other than the one being enforced upon him. This is duly affirmed as he further asked on what more could be done in such a situation (Connelly 3).

Upon admitting extreme efforts to resolve the conflict, it manifests a glimpse that hopeful resolutions have been pursued but soon died down as these could mean death to the town. By focusing the point of view on the mayor, the story portrays the position of extreme hopelessness, even for a person who possesses the highest authority in the area.  In another perspective, the characters of the parents in the story are also addressed as a valuable persona in omniscient point of view. All of them waited in terrible anticipation as the mayor relayed his conversation with the Colonel, “unable to compass the full weight of the words” that renders the mayor in abject silence.

By illustrating the choking demeanor of the mayor, the parents take the hint on the tragedy to come; up to the extent of asking “Why (military forces) not leave (them) alone” (Connelly 3). Each of the descriptions manifests a defeated stance, heightening their vulnerability. Yet, the parents continually seek a pinch of hope by looking for the priest to guide them in their predicament. In this context, they still tried to maintain a positive mien by supposedly passing the burden to the absentee priest.

By taking a shot at using the priest as a shield against the military threat, the search for hope continues.