The Human Factor by Graham Green

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Castle on the other hand, in The Human Factor, did not give such a blind loyalty. Unlike Stevens, Castle does not see himself as great, or better than anyone else. He does not have anything to prove to anyone. He originally was very loyal to his country, taking a government job and even traveling across the world to Africa for his job. However, the truth of what he was loyal to deep down was revealed; it is love. Love, to him, is the most important thing is his life. Castle has said, “Hate’s liable to make mistakes. It’s as dangerous as love. I’m doubly dangerous Boris, because I love too” (Greene 131). Hate and love are complete opposites, so it is interesting how he uses them together. Hate and love he considers to be the two strongest emotions. These emotions he believes cause rash action. He is a slave to them, he loses his ability to make rational decisions. His loyalties to these ideas are stronger than anything, able to overpower him. He believes he is dangerous. It is not easy to be scared of oneself, yet he seems to fear what he may do. Someone who has threatened his wife, like Muller, has done enough to make a permanent enemy out of Castle. Love and hate are the constants in his life, those are what allows him to stay human. His loyalty to this idea he puts above his life. Muller brought on hate, and it was this hate that pushed Castle over the edge, losing the life he had earned and causing him to flee. His hate showed when Muller said, “‘I’m quite sure there is an after-life,’ Cornelius Muller said. ‘You are? Doesn’t the idea frighten you a bit?’” (Greene 175). Castle’s response showed his true feelings. It sounds vaguely threatening. Castle is so sure Muller would go to Hell if there was an ...

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