Peace Shall Destroy Many

As Ann warned, the first part of Rudy Wiebe's Peace Shall Destroy Many was fairly slow going. There was a lot of exposition and theologizing -- while on the plow, whilst transferring a heap of rocks from one location to another, and while pitching hay -- in the first part. This section I only learned to appreciate after having read the second half of the book, which, in contrast, was practically a Michael Crichton novel for how much action there suddenly was (comparatively).

I found myself reading the book much more hungrily during Elizabeth's ordeal and the following drama. Then, with the arrival of Razia Tantamount, I could tell that things were about to get juicy. Wiebe's setup of the final drama offered great, but obvious, foreshadowing. Pregnancy within the community + Sexy lady teacher from outside the community = probable sex scandal within the community.

I found it interesting what the characters of Deacon Block and Razia Tantamount illustrated about power within this Mennonite community -- who has it, how, and why?

Block is respected, though strict, and many of the families within the community are grateful to him for having helped them get on their feet when they first arrived from Russia, as Mrs. Wiens expresses on p 262 during a conversation with Thom about the virtues and faults of Block. People in the community turn to Block when they have problems and need advice, and even Thom finds himself seeking advice (of some sort -- maybe more seeking an opinion) from Block.

Razia is another illustration of power, though a completely different one. Her power is derived from being an attractive and (fairly) level-headed woman, confident and ambitious. It seems as though the Wapiti community is fairly taken in by powerful figures. Even Thom finds himself acknowledging the allure of Razia and the ease with which his mind can turn to thoughts of her figure.

Interesting, also, is how both Razia and The Deacon experience (and try to hide) moments of great weakness as well.

In the fight scene in the barn, we see three young men of the community, each with a differing level of piety, fighting with each other because Razia and Hank are having (or have just had) sex. Though perhaps not a power that many women would want to have, Razia, undeniably, possesses a great amount of power over men, though obviously there is vulnerability in this as well, as, it seems, with all power.