Heart of the Matter - the Degeneration of the Man of Good Will Into Sin.

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Graham Greene – The Heart of the Matter “The heart of the Matter” can be seen as the degeneration of the ‘man of goodwill’ into sin. In view of this statement, discuss the motives and events in the novel that lead the protagonist to commit the ‘unpardonable sin’. When analyzing Graham Greene’s “ the heart of the matter” one can notice the strong conflicts surrounding moral responsibility. The story outlines the struggle of a man of values who is unable to fulfill his responsibilities to himself, his wife, and God. The protagonist, Scobie an assistant commissioner for the police, has little hope of change facing a life of low income and a discontent wife. And as he becomes further trapped in his situation, he faces a chose between upholding his religious and moral values or following his heart. Scobie’s unrealistic dream to please everyone lead to the ‘unpardonable sin’ which is suicide and the damnation of his soul. Through out the novel we can see the transformation/degeneration of Scobie’s initial character to the man at the end of the novel. Being a dedicated policeman, scobie showed complete obedience to the laws he served under, with these attitudes being applied to other aspects of his life. He was a man dictated by rule, so he defined his life by his responsibilities. With one major character flaw being he taking pity on people, in particular his wife. Louise, whom makes herself unlikable while complaining that no one likes her, doesn’t find help from scobie in trying to reshape her into a likable person. But rather scobie tries to make her happy in the hopeless task of trying to fulfill his promise on which their entire marriage is based on, to protect her and not love her. Being a Catholic he knows, this task is hopeless and a recipe for despair which he knows this is not an option, as its “the unforgivable sin, but it is a sin the corrupt or

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