Lots of books deal with love. Some are simple and straightforeward. Others dig into the more complex nature of love and the personalities who seek it. The Heart of the Matter by Graham Greene focuses on the breakdown of a marriage. Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro focuses on the road not taken in both love and more broadly in life. Of Human Bondage by William Somerset Maugham focuses on life choices and the impact of a toxic relationship between two people ill-suited for each other.
The Heart of the Matter. In this story, Major Henry Scobie is a British deputy police commissioner posted to West Africa. He is basically a decent person who tries to do the right thing and tries to please people – or at least to do no harm. His wife grows to hate their life and where they live, and leaves for South Africa, where several of her friends have already moved and where she can escape the attentions of a new arrival in town, Edward Wilson, who is infatuated with her.
The Scobies had a child who died – Scobie was away when his daughter died and there is an odd aloofness about his daughter’s death, as neither parent knows quite how to deal with it. Up until his wife’s departure, Scobie has been able to keep everything in check. His integrity is well-known, his devotion to his wife, who is not well-liked (she is considered a snob in part because she has the temerity to enjoy books and reading), is a matter of both amusement and grudging respect among his peers and their wives. Although he is not exactly happy and certainly not wealthy, he is relatively content that his basic needs are met.
For his wife to leave, he must borrow money from a known local crime boss. This sets in motion a series of unfortunate events, exacerbated by the arrival of a young widow to whom Scobie is attracted. An affair soon begins. As with other Greene books that I have read, the story is less about the plot that evolves than about the characters. I love these complex people who often say and do things that don’t seem right … and yet there is an honesty there that is so compelling to me.
Emotions are all over the place: love isn’t really romantic; fear is actually guilt; hate is really disappointment and jealousy; and so on. What do these characters really feel? What is real and what will pass? Why do they do the things they do? For anyone who wants the romance, this is not the book for you! And, yet, there is some version of love written throughout these pages. I feel like between the lines and among the words, there is reality. Not the neat and tidy version that we all want, but the messy, ugly, scary parts that we secretly wonder about. Does s/he really love me? Why is s/he doing this – what is the motivation – what is really going on? What do I really feel – what is the truth that I may not want to admit, even to myself? It’s that emotional doubt that Greene brings out to play. The characters in this (and his other) books often are battling these same issues. Maybe I find them cathartic! At any rate, I always find it hard to explain Graham Greene and my reactions to his books.
Remains of the Day. This is a quiet story of a butler in a large English country house, mainly highlighting the years leading up to WWII. The writing was lovely and the descriptions were evocative; the characterization was a bit mixed, I thought. The story has a several intriguing components, including contemplation of the road not taken, owning one’s decisions and points of view, and the potential downside of trusting too much. On a broader level, the changes to British society following both world wars are highlighted with both intelligence and emotion. The film with Anthony Hopkins and Emma Thompson generally did a wonderful job in bringing out the characters and the main points of the story.
Mr. Stevens is a reserved and dedicated butler who values dignity and service to his gentleman. He devotes his life to service, foregoing a personal life for work. He is also the narrator of the story, which is told in flashbacks as he recalls his life. He is driving to see Miss Kenton, a former housekeeper for whom he has never-expressed feelings. It’s a sad story, as he begins to realize that the choices he made early in his life and never questioned have led him to a very solitary life. He has a growing sense that he as squandered opportunities.
This is a story about the importance of being aware … of your own feelings and goals, of how others feel, of who you should trust and when you should think for yourself, and of all of your options so you make the best decisions. Both Mr. Stevens and Miss Kenton are reluctant to share how they really feel. They both end up with some regrets and unhappiness. That is what is so sad – that because they couldn’t talk with each other, they lost their chance to explore a relationship.
The notion of trusting someone too much is also a key theme. Mr. Stevens trusts his employer implicitly but comes to learn that Lord Darlington was deceived and naive. Similarly, Lord Darlington trusts too much in his old German friend, who uses him. Misplaced trust leads both men to face empty lives and leads to Mr. Stevens making the observation that he hasn’t owned his opinions and his decisions – he gave that power to his employer. The dual themes of dignity and banter are used throughout the novel and parallel the old formality of service and the new lighter tone of service expected in the post-war years. For most of his life, Mr. Stevens has valued dignity above all else – not showing emotion, focusing on professionalism. Yet, later in his life, he is forced to change – his new employer (an American) is not from the old-school society – and he has to choose whether to adjust and adapt to circumstances. It is a compelling book that makes one think about choices and decisions.
Of Human Bondage. This is one of those books in which the characters are not the most likeable people in the world. I liked the second half of this book better than the first half. Philip initially (as a boy and young man) was very judgmental and, although I could sympathize about his trials and tribulations, he was irritating, frustrating and “high maintenance” in today’s parlance. He has a club foot, which makes him vulnerable in many ways. In the second half of the book, he started to grow up and understand that people have flaws and require forgiveness and patience and compassion. He realized that if he stopped trying to have the ideal life and “big” experiences, he could find what truly makes him happy. It’s great to see this growth.
Although Philip is involved with several women over the course of the story, he becomes obsessively infatuated with Mildred. Mildred is a troubled person – beyond being poor and somewhat desperate, she becomes cruel and manipulative. She takes advantage of Philip and steals from him and destroys his belongings. My sympathies were definitely transferred to Philip during the course of the relationship, particularly as he was giving her and her baby (not Philip’s baby) a safe place to stay when they needed it. Mildred drifts in and out of Philip’s life but fortunately her hold on him is broken and he is able to move on with his life.
The story has a lot of ups and downs and speaks to the changing fortunes experienced in life. I felt a sense of relief that Philip eventually finds some stability in both his work and personal choices, though it’s not clear whether he will be truly happy. Settling can be a good thing or it can be a bad thing … this story’s ending could go either way.
