Religion and Hypocrisy

Religious devotion is portrayed as both a comfort and a tool for judgment, with characters like Signora Rocca and Sisto using piety to condemn others, while Gian-Luca's refusal to attend Mass causes familial conflict.

Teresa's devout Catholicism is intertwined with her guilt over her own past sin; she prays fervently but also uses religion to coerce Olga into confession, revealing a hypocritical blend of faith and control.

Teresa's demand for a priest and the Holy Oil reflects a reliance on religious ritual in the face of death.

The Holy Oil is administered but does not prevent Olga's death, and the narrative reflects on a Maker who knows all without need for questioning.

Teresa's confrontation with the Virgin Mary reveals her disillusionment with faith, accusing God and the Virgin of complicity in her suffering.