Bel Canto Study Guide

Describe Roxane Coss.

What is it about her that makes such an impression on the

other hostages and the terrorists? Is it merely that she is

famous? How do her singing and the music relate to the story?

Even though he is given the opportunity to leave the mansion,

Father Arguedas elects to stay with the hostages.

Why does he decide to stay when he risks the possibility of being

killed? As the narrative states, why did he feel, “in the midst of all

this fear and confusion, in the mortal danger of so many lives, the

wild giddiness of good luck?” Isn’t this an odd reaction to have

given the situation? What role does religion play in the story?

There are numerous instances in the story where Mr. Hosokawa

blames himself for the hostages’ situation. He says to Roxane, “But

I was the one who set this whole thing in motion.” Roxane replies

with the following:

“Or did I?” she said. “I thought about declining…. Don’t get me

wrong. I am very capable of blame. This is an event ripe for blame

if I ever saw one. I just don’t blame you.”

Is either one to blame for the situation? If not, who do you think is

ultimately responsible?

DISCUSSIONQUESTIONS

Roxane and Mr. Hosokawa speak different languages and require

Gen to translate their conversations.

Do you think it’s possible to fall in love with someone to whom

you cannot speak directly?

“Roxane Coss and Mr. Hosokawa, however improbable to those

around them, were members of the same tribe, the tribe of the

hostages.... But Gen and Carmen were another matter.”

Compare the love affairs of Gen and Carmen and Roxane and Mr.

Hosokawa. What are the elements that define each relationship?

We find out in the Epilogue that Roxane and Gen have been

married.

How would you describe their relationship throughout the

story? Thibault believes that “Gen and Roxane had married for

love, the love of each other and the love of all the people they

remembered.” What do you think of the novel’s ending? Did it

surprise you? Do you agree with Thibault’s assessment of Gen

and Roxane’s motivations for marrying?