Father Crompton Character Analysis

Father Crompton is a Catholic priest who shows up at Henry’s house after Sarah’s death to try to convince Henry to give her a proper Catholic burial instead of having her cremated in a largely secular ceremony. Father Crompton reveals that Sarah had come to him and shown an interest in becoming Catholic and, therefore, can have masses said for her and qualifies for the church to take care of her burial. Bendrix, who knows Sarah had developed some interest in becoming Catholic at one point but ultimately chose not to, successfully persuades Henry not to do it. After the funeral, however, Henry goes to Father Crompton’s church to hear the mass said for Sarah and invites him over for dinner. Bendrix is suspicious that Henry is being converted, even though Henry argues that he’s just trying to be friendly. While Father Crompton is at Henry’s house (which Bendrix has moved into by now), Bendrix lashes out at Father Crompton, blaming the priest for what happened to Sarah and the fact that Bendrix and Sarah never got back together. Father Crompton notes that Bendrix is in pain and “a good hater,” but Bendrix, who described himself as “a man of hate” earlier in the story, leaves the room and slams the door on Father Crompton and Henry. Bendrix’s anger at Father Crompton’s observation is evidence of Bendrix’s growing realization that his hatred is actually a sign of the depths of his love—a realization which he struggles throughout the story.