Short Fiction · Character

Father Schwartz

A priest who struggles with his faith and worldly temptations.

minor

Also known as The boy—Father Schwartz, Father

First appearance: I

Father Schwartz's tie to Rudolph Miller is one of the pressures that moves Short Fiction—worth meeting in the text, not only on a cast list.

The troubled priest who hears Rudolph's confession and is on the brink of a mental collapse.

In the storyAbsolutionOpen this moment free

See Father Schwartz in Absolution Book page

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With Rudolph Miller (psychological): Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph, projecting his own spiritual crisis onto the boy. With Rudolph Miller (psychological): Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph, projecting his own spiritual crisis onto the boy. With Rudolph Miller (psychological): Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph, projecting his own spiritual crisis onto the boy.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Father Schwartz sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Father Schwartz in I

Character Web

54 connections

A slice of how Father Schwartz sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Psychological
Other

Character groups

Social climbers and romantics
Varied fates and transformations
Reverse aging and identity
Protagonist
Wealth and isolation

+49 more in the full Character Web

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Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point
Aftermath
Closing

Val reaches his emotional and psychological peak in this passage as he confronts the painful gap between his r…

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Relationships

Rudolph Miller
psychological · negative
Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph,… How this plays out →
Rudolph Miller
psychological · negative
Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph,… How this plays out →
Rudolph Miller
psychological · negative
Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph,… How this plays out →

Rudolph Miller
Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph, projecting his own spiritual crisis onto the boy.
Rudolph Miller
Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph, projecting his own spiritual crisis onto the boy.
Rudolph Miller
Father Schwartz is a priest who becomes psychologically obsessed with the young Rudolph, projecting his own spiritual crisis onto the boy.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Father Schwartz in I

In the story

Father Schwartz appears across 6 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Absolution
The troubled priest who hears Rudolph's confession and is on the brink of a mental collapse.
I
A priest with cold, watery eyes who weeps at night, tormented by his inability to attain mystical union with God and disturbed by the sensuous distractions of the world.
II: “On Saturday, Three Days Ago.”
The priest hearing confessions, including Rudolph's.
IV
Father Schwartz hears Rudolph's confession and administers communion, unaware of Rudolph's inner turmoil.
V: “Sagitta Volante in Dei”
The priest hearing Rudolph's confession; he speaks disjointedly about glittering parties and amusement parks, then collapses in despair.
II
Doctor Bacon, the headmaster, who reprimands Basil for poor marks and denies his New York trip request.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Father Schwartz unlock in the free preview.

See Father Schwartz in I

See Father Schwartz in Absolution