Angelica and Contento Symbol Analysis

Throughout Death Comes for the Archbishop, Contento and Angelica, two white mules, are an important symbol for the lifelong friendship between Bishop Latour and his vicar, Joseph Vaillant. Soon after his arrival to New Mexico, Vaillant is able to wheedle the two mules away from their original owner, the wealthy ranchero Manuel Lujon. Even the original arrival of these animals thus gestures to the two priests’ complementary personalities: Latour is reserved and stately, distancing himself from logistical challenges, whereas Vaillant is resourceful and unafraid of getting his hands dirty. Over the course of the narrative, the mules go everywhere with Latour and Vaillant, linking them in moments of ill health or political chaos; like the priests themselves, the mules are bonded by a shared past. And perhaps most importantly, when Vaillant leaves Latour’s diocese to become the first Bishop of Colorado, Latour insists that his old friend must take both mules with him, rather than only taking Contento. “They have a great affection for each other,” Latour says, in a simple speech that brings Vaillant to tears. “Why separate them indefinitely? One could not explain to them. They have worked long together.” Though Latour and Vaillant might struggle to articulate their feelings to each other, Angelica and Contento become a way for the two priests to process and express the depth of their mutual care.