Alvarez 1

Maria Alvarez

Mr. Gango-1

AP English 12

January 10, 2017

Matter by Graham Greene, introduces the reader with an

The novel The Heart of the

honest character by the name of Henry Scobie. First, Henry is a police in the British West

African colony where he lives which primes me into believing in Henrys honesty and his honor.

However, Henry Scobies reputation is being put into doubt by the rumors of the town people. I

still believed in Henrys honesty since all the rumors were not proven. Furthermore, Henry is a

good husband and besides the fact that he does not love his wife he tries to make her happy,

which emotionally appealed to me. I really like Henry Scobies character at the beginning of the

story.

Graham then revealed the problems in Henrys marriage. These problems included his

wifes misery with the colony life, her constant fight for him to be more religious and their death

daughter. It appeared to me the Scobie did have reasons not to love his wife which made me

admire even more his constant worry to keep her happy. When Henry borrowed money from

Yusef it was clear that his commitment to keep Louise happy, was beyond any sacrifice making

him an even more admirable man.

After Louises departure, my perspective of Henry Scobies character began declining.

Helens arrival in the colony, changed the my perspective of Henry Scobie as an honorable man.

In my eyes Henry was no longer respecting his commitment of caring for his wife. Furthermore,

he betrayed his religion when he cheated on Louise. Although, he did feel guilt Scobie never
 Alvarez 2

really repented of his sin after his confession with Father Rank. My biggest disappointment with

Henrys character was in the end when he commitmented suicide. My image of his character was

ruined since I considered him to be a brave man and was disappointed at his lack of courage to

face his problems.

 Alvarez 3

Maria Alvarez

Mr. Gango-1

AP English 12

January 10, 2017

In chapter 1 of How to Read Literature Like a Professor, by Thomas C Foster, he

discusses the motifs found in literature. Foster states that a quest is a common motif found in

many novel. The main character is in search for something and this search may be what

potentially starts the plot. After reading Graham Greenes novel The Heart of the Matter, I found

that the protagonist of the novel is actually on a quest as Foster states.

In the novel I read, the main character, Henry Scobie, is trying to find happiness but his

pity towards others get in his way. Scobie lost his daughter, Catherine Scobie, along time ago

and it seems like since then he also lost a connection to his wife. Foster states that the real reason

for a quest is never explicitly told in the text but rather our own inferences as we read. Scobie

never says hes looking for happiness and a peaceful state of mind, but the reader can infer he is,

since he tries to keep a good reputation an honorable marriage.

According to the towns ideal man should be the ones to provide for the home and keep

their wife happy. However, Louise is an intellectual woman who dreams of much more than the

boring town life. Louise becomes unhappy when Henry gets passed on for the Commissioners

position and ask Henry to pay for her safe travel to South Africa. Henrys reason to obey his

wifes command is the need to show his manliness to the town which he believes will bring him

closer to the happiness he longs to have.

 Alvarez 4

As Foster declared there are several obstacles and challenges in the questers route.

Henrys first challenge is getting the money he needs in order for Louise to have a safe trip.

After he is rejected a loan, Henry borrows money from an illicit Syrian trader. However, far

away from getting Henry closer to peace this transaction brings more obstacles into Henrys life.

Another challenge in Henrys life is the spy send to clear the rumors of corruption. Scobies final

challenge is Helen, who he gets involved with out of pure pity. Now Henry pushes himself even

further from accomplishing his quest, and instead of a peaceful life he now has a guilty and

tormented life.

Forster states that the questers needs a reason to go to the state of place they need to be

in. Henry Scobies reasons strengthen with the guilt he is feeling, he pushed himself away from

that peaceful state of mind and more than ever needs peace with himself. Yusef comes back and

wants to charge Henry telling him to help out Yusef with somethings that goes against Henrys

morals. Henry in search for his quest of peace refuses.

Scobie feels responsible and has pity for Helen but knows he cant be with her anymore.

After, Louise comes back Henry slowly leaves his affair with Helen and fully starts on his search

for peace. He attends mass but cannot help feeling like hes not part of the ceremony, since his

guilt follows him everywhere he goes. Continuing with his quest Scobie goes to confessions, but

fails in his quest for peace when he does not truly repent for his sins.

Finally, the protagonist gives up on his quest when he sees that no matter what he does

his guilty heart will always weigh more. Henry Scobie commits suicide in his desperation to find

peace. According to Foster questers are meant to complete their quest successfully, however in

Greenes novel the protagonist died in the attempt to do so.

 Alvarez 5

Title of Novel:The Heart of the Matter Name: Maria Alvarez

Authors Notes:
Life Graham Greene had troubled school years in which he was tortured for
3 Related being the headmasters son. Greenes themes of treachery and
Facts betrayal might be linked with this part of his tormented past. In the
novel the main character betrays not only his wife but also his ideals.
Greene has a history of suicide attempts which would explain why the
main character, Henry Scobie commits suicide.
After joining the Communist Party, Greene developed an interest for
politics. His interest in politics explain the setting of the book, and
Henrys position as an officer.

