Adultery is always linked to pain... for someone. And, usually, for everyone. Even those not personally involved. Infidelity is a betrayal of faith, proof positive that love doesn’t always add up to joy, fulfillment or loyalty. When a married or committed person turns away from their moral obligation and embarks on the roller coaster ride of emotions involved in ‘trying’ to love two people, there are bound to be deeply rooted issues, from every side of the love triangle, to tackle... Graham Greene tackles them well in The End of the Affair.

Maurice Bendrix, the narrator of the story, begins his tale with a bitter twang. He happens upon a, seemingly, old acquaintance, Henry Miles, whom he proclaims to detest. As the story unfolds, though, we realize that Henry is hated by Maurice for a reason. Sarah Miles is Henry’s wife and the love of his life... “What is it you’re afraid of, Henry?” Maurice asks Henry when, after a chat, he discovers that Henry has found reason to doubt his wife’s fidelity. “Sarah,” he said.

And there begins the journey through Maurice’s mind... We learn that Maurice and Sarah, who no longer see each other, were once lovers. They were even more than lovers, really... they were deeply in love. So deeply, in fact, that neither of them has ever stopped thinking of and caring for the other. Although, in Maurice’s mind, he believes himself to hate Sarah. Why? That is the opening for the remainder of the story, a tale that will offer insight into adultery, the love and the hate, the pain and the confusion, the doubts that create a lifelong “affair of the heart” that even death cannot defeat, the questions that arise from loving someone and leaving them... for God? Or, for fear? The End of the Affair raises as many questions as it answers from my own viewpoint.

As the story continues, we learn that Sarah is dead and Maurice must face his own love/hate. We discover that Sarah wasn’t simply an adulterous wife without morals or values. In fact, we realize that Sarah’s love, her faith, was far stronger than one might imagine. And, Maurice discovers that his despair over losing Sarah was always shared by Sarah, herself. And, perhaps, according to personal opinion, Sarah loved Maurice more than she loved her own life. For whatever reason, Graham Greene choose to wade through the insufferable emotions that come with adultery and/or any betrayal, he choose to do so with a flair for the inconceivable that most writers can only hope to gain. When he gave life to Sarah, Maurice and Henry, he also gave life to a classic tale that will, undoubtedly, enrich many reader’s hearts, minds and lives. With The End of the Affair, Greene opened doors that were tightly closed and that is always the writers greatest success

The questions that Greene asks, yet fails to answer... because the answers are too impossible, are about faith, love, devotion, loyalty, sin and the sinner. What would you do if... you love someone who chooses God over you? If you love someone who can never be yours? If you love someone whom you hate? Someone whom fate has bound you to in ways that nothing on earth can define? Is it really God who caused this pain or is God the only answer to diffuse it? What would you choose? Faith is stronger than some people care to admit... and, yes... There are moral dilemmas, personal choices, that each of us must face along our journey.

It is my personal opinion that Graham Greene wrote this book under the assumption that we, as readers, would come away from it with the same penetrating feeling of turmoil and muddled emotions that Maurice Bendrix has shown throughout the telling of it. I believe Greene fully intended to raise more questions than he gave answers ... and to unveil the strength of faith, faith far stronger than many can lay claim to.

Through The End of the Affair, Graham Greene raises so many moral considerations that it would be hopeless to attempt to know ... what only God can know. If I was Sarah, would I have been so strong in my faith? I don’t think so. I imagine, though, only God can answer that.

Graham Greene, who became a Catholic in 1926 and died in 1991, was incredibly adept at creating work which keeps the reader questioning morals, spirituality and faith... I came away from this novel feeling sure that Greene had taken every aspect of adultery into account and shared insights that seem impossible to put into words. With The End of the Affair, Greene tempts every reader to look into his own heart and discover the threads that hold us prisoner... afraid to face the only truth there truly is, the truth about ourselves.

If you’re someone who enjoys reading a classic love story with plenty of insight into the heart, try reading The End of the Affair... Please don’t expect a happy ending though. If you read this one, expect conflicting emotions, questionable ideas and the wisdom of intuition at its best. Narrow minded souls may not enjoy opening up the doors that Greene’s work will force them to. Therefore, read this one with expectations of a profound impression.

Recommended: Yes