The End Of The Affair

Sarah and Bendrix are alone in his house when the V1 rocket hits. After the attack, how does the building itself function as a metaphor within the text?

As a writer, Bendrix feels compelled to tell his story. How is the act of writing (and the literature it produces) portrayed in the book?

Henry is depicted as the consummate civil servant. In what ways is Henry’s career reflected in his personal life?

Bendrix’s love for Sarah and his eventual friendship with Henry are two very different kinds of relationships. Which literary techniques does Green use to signify the subtle differences across the two relationships?

The face of Richard Smythe becomes a battleground for questions of faith. How does this physical deformity function in relation to religion, and how does the metaphor reflect the characters’ changing attitudes toward God? 

Bendrix is commissioned to write a book about General Gordon. What does the life of the British officer tell the audience about Bendrix and his lack of faith?

Although Bendrix and Henry compete for the love of the same woman, they end the novel bound firmly together. How does their ultimate co-dependence differ from their initial animosity?

Within the text, there is a clear difference in the portrayal of secular versus religious public spaces. How does Greene describe pubs, clubs, and restaurants in comparison to churches, and what does this tell us about religion?