Anthony Rivetti

Mr. Clark

AP Literature and Composition

19 December 2018

Graham Greene: Authorial Intent

Henry Graham Greene, known almost exclusively by his pseudonym Graham Greene,

was one of the most prominent writers of the twentieth century. He wrote a number of incredibly

successful novels, as well as several short stories, travel books, plays, and biographies (Bosco 3).

Many of Greene’s most popular works contain events and elements that reflect significant

aspects of his own life. Most notably, Greene is widely known as one of the greatest Catholic

novelists in history because of the numerous theological references and themes throughout his

stories (Bosco 3). Studying Greene’s background enables a reader to gain insight into the

intention and true meanings behind Graham Greene’s work; therefore, it is beneficial for a reader

to gather biographical knowledge on Greene, or any other writer, before reading one of his or her

works.

Graham Greene was born in Berkhamsted, Hertfordshire, England on October 2, 1904.

Though he came from a rather affluent family, Greene had a difficult childhood. He was bullied

throughout his time at school, which led to depression. This depression was so deep that Greene

considered and even attempted suicide multiple times. He was sent by his parents to a

psychotherapy center in London to resolve this issue. It is here that he developed his love for

literature. Greene returned to school to graduate, and attended Balliol College of Oxford

University. Upon graduating from Oxford, he worked as a sub-editor for The Times. He also met

Vivien Dayrell-Browning, a Catholic woman who would have an incredible impact on his life
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and work. Greene decided to learn more about Catholicism after meeting Vivien. In 1926, he

converted to the Catholic faith, and in 1927, he married Vivien (“Graham Greene

Bibliography”). The couple had two children together, Lucy and Francis; however, their

relationship did not last. Greene left his family in 1947, although he never officially obtained a

divorce from Vivien due to the rules of the Catholic Church. This separation was fueled by

Greene’s infidelity, evident in his numerous affairs (Smith). Greene remained married, though

removed from his family, until he died in 1991 (“Graham Greene Biography”).

Throughout Graham Greene’s novels, there are numerous instances where a clear

connection can be seen between his own life and the actions or qualities of a character. In many

of his books, there are themes relating to faith, as well as references to struggle, sin, and hope for

redemption, all of which applied to his own life (Bosco 5). Of all his novels, his most famous are

likely The Power and the Glory and The End of the Affair, both of which are heavily focused on

religion. Brighton Rock and The Heart of the Matter are also centered on faith and morality.

According to Mark Bosco, these four novels stand as the “gold standard” for a Catholic novel in

English literature (3). Knowledge of Greene’s religious conversion and struggles with morality

enhances a reader’s understanding of these books because it allows a more accurate

interpretation of his motivation for writing, as well as the awareness of deeper meanings in the

texts.

The Heart of the Matter, written in 1948, covers multiple issues that relate to Graham

Greene’s life. The novel takes place in West Africa, and the main character, Scobie, makes a

series of fateful decisions. He is a married Catholic man, but he has an affair with a young girl.

Full of guilt and unable to repent, Scobie commits suicide (The Heart of the Matter). Graham

Greene, too, contemplated suicide at multiple times, and it is evident in this novel that he saw
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suicide and death as “a release or a liberation” (Iyer 100). Green also had multiple affairs. He

struggled to do what was morally right, just as Scobie. The Heart of the Matter reveals the

themes that humans are imperfect and that only God can judge human beings. Greene felt

strongly about these truths, as he struggled to act morally, although he maintained faith.

The Power and the Glory is often considered Graham Greene’s greatest work. Published

in 1940, this novel was inspired by his 1938 trip to Mexico, where he witnessed the persecution

of Catholics (Updike 5). This story details the life of a Catholic priest on the run during a time of

persecution. This priest, though admirable for his faith, is not perfect. He is a sinner who is

struggling to do the right thing (The Power and the Glory). A parallel can be drawn between this

priest and Greene himself. Both figures made the decision to seek God and will to do what is

right, although they, like most humans, struggle to follow this path. Greene may have been

referencing his own life when he wrote, “You cannot control what you love – you watch it

driving recklessly toward the broken bridge, the torn-up track, the horror of seventy years ahead”

(The Power and the Glory 36). In his own life, Greene was unable to control his sexual desires,

which led to affairs that tore apart his family. His motivation for writing this book was likely to

reveal some aspects of the persecution he observed, as well as to show that human beings are all

flawed and must struggle to choose the good. Greene’s message is that there is hope for

redemption and salvation through God’s mercy. These themes are made more apparent and

tangible when this book is read in light of Graham Greene’s biography.

