The Sinner Is Often The Essay Example

Sierra Leone's black natives, with some declaring "I hate the bloody niggers". In light of this, Scobie aspires to earn the Africans' respect, even speaking their African dialect. He aims to gain their trust and affection and uses simple language to convey this desire.

According to Smith, Scobie's affection for the black community and his love for his country distinguish him from other ex-patriots. However, some argue that Scobie's efforts to maintain this label lead to a sense of responsibility beyond his control, making him a sympathetic character compared to Wilson and Yusef. Unlike Scobie, Wilson is portrayed as weak throughout the story, choosing to believe rumors spread about Scobie. Despite others not believing the rumors due to Scobie's good character, Wilson focuses on "the important detail," emphasizing Scobie's flaws. Physical descriptions of Wilson, such as "his pale face" and "bald pink knees," further contrast Scobie's superiority.

Greene effectively portrays Wilson as a feeble figure, devoid of any virtuous qualities. Consequently, Scobie is presented in a more sympathetic light by using Yusef as a symbol of absolute wickedness.

Despite being involved in illegal activities such as blackmail and transporting illegal goods, the two characters share a warm friendship. Yusef finds comfort in Scobie's companionship, indicating that even in the midst of evil, Scobie possesses a superior and unique quality. Greene divides the novel into three segments, with the first highlighting Scobie's relationship with Louise, the second portraying his affair with Helen, and the third depicting Scobie's ultimate downfall leading to his demise.

Despite the fact that Scobie inevitably commits adultery with Helen, which according to the Catholic Church is a mortal sin, their relationship expresses

some degree of affection from Scobie to Helen. This affection is evoked by her childlike personality which reminds him of his own daughter. When she laughed at his passion in a condescending manner, it indicated to him that she was mature enough, despite being married before. Scobie finds her innocent conversations intriguing and captivating. However, the ironic tone used by Greene suggests that this affair will lead to disastrous consequences, as they could only ever be friends. Overall, the novel carries some tragic elements.

The book is divided into three main parts - the first establishes the setup and plot, the second details the build up and plans for the death of the tragic hero, and the third depicts the actual death and its aftermath. Scobie's character is that of a genuine tragic hero. His inherent sense of moral superiority leads to his downfall, and his feeling of responsibility ultimately leads to his demise. Similar to a classic Greek tragic hero, Scobie's flaw lies in his imperfection of character rather than a mistake of action. Although fully aware of his flaws, Scobie still attempts to secure the happiness of others through extreme sin and ultimate sacrifice. Therefore, it can be argued that Greene intends for Scobie to be a tragic hero, although not one of classical proportions.

Catholicism and mercy.

"The church may know the rules, but it cannot truly understand what resides within an individual's heart," muses the protagonist Scobie. Despite being flawed like any other person, Scobie is driven by a genuine desire to make a positive impact. Father Rank affirms that Scobie's love for God was sincere at the novel's conclusion. Greene employs the symbolism of handcuffs to convey that Scobie is tethered to his compassion and symbolically tied to this trait throughout the story.

Despite Louise's physical unattractiveness, the narrator suggests that the main character is drawn to her. The motif of vultures, "scavengers of a rotting region," serves as a symbol of death, decay, and corruption that overtakes the land and Scobie. The setting, portrayed as a place of corruption and decay, amplifies Scobie's discontent and desperation. The use of imagery such as "handcuffs," "swollen dye-clogs," and "joint under meat cover" contributes to the overwhelming picture of ugliness and reminds us of the ineffectualness of the police system.

A contemporary Christian reader can understand Scobie's yearning for peace and desire for mercy, as these values are now emphasized more in Christianity than the older concept of punishment and damnation. The reader can also feel the agony and struggle that Scobie goes through. "He wished to plead, 'Assist me, Father. Persuade me that it is ethical to forsake her for Bagster.

Despite kneeling and waiting silently, the protagonist expresses a lack of hope after asking for belief in God's mercy. Scobie reaches a point of despair as he feels dispensable to the lives of those he cares for, leading him to contemplate suicide. Despite a desire for eventual happiness for his loved

ones, he does not intend to become a sinner by going against God's will or any moral laws. Scobie's overwhelming sense of pity reveals his goodness as a person, but also indicates his lack of trust in a God whom he claims to love. As he admits, "I've lost the trick of trust".

The presence of Scobie's tremendous conceit, referred to as his "monstrous pride," suggests a flaw in his character. His overbearing pride in Louise, expressed by his belief that "He had formed her face," has such sway over him that he thinks he has transformed her into what she is. Unfortunately, Scobie is blinded to the fact that Louise uses and subverts him by calling him "Ticki." Additionally, Scobie feels sorry for God.

The priests who were destroyed were consuming God in a grotesque and nonsensical ceremony.

. It is unclear whether Scobie's feelings for his lover were rooted in love or simply a sense of obligation and sympathy. Additionally, Scobie's susceptibility can be identified through his entanglement in a cycle of corruption. This process initiates with his choice to destroy the captain's letter, which ultimately contributes to his demise. Despite his honorable intentions, this decision aligns him with immoral law enforcement officers, placing him among their ranks.

