In this chapter, Cather continues her attempt to humanize Latour and, thus, makes him a multidimensional character who feels loneliness and doubt as he experiences what St. John of the Cross called "the dark night of the soul." Realizing that Latour is only a man is important, because it makes his human accomplishments as bishop all the more admirable@ — as opposed to thinking of his accomplishments as the miraculous efforts of a superhuman.
In terms of the examination of faith and doubt even in the most devout of people, this chapter is perhaps the most revealing in the entire novel.