Plot Notes: Henry Scobie, the main character, is married to Louise but doesnt
love her. She too is unhappy with Scobies position as a police officer in the
British West African colony where they live. Louise asks her husband to be
sent to South Africa as she is miserable with the colony lifestyle. Before her
departure Louise meets Edward Wilson, whom Greene later reveals to the
reader is a spy, he shares his love for poetry with Louise. Wilson falls in love
with Louise, but she does not feel the same way towards him. Scobie want to
make Louise happy and in order to get the money he needs for her secure
transportation, he gets involved with a disreputable Syrian trader named
Yusef. While Louise is away Henry has an `affair with Helen, a survivor from
a recent shipwreck. His affair with Helen goes against Henry Scobies
Catholic believes and though hes not a faithful Catholic he still feels guilty.
Now Scobies faith and honor are in danger with this affair and with his
relationship with Yusef.

Characters Notes:
Henry Scobie: Henry most of all wishes for a peaceful life, and although he
doesnt love his wife he cares for her and her well-being and happiness.
Scobie betrays his Catholic morals with his affair and his morals as a police
when he borrows money from a disreputable Syrian trader.
Louise Scobie: Louise is an intellectual woman, who is uncomfortable with
the colony life and often depressed. Louise is also very religious and tries to
keep their marriage going even though she knows Henry doesnt love her. She
is concerned with Henrys lack of faith and tries to get him to go to mass and
confession.
Catherine Scobie: Catherine is the death child of the Scobie family. After her
death the marriage of the Scobies seems to have gotten worse.
Helen Rolt: Helen is a shipwreck survivor that arrived to the colony. She
doesnt understand Henrys faith and his guilt for having an affair with her, if
he doesnt love his wife.
Wilson: Wilson is sent as a spy to the colony after the corruption rumors. He
 Alvarez 6

makes Henry Scobie becomes his main target, after he falls in love with his
wife and she rejects him.
Yusef: A manipulative Syrian trader with whom most of the people in town
are in debt with. Scobies decision to borrow money from him makes Henry
paranoid of his own serve, Ali and after telling Yusef of his suspicions, Yusef
kills Ali.
Tallit: Yusefs rival Syrian trader with whom he is always competing.
Ali: The Scobies loyal serve for years, who is killed after Henrys suspects is
a spy.
Father Rank: The local colony father, he understands Henry after his suicide
but, does not approve of his decisions.

Scene and Notes: The story is told during World War II this is important since the novel
Atmosphere/ deals with political issues, it serves as a credible backdrop to the decisions
Locations that are made. In this British West African colony rumors spread fast and
espionage is used to find the guilty. Henry Scobie gets passed over for the
Commissioner's position as a result of the towns gossip.

Narrator/ Notes: Third person omniscient. The reader gets always gets a sense of what
Point of Scobie is feeling and his reasoning for his actions.
View

Style Notes: Fast moving and dramatic style.

Themes Notes:
Religion: Henry Scobie is a man of strong religious affiliations, and even
though he does not follow through with the church expectations, he respects
his religion.
Pity: Henry Scobies pity for Helen becomes dangerous when for compassion
he begins having an affair with her and betrayed his own morals.

Motifs Notes:
Responsibility: Although Henry did not love his wife he felt he was
responsible for her happiness. During Scobies time men were expected to
care for females. Therefore when Scobie began an extramarital relationship
with Helen he began feeling a sense for responsibility for her well being

Notable Page: 46
Quotations Quotation/Significance: "He felt as though he had been detected in a mean
action he had asked for money and had been refused. Louise had deserved
better of him. It seemed to him that he must have failed in some way in
manhood."
-Henry Scobie
Henry feels responsible for his wife and wishes to make her happy. When
Scobie failed to accomplish the norms of manliness set by society he became
 Alvarez 7

angry. His anger lead him to betray his morals as police and borrow money
from Yusef.
Page:115
Quotation/Significance: "It was a formality not because he felt himself free
from serious sin but because it had never occurred to him that his life was
important enough one way or another. He didn't drink, he didn't fornicate, he
didn't even lie, but he never regarded this absence of sin as virtue."
Henry Scobies lack of faith makes him feel distant from God, he believes that
he is a constant disappointment to God. As a result Scobie starts his affair
with Helen, who separates him even more from the faith she does not
understand.
Page:135
Quotation/Significance:
"It seemed to Scobie later that this was the ultimate border he had reached in
happiness: being in darkness, alone, with the rain falling, without love or
pity."
Although Scobie at this point feels content he also feels a crushing
responsibility for Louise and Helen. The darkness and rain that surrounds the
thoughts of Scobie takes over Henrys heart and he in there seems to be no
room for God and guilt to consume him. This inner peace marks the novel
because it is the last moment of peace for Scobie before his guilt comes back.

Key Page: Event/Significance

Passages