The Devil's Advocate
By Morris West

448 Pages • $12.95

QUESTIONS FOR DISCUSSION
AND REFLECTION

The Devil's Advocate
By Morris West

[Open a pdf version]

Use the following questions as guides to deeper ­individual understanding of the novel or for group discussion.

1. What kind of person was Monsignor Meredith at the beginning of the novel? What important thing did the cardinal say was missing in his life? What did he mean by this?

2. How does the news of his impending death initially impact Meredith? How do you think you might feel upon receiving news like his? What actions or changes might it inspire?

3. What do you think of the description of the church at the end of
chapter 3?

4. Describe the life of the people in the village. What was the role of the church in the people’s lives? What were the positive and negative elements of this role? How is the role of the church in the lives of Catholics today similar and different? Why?

5. What was Meredith looking for in the life of Giacomo Nerone that would reveal him as more than simply a good man?

6. What did the bishop challenge Meredith to do in chapter 6? Why was Meredith reluctant? What would you do if similarly challenged? What would the risks be?

7. Describe Aldo Meyer’s life and his ideals. Why had he come to this area? Why did he stay?

8. What was the life-changing crisis in Nerone’s life? How were his actions in the village a response to this event? When you think about your life, how have your choices sometimes been an attempt to make up for past actions?

9. Who was your favorite character in this novel? Why? Who was your least favorite? Why?

10. What did Meredith’s investigation of Nerone bring into his own life? How?

11. Do you think Giacomo Nerone was a saint? Why or why not?

Back to the top