Meaningful Passage

"The interrogation was a revelation for Jose Arcadio Segundo. It did not surprise him that the priest asked him if he had done bad things with women, and he honestly answered no, but he was upset with the questions as to whether he had done them with animals. The first Friday in May he received communion, tortured by curiosity. Later he asked Petronio, a sickly sexton who lived in the belfry and who, according to what they said, fed himself on bats, about it, and Petronio answered him: 'There are some corrupt Christians who do their business with female donkeys.' Jose Arcadio Segundo stilled showed much curiosity and asked so many questions that Petronio lost his patience.

'I go Tuesday nights.' he confessed. 'If you promise not to tell anyone I'll take you next Tuesday'"


- The thing that boggles my mind is the fact that the priest asked about his personal life with animals. Does this mean that the priest was making sure Segundo was a truly clean person. or does it mean that he actually has an interest in this and wants to know if Segundo shares it with him. If so, its probably to protect the sanctity of his priesthood by not being with women, but there is still no straightforward reason

- Another boggling question is how Segundo knew exactly who to go to in order to cure his curiosity. Petronio is full of answers for him and this seems a little strange that he was picked out of all possible people, especially the priest, which was the one that brought it up. Of course he seems weird because he is possibly eating bats, and is sickly (which is not sad to be physically or mentally) which may cause him to turn to such activities, but this isn't stated clearly or hinted at.

- The last boggling question is how Segundo is so easily conned into such an activity and lets his curiosity take over his religious life. Does this means that he wasn't serious about this particular path to begin with, or does it mean that this was just a cover up for subconscious thoughts and intentions he already had.