The corruption of money and sentiment had taken hold of both Scobie and his acquaintances, causing him to resort to unethical behavior such as bribery and lies to navigate challenging situations. As a result of this downward spiral, Scobie was ultimately consumed by despair and forced to betray his values, leading to tragic outcomes including the death of Ali and shame for himself.

George Orwell

criticizes Scobie's character in The Heart of the Matter, suggesting that "only the good can commit the ultimate sin" and that causing pain would not be an issue in the colonial police force. However, it should be noted that Scobie never has the direct intention of causing harm. A modern reader can feel pity for Scobie due to the portrayal created by Greene in the novel. Despite Scobie's lack of trust in God, he dies with "love" on his lips during a conversation with God, who recognizes him as a good man made with love.

In his portrayal of Scobie's actions, Greene employs religious imagery to highlight the character's unbreakable connection with God, even when committing wrongdoing. This is exemplified in book two through the symbolism of the "broken rosary" that foretells Scobie's betrayal of his loyal friend Ali. Despite being in a state of mortal sin, Scobie's love for God remains steadfast, demonstrated by his final attempt at prayer following his confession to Father Ranks. Therefore, Scobie is shown to maintain a continuous bond with God throughout the narrative.

Through the dialogues with Greene, the author conveys that he would rather cause his own suffering than hurting his wife or Helen because he cannot bear to see the author in pain, stating "I know what I'm doing".

The reason behind Scobie's inner turmoil could be his struggle to reconcile his love for humanity with his love for God, which leads to an overwhelming desire for mercy and pity, as demonstrated by the suicide of Pemberton. Scobie firmly believes that mercy should be granted to the innocent, and even the church cannot refute the notion that God pities

the young. He questions the Catholic Church's teachings about damnation and is in agreement with Greene's qualms about Catholicism and mercy.

Although the church is knowledgeable about all regulations, it is unaware of what goes on in an individual's heart. Scobie, who was driven by the aspiration to do good, is a human being. At the end of the narrative, Father Rank claims that Scobie had a profound affection for God. During a significant moment in the book, the reader witnesses Scobie negotiating with God, wishing for the terminally ill girl to find peace in the end.

Greene employs the metaphor of Christ carrying his cross to depict how the weight of death impacts both the dying girl and Scobie, stating that "it were as if she were carrying a weight with a great effort up a long hill." The sight of the girl's passing calls to mind memories of his own deceased child, Catherine, and causes Scobie to reflect on how he had always expressed his gratitude for being spared that kind of agonizing pain. This transformative moment serves as a reminder that all humans must inevitably "drink the cup of suffering."

Scobie's virtuous traits are evident in this scene as he strives to bring peace to the child by sacrificing his own. This act is ultimately fulfilled by his own demise later in the novel. Through prayer, Scobie begs for the child's peace even if it costs him his own. Analogous to Christ's sacrifice for humanity, Scobie believes his own death will be for the greater good of those he leaves behind. Although he couldn't witness the girl's passing, Scobie comforts her and relives

the loss of his own daughter, Catherine. "This is what I thought I'd missed."

Greene skillfully creates a poignant and intense scene in which Scobie's overwhelming pity triggers his downfall, although he never intends to harm anyone. The language and structure of the scene are controlled and emotional, foreshadowing the tension that Scobie's bargain with God will create throughout the novel. The dialogue in this scene could even be seen as a precursor to Scobie's later conversation with God. Scobie's main vulnerability, given the religious context of the novel, is his lack of faith and trust in God. As he laments, "I am never going to know peace again. But you'll be at peace when I am out of your reach."

During his conversation with God, Scobie admits that he's never trusted God and is willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. He explains that he would rather suffer and give pain to God than to Helen or his wife because he cannot bear to see God suffer. Scobie also lacks faith in God's ability to take care of Louise and Helen.

Scobie is convinced that he can heal those who are unwell, stating "they are ill with me and I can cure them." However, due to his terrible sin, he feels as though he is beyond the reach of God's forgiveness. Father Rank attempts to comfort Scobie, but ultimately admits that he was foolish to believe that he could convince Scobie of God's mercy in their confined setting.

Scobie expresses his regret for visiting his Father and admits to receiving communion while being in a state of mortal sin. This act is perceived as the worst thing

he could have done by him. Scobie holds a belief in the innocence of others and advocates for mercy, but due to his profound sin in his own eyes and possibly in God's, he feels undeserving of it.

At the conclusion of the book, Louise declares her belief that "he never had any faith in mercy, except for others." Father Rank responds abruptly and honestly, stating that neither he nor Louise truly comprehend the nature of God's mercy. This unexpected statement presents an insightful perspective on the Catholic Church. Father Rank echoes author Greene's view by acknowledging that while the Church may understand all the regulations, it lacks insight into what transpires in an individual's heart.

Despite experiencing tragedy, Scobie's character embodies decency and honor, making him admirable in every way. Through his unwavering commitment to doing what's best, and his frequent dialogue with God, it's clear that he has a deep love for the divine. Despite being considered a sinner due to his alleged detachment from God, Scobie never feels isolated from him.

Despite Scobie's lack of trust in God and belief in his own damnation, he remains connected to him until the very end. His final words, "I love you," demonstrate this. As a Catholic, Scobie's awareness of right and wrong condemns him, creating an idea that sinners are central to Christianity.