How does the face of Christ change for Rodrigues over the course of the novel Silence? Why are the Japanese peasants attracted to the figure of Christ?

When we first meet Rodrigues, he is enthusiastic and excited about his mission. Over the course of the story, however, his enthusiasm for helping the peasants begins fade, particularly, when it comes to putting himself in physical danger. There are more than a few times in which Rodrigues might have been able to save the lives of Christian villagers. Sadly, his refusal to act leads to their deaths, leading the reader to believe that he is more worried about the preservation of his own image than he is for human lives. In the end, Rodrigues has continued to learn and evolve within the village's community, redefining his mission and experiencing a transformation of his own.