The Heart of the Matter
• It is strongly pictorial. His writing is made up of moving pictures; it’s as if
it’s cinematic.
• The people have dreams and it’s as if there are no gap and it tells the
readers about the character (thinking and feeling)
• Novel is narrated in the third person – anonymous narrator – either
omniscient (will know everything that happened – what everyone is
thinking- God like) or oblique narration (narrator focuses on one point of
view -> Scobie’s) there are some rare instances where the narrator
shift’s to another character’s point of view. For example Wilson’s point
of view (perspective – thinks and feels). We enter their mind.
Wilson is the direct opposite of Scobie (protagonist). This makes Wilson an
antagonist. He wants Scobie’s destruction because he wants Louise. We get
to see Scobie through someone else’s eyes.
The narrator can be described as non-intrusive. The narrator never provides
us with comments about Scobie, doesn’t tell us what we should think, but
does an evaluation of what is happening by similes, symbols, metaphors and
particular images.
Narrator shows sympathy with the sinners, underdog. These people are truly
human and make mistakes. Scobie is searching for happiness but it is difficult
to find. He remembers his daughter who is dead. He searches happiness for
Louise and his lover but is bound to fail because of his decisions. To acquire
peace, he can ultimately achieve the desire of peace.
Scobie is introduced to us through Wilson, the narrator mentions a vulture,
there is a link between Wilson and the vulture, and both are scavengers.
Wilson desires Scobie’s wife.
Juxtaposed position – when two images next to each other like the vulture and
Wilson.
The novel takes place in Freetown capital city of Sierra Leone. It’s hot and
humid. Vultures land on buildings; roofs are made out of metal. For a time in
the year, it’s always raining and there are a lot of mosquitoes which increase
the risk of Malaria.
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• It is strongly pictorial. His writing is made up of moving pictures; it’s as if
it’s cinematic.
• The people have dreams and it’s as if there are no gap and it tells the
readers about the character (thinking and feeling)
• Novel is narrated in the third person – anonymous narrator – either
omniscient (will know everything that happened – what everyone is
thinking- God like) or oblique narration (narrator focuses on one point of
view -> Scobie’s) there are some rare instances where the narrator
shift’s to another character’s point of view. For example Wilson’s point
of view (perspective – thinks and feels). We enter their mind.
Wilson is the direct opposite of Scobie (protagonist). This makes Wilson an
antagonist. He wants Scobie’s destruction because he wants Louise. We get
to see Scobie through someone else’s eyes.
The narrator can be described as non-intrusive. The narrator never provides
us with comments about Scobie, doesn’t tell us what we should think, but
does an evaluation of what is happening by similes, symbols, metaphors and
particular images.
Narrator shows sympathy with the sinners, underdog. These people are truly
human and make mistakes. Scobie is searching for happiness but it is difficult
to find. He remembers his daughter who is dead. He searches happiness for
Louise and his lover but is bound to fail because of his decisions. To acquire
peace, he can ultimately achieve the desire of peace.
Scobie is introduced to us through Wilson, the narrator mentions a vulture,
there is a link between Wilson and the vulture, and both are scavengers.
Wilson desires Scobie’s wife.
Juxtaposed position – when two images next to each other like the vulture and
Wilson.
The novel takes place in Freetown capital city of Sierra Leone. It’s hot and
humid. Vultures land on buildings; roofs are made out of metal. For a time in
the year, it’s always raining and there are a lot of mosquitoes which increase
the risk of Malaria.
1
