The Man Within
Encyclopedia
The Man Within is the first novel by author Graham Greene
. It tells the story of Francis Andrews, a reluctant smuggler, who betrays his colleagues and the aftermath of his betrayal. It is Greene's first published novel (two earlier attempts at writing novels were never published, but a book of poetry, Babbling April, was published while Greene was a student at Balliol College, Oxford
).
Greene, in his preface to the Penguin paperback edition of the book, derides the book as hopelessly romantic.
boat whom Andrews has betrayed by writing a letter informing the gaugers of the time that the boat will land.
in Lewes.
Andrews travels to Lewes and gives his testimony in court despite being scorned by the other witnesses for the prosecution as a Judas
figure. The trial ends with the smugglers being acquitted and their pledging to revenge themselves on Andrews by hurting Elizabeth.
Andrews returns to Elizabeth's cottage, tells her of the danger. She sends him to the well to fetch water, and while he is gone, he discovers that one of the smugglers has come to the cottage. He runs to get help, but when he returns, he discovers that Elizabeth has been killed by one of his fellow smugglers and Carlyon is sitting waiting for him. After realizing that the only way to betray his father is to hurt himself, Andrews tells Carlyon to leave and that he will take the blame for Elizabeth's death.
was made of the novel (called The Smugglers in the United States) starring Ronald Shiner
, Michael Redgrave
as Carlyon and Richard Attenborough
as Andrews.
Graham Greene
Henry Graham Greene, OM, CH was an English author, playwright and literary critic. His works explore the ambivalent moral and political issues of the modern world...
. It tells the story of Francis Andrews, a reluctant smuggler, who betrays his colleagues and the aftermath of his betrayal. It is Greene's first published novel (two earlier attempts at writing novels were never published, but a book of poetry, Babbling April, was published while Greene was a student at Balliol College, Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
).
Greene, in his preface to the Penguin paperback edition of the book, derides the book as hopelessly romantic.
Characters
The central characters are Francis Andrews, Elizabeth, a girl he meets shortly after the man she lives with dies, and Carlyon, the captain of the smugglingSmuggling
Smuggling is the clandestine transportation of goods or persons, such as out of a building, into a prison, or across an international border, in violation of applicable laws or other regulations.There are various motivations to smuggle...
boat whom Andrews has betrayed by writing a letter informing the gaugers of the time that the boat will land.
Themes
The key themes in the novel are betrayal and a Freudian relationship between the protagonist Andrews and his deceased father.Plot summary
The story begins with Andrews fleeing his fellow smugglers after a battle with the customs officials that ended with one of the customs officials dead. He stumbles upon an isolated cottage which is the home of Elizabeth. The man whom she lived with has recently died. Andrews helps protect Elizabeth from the neighbors who consider her to be a woman of loose moral character (the novel is silent about whether their view is justified or not). After encountering Carlyon, the head of the smugglers, in the fog, Andrews returns to the cottage where Elizabeth persuades him that he should testify at the trial of the smugglers at the AssizesAssizes
Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to:Assize or Assizes may refer to::;in common law countries :::*assizes , an obsolete judicial inquest...
in Lewes.
Andrews travels to Lewes and gives his testimony in court despite being scorned by the other witnesses for the prosecution as a Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
figure. The trial ends with the smugglers being acquitted and their pledging to revenge themselves on Andrews by hurting Elizabeth.
Andrews returns to Elizabeth's cottage, tells her of the danger. She sends him to the well to fetch water, and while he is gone, he discovers that one of the smugglers has come to the cottage. He runs to get help, but when he returns, he discovers that Elizabeth has been killed by one of his fellow smugglers and Carlyon is sitting waiting for him. After realizing that the only way to betray his father is to hurt himself, Andrews tells Carlyon to leave and that he will take the blame for Elizabeth's death.
Film, TV or theatrical adaptations
In 1947, a film version The Man Within (film)The Man Within (film)
The Man Within is a 1947 British, Technicolor, adventure, crime, drama film, directed by Bernard Knowles and starring Ronald Shiner as Cockney Harry, Michael Redgrave, Jean Kent, Joan Greenwood and Richard Attenborough. It was produced by Triton Films and Production Film Service. The film was also...
was made of the novel (called The Smugglers in the United States) starring Ronald Shiner
Ronald Shiner
Ronald Alfred Shiner was a British stand-up comedian and comedic actor whose career encompassed film, West End theatre and music hall.-Career:...
, Michael Redgrave
Michael Redgrave
Sir Michael Scudamore Redgrave, CBE was an English stage and film actor, director, manager and author.-Youth and education:...
as Carlyon and Richard Attenborough
Richard Attenborough
Richard Samuel Attenborough, Baron Attenborough , CBE is a British actor, director, producer and entrepreneur. As director and producer he won two Academy Awards for the 1982 film Gandhi...
as Andrews.