Greene’s next most famous book is The End of the Affair, a novel published in 1951 that

is told from the point of view of an unmarried man, Maurice Bendrix, who has an affair with a

married woman named Sarah Miles. Sarah ends the relationship when she makes a promise to

God that if He spares Bendrix’s life from the bombing, she will break off the affair. She did not
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previously have any interaction or relationship with God, but when she discovers that Bendrix is

safe, she keeps her word. Sarah later dies of a lung disease; however, due to her conversion,

miraculous events are tied to her death (The End of the Affair). The narrator of the story also

struggles with faith, saying, “You’re a devil, God, tempting us to leap. But I don’t want Your

peace and I don’t want Your love” (The End of the Affair 191). Biographical information is very

important in this case, as this book reflects Greene’s frequent struggles in his faith. Also, the

subject of extramarital relationships is one of significant relevance to Greene’s life. He had a

number of affairs that destroyed his marriage and tore him away from his family. However,

Greene maintained his faith and the belief that God will forgive those who repent, which is a

major theme of The End of the Affair.

Having knowledge of Graham Greene’s biography prior to reading his works is beneficial

for multiple reasons. First, viewing his biographical information in conjunction with his novels

allows a reader to determine the purpose of Greene’s stories. Each novel has a lesson that it is

trying to teach the reader, mainly about morality and redemption (Bosco 5). This meaning is

made clearer through the background knowledge of Greene’s life. Biographical information also

allows the themes and issues to be more real and relevant to the reader. Greene dealt with many

of the struggles that he details in his books. This knowledge makes the novels more emotionally

captivating, as there is some historical element to these fictional stories. Overall, prior

knowledge of Greene’s life enables a reader to more fully understand his novels and his

intentions behind writing them. Without biographical information, Greene’s true intentions for

writing and therefore his intended message may not be fully communicated to a reader. Because

of this, Greene’s work should not stand alone without his background being known to the reader.
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Generally, this premise is true for all writers and their works. In order to fully appreciate

the story a person is telling, one must know the experiences that author has faced and the time

period in which he or she lived. This helps a reader to understand the reason an author holds a

particular position or view. Gaining this knowledge also enables a reader to form a deeper

connection to an author and his or her work.

Although it is usually preferred to have some background knowledge of an author, there

are some positive aspects to a “tabula rasa” approach. Reading a book without any prior

knowledge of the author’s experiences or life allows a reader to interpret the book for himself or

herself. They can mold the themes to fit their own beliefs or struggles, instead of only seeing the

novel as a reflection of the author’s life. However, this is not reading the book as the author

intended it to be read, and one can gain much more from reading with background information

than with no prior knowledge of the author.

Graham Greene’s work includes a significant amount content that is reflective of his own

life experiences. Because of this, a reader of his novels should have knowledge of his

background before reading a text. This information allows for greater understanding of Greene’s

intent and messages, as well as an increased connection between the reader and the work. These

same things are true regardless of author, as biographical information of an author enhances the

overall appreciation of their work. There are some instances where it can be beneficial for a work

to stand alone; however, the understanding of an author’s life and motivations through their

biography provides a far greater depth of comprehension and a more complete reading

experience.
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Works Cited

Bosco, Mark. Graham Greene's Catholic Imagination. Oxford University Press, 2005.

“Graham Greene Biography.” Encyclopedia of World Biography, Advameg, Inc.,

www.notablebiographies.com/Gi-He/Greene-Graham.html.

Greene, Graham. The Power and the Glory. Penguin Books, 2015.

Greene, Graham. The End of the Affair. Penguin Books, 2004.

Greene, Graham. The Heart of the Matter. Viking Press, 1981.

Iyer, Pico. The Man Within My Head. Knopf Doubleday Publishing, 2012.

Smith, Dinitia. “Graham Greene Biography, Heavy on Sex, Draws Some Outrage.” The New

York Times, The New York Times, 4 Nov. 2004,

www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/books/graham-greene-biography-heavy-on-sex-draws-

some-outrage.html.

Updike, John. Introduction, The Power and the Glory. Penguin Books, 2015.