Purpose
‘The Most ingenious, inventive and exciting of our novelists’
V.S. Pritchett, The Times
The book is a detailed story of life changing as well as moral crisis of Henry Scobie. Graham, a British Intelligence Officer working in Sierra Leone, drew from his experience while writing the novel. Although, the location was not mentioned in the novel but after two decade author revealed it in his later novel’. ‘The Heart of the Matter’ was and remains highly popular and has sold more than 3,00,000 copies after its release. The novel was chosen for many prestigious awards like James Tait Black Memorial Prize (1948), listed in 100 Best English-Language novels of 20th century(1998), selected by TIME magazine as the best novel from 1923 to present (2005).
Further, the title of novel is best suited to the matter contained in the novel. Novel put stress on the fact that one has to feel pity even on earth and other planets.
Introduction
Graham Greene was one of the most popular English novelists of last century. He is also looked upon as most fascinating examples of critical contention and misreading in literature. He is considered as a fine psychoanalyst of the human soul. Therefore, one should try to give a psychoanalytic reading to the theme of pity in ‘The Heart of the Matter’.
This novel is the third religious novel of the Greene. It is consider being one of the complex works of Graham Greene, as the work tries to probe the disturbing clarity of human mind in psychological and analytical essence.
Summary
During World War II, Major Henry Scobie while looking after the security issues in West Coast of Africa lived in a nearby colony. Louise Scobie (Louise) his wife was not happy with her current state as she had no friends around. She was fond of reading literature and poetry. Louise was a catholic, where as her husband was a convert. Henry Scobie (Scobie) feels that he was responsible for her misery, but internally didn’t love her. Their daughter died in England several years back. Louise hated her life and in order to escape form it she wanted to live in South Africa, away from British community.
A new inspector, Wilson arrives in the colony. He also has passion for literature and poetry and strike up a friendship with Louise. Wilson hides his passion for literature from his colleagues as it didn’t suit with his profession. Scobie mistook their friendship for love. Wilson lives with another colleague named Harries, who has invented a sport for killing cockroaches in his building and invited Harries to play with him. The first match didn’t happen as they are not cleared about rules of game.
Scobie is inspecting local passenger ship in order to stop smuggling of diamonds. A Portuguese ship, the Esperanca (means ‘Hope’) arrives at port, while inspecting a steward reveals about a hidden letter in Captain’s quarters. Scobie recovers that sealed letter (addressed to some German location) and took it in his possession, as it might contain some secret codes. Captain offered him bribe and told him that this letter is for his daughter. Scobie declines the bribe offer. He took letter along and beyond rules read it. He finds letter as innocuous, he decide to not submit to authorities and burns it.
In another instance, one of local inspector commits suicide due to huge debt as per his suicide note. As investigation proceeds, the involvement of the local Syrian man (named Yusef ) is very sure to police. Yusef completely denies and warns Scobie that department has been sent him to inspect for diamonds smuggling only. Scobie was looking for loan from bank to give money to Louise. But bank turned down and forcefully he took money from Yusef @ 4 percent per annum.
Shortly afterwards, the survivors of a ship start reaching shore in their lifeboats after forty days of accident. A new wedded, Helen Rolt, now a widow was one of them, arrived in bad shape. Scobie took pity on her though she is no more appears to beautiful; He soon begin a passionate affair with her, although he was aware about this grave sin. One of letter he wrote to Helen ends up in hands of Blackmailer, Yusef. He forced Scobie to avoid packet of diamonds on ‘Esperanca ‘. Scobie went to local church for confession.
Soon after Yusef’s servant delivers a ‘gift’ at Scobie’s home. During this incidence, old servant ‘Ali’ came to know about Scobie’s affair. Scobie visits Yusef to return gift and unburden his suspicion that Ali can reveal this in public. After few days, old servant found murdered in a nearby street. Reader thought this act might be done by Yusef. But Scobie blames himself. Having gone far down the path, the proud Scobie decided to commit suicide to free him from sins and society ‘ including God. He plots his own death and ends his life.
After his death in concluding chapter, story tells about the Helen, who continues her dreary existence. Louise, who knew about the affair, came to knew that Scobie’s death was suicide from Wilson. Louise revealed her thought of not marrying him. Louise also met confessional priest and tires to square Scobie’s death with his religious believe. But priest advised that no person can know what’s there in individual heart or also about God’s mercy.
Conclusion
The language of book is simple and good for beginners too. The vocabulary used in book is of mediocre nature. However, it surly add-up in your knowledge in sense of vocabulary as well as write up skills too. The story also pushes reader mind towards the family organization system along with trust in relationships. It also shows how humans become hostile to situations and do what is never wants to do. Although, some parts of story are giving negative energy but author might have included those to aware reader not to do. The ultimate massage the story came through the voice of priest that ‘No person can know what’s there in individual heart or also about God’s mercy’.