Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
"Brighton Rock" is a novel by Graham Greene, published in 1938, that delves into themes of morality, good and evil, and the nature of sin through a gripping narrative of crime and psychological conflict. Set in the seaside town of Brighton, the story follows Fred Hale, who, while promoting a newspaper under the alias Kolly Kibber, becomes embroiled in a gang-related murder. The new gang leader, Pinkie Brown, seeks to eliminate any threats to his power, particularly targeting Hale due to his connection to a previous murder.
As the plot unfolds, Hale's desperate attempts for safety lead him to Ida Arnold, a barmaid who becomes suspicious of the circumstances surrounding his death. Meanwhile, Pinkie's manipulative relationship with Rose, a young waitress, highlights his struggles with his violent nature and his fear of being discovered. The novel not only explores the dynamics of gang violence and revenge but also poses profound questions about faith, love, and the human condition. The tension escalates as Pinkie's dark intentions culminate in a tragic confrontation, ultimately leaving questions about redemption and the consequences of one’s choices. "Brighton Rock" remains a complex and thought-provoking exploration of morality entwined with a fast-paced crime narrative.
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Brighton Rock by Graham Greene
First published: 1938
Type of work: Novel
Type of plot: Philosophical realism
Time of plot: Mid-1930’s
Locale: Brighton, England
Principal characters
Pinkie Brown , a seventeen-year-old gangsterFred Hale , a journalist, who is killed by Pinkie’s gangRose , a waitress who becomes Pinkie’s wifeIda Arnold , a London barmaid visiting Brighton on vacationKite , a former gang leaderSpicer andDallow , Pinkie’s gangsters
The Story:
At the Brighton pier on a sunny Whitsun bank holiday, a terrified Fred Hale distributes his cards. Under the pseudonym Kolly Kibber, Hale places his cards along the route as part of his job as a newspaper promoter. Pinkie, the new leader of Kite’s gang, begins to haunt Hale for being complicit in Kite’s murder.
In a frantic search for comfort and protection, Hale links up with the affable London barmaid Ida Arnold, who is enjoying a relaxing holiday. Fearing for his life, Hale begs Ida to accompany him for the rest of the day, and she willingly accepts his invitation. Ida makes a quick trip to the ladies room; when she reappears, Hale is gone. He has been kidnapped. He is then murdered by Pinkie’s gang.
To establish an alibi after Hale’s murder, Pinkie’s men continue to distribute Hale’s cards along the pier. Gang member Spicer leaves a card at Snow’s restaurant, and a waitress there, Rose, notices that a stranger is distributing Kibber’s cards. Pinkie, in turn, sees Rose’s concern. He then realizes that Rose could be an important witness against the gang in any future trial against them, and so he decides to befriend her.
Back in London after her brief holiday, Ida learns of Hale’s death. She sees Hale’s photograph in the newspaper and learns that the authorities have attributed his death to natural causes. Ida, who has “instincts,” smells something “fishy” about the coroner’s report and decides to do some investigating of her own. After interviewing a potential witness and attending Hale’s cremation, Ida is still dissatisfied, and she vows to find justice for Hale.
In the meantime, Pinkie continues to curry favor with Rose. On a date at a local dance hall, Pinkie and Rose discuss religion and find they are both “Romans” (Catholics), albeit with different perspectives; Pinkie’s mind is on Hell and Rose’s is on Heaven.
Intent on unmasking the details of Hale’s death, Ida takes a temporary room in Brighton. Following a racetrack tip that Hale had given her, Ida goes to the tracks to place a bet. Overhearing snippets of conversation that jog her memory of the day she met Hale, Ida begins to piece together Pinkie’s complicity in Hale’s disappearance. Further investigation leads her to Snow’s restaurant and to Rose, who has seen the Kibber impostor—Spicer. Talking to the frail and timid Rose awakens Ida’s maternal instincts, and she vows to not only get Pinkie but also protect Rose.
