'The Heart of the Matter' can be seen as the degenerationof the 'man of goodwill' into sin. In view of thisstatement, discuss the motives and events in the novelthat lead the protagonist to commit the 'unpardonable sin'.
Set in a small British colonial outpost in Sierra Leone during World War II, The Heart of the Matter occupies and comments on the ambitious subjects of love, adultery, treachery, and betrayal amongst others, but at its core, it is a novel of moral dilemmas. Its plot, its psychological and spiritual depth, even its political intrigues turn around two basic moral questions: Is it possible to make others happy? Is suicide ever the right choice?
The protagonist in this novel is Major Henry Scobie, who in the beginning of the novel is portrayed as a good person, almost a saint. This is due to the fact that he is very loyal, respectful towards his wife and makes it his responsibility to take care of her and make her happy in every way possible. He is also very cautious of his relationship with God as he prays regularly, goes to mass and Holy Communion and also practices his religion as a Catholic. Furthermore, Scobie was also a trustworthy and liable policeman. But as the novel developes, he suffers downfall in all previous aspects of his life, which led him to the ‘unpardonable sin’.Scobie has to deal with the guilt he experiences while having an adulterous affair and trying to be a good Catholic at the same time. A man in his fifties, Scobie feels trapped in a job and in a marriage. He is a policeman in West Africa during World War II. After many years of faithful service, he is passed over for the job of police commissioner. At his age, he realizes that he is probably stuck in his present position for the rest of his life, with no possibility for advancement. His wife, Louise, a very proud woman who wanted him to be promoted to commissioner so that she could feel that she was on the same social level as some the other English women in West...