Pinkie still courts Rose, fearing that she will put together the pieces of the puzzle and implicate his gang in Hale’s murder. Although Rose is treated cruelly by Pinkie, she exhibits a growing devotion to him. Pinkie decides that he must marry Rose for his protection, knowing that a wife cannot testify against her husband. Witnessing Pinkie’s wooing of the young and innocent Rose, Ida still shadows Rose to convince her that Pinkie is dangerous, but Rose staunchly defends Pinkie. When he learns of Ida’s interference, and after his hastily conceived murder of Spicer, the frightened Pinkie puts his marriage plans into motion.
Pinkie meets Rose at her home in Nelson Place, the slum where she grew up, and the desolation and poverty remind Pinkie of his own miserable upbringing. Although Rose’s parents “have a mood on,” Pinkie is able to bargain with them for Rose’s hand, finally “buying” her for fifteen guineas. When Ida later learns of the marriage, she redoubles her efforts to free Rose. After their wedding night at Pinkie’s rented room, Pinkie leaves and Ida visits Rose. Rose, however, proves more resistant to Ida because Rose is now convinced she is carrying Pinkie’s child.
When confronted with the prospect of a child, Pinkie realizes he cannot live the life he has made for himself and decides he must be free of Rose. To this end, he makes a suicide pact with Rose, who willingly decides to follow him to death and damnation. Pinkie, of course, plans to have Rose kill herself first, while he goes free.
To carry out the plan, Pinkie and Rose travel to the town of Peacehaven. With Ida, the police, and fellow gangster Dallow hot on their trail, Pinkie and Rose drive to a cliff overlooking the sea. Rose’s will weakens as she puts a gun to her head, but Pinkie steadies her hand. As Rose hears footsteps, she throws down the gun. Pinkie, knowing he has been caught, retrieves a bottle of vitriol (sulfuric acid) from his pocket and threatens Dallow with it. A police baton breaks the bottle, splashing the acid in Pinkie’s face. Shrinking in agony, Pinkie jumps off the cliff and falls into the sea below. The ignorant Ida returns Rose to Nelson Place, having saved her from eternal damnation with Pinkie, only to condemn Rose to a living hell with her detached and uncaring parents.
Bibliography
Bergonzi, Bernard. A Study in Greene: Graham Greene and the Art of the Novel. New York: Oxford University Press, 2006. Examines all of Greene’s novels, analyzing their language, structure, and recurring motifs. Argues that Brighton Rock was his masterpiece. Addresses Greene’s Catholicism and how it informs his work, and offers a nontraditional view of Ida as a sympathetic character.
Gaston, Georg M. The Pursuit of Salvation: A Critical Guide to the Novels of Graham Greene. Troy, N.Y.: Whitston, 1984. A detailed work on Greene’s major novels, assessing Brighton Rock as a theological thriller and providing an interesting window into Pinkie’s internal motivation. Uniquely uncovers a common pattern in Greene’s works, a movement that encourages the reader to see the characters in an increasingly sympathetic light.
Lewis, R. W. “The ’Trilogy.’” In Modern Critical Views: Graham Greene, edited by Harold Bloom. New York: Chelsea House, 1987. Focuses heavily on the oppositional factors in Brighton Rock and is the only source to address Greene’s use of oxymoron. Offers an introduction by Bloom, who gives his assessment of Greene’s works and career.
Miller, R. H. Understanding Graham Greene. Columbia: University of South Carolina Press, 1990. Focuses on Greene’s entire body of work and offers an excellent and easily accessible overview of Brighton Rock. Cites Brighton Rock as a turning point in Greene’s fiction and argues that its handling and themes point to the future direction of some of Greene’s greatest works.
O’Prey, Paul. A Reader’s Guide to Graham Greene. New York: Thames & Hudson, 1988. The perfect beginner’s source for students of Greene’s major novels, with a full bibliography. Rare among critics, O’Prey introduces the centrality of love in Greene’s novels and makes an argument for Pinkie’s potential for goodness.
Sherry, Norman. The Life of Graham Greene. 3 vols. New York: Viking Press, 1989-2004. This comprehensive, authoritative account of Greene’s life was written with complete access to his papers and the full cooperation of his family members, friends, and the novelist himself.