Published 16 June 2010 · Main Posts Fearful of fear itself – the short stories of Graham Greene Lina Vale ‘The End of the Party’ Complete Short Stories Graham Greene Penguin Graham Greene described his short stories as ‘scraps’, and ‘escapes from the novelist’s world’. ‘The End of the Party’, however, delves into the serious subjects of death, fear, faith and human relationships – common to many of his novels – woven into a dark, supernatural tale. Written in 1929, ‘The End of the Party’ is one of Greene’s earlier short stories. It originally appeared in Nineteen Stories (1947), and is now included in Twenty-One Stories (1954), and Complete Short Stories (2005). The narrative centres on twin brothers, Peter and Francis Morton, who share a disconcertingly close bond. They silently understand and experience each other’s reality. Peter is the stronger twin and tries to protect his fragile and anxious brother. Greene plays with the complex nature of relationships between twins – the strange juxtaposition of loyalty and repulsion towards what is essentially a double identity. They have been invited to an annual birthday party, at which hide and seek is always played. Francis is intensely afraid of the dark, and after an unpleasant experience the previous year, is filled with dread at the thought of going to the party again. From the very beginning there is a sense of menace, which lingers throughout the story. At times Greene’s use of foreshadowing – constant references to death, darkness, birds and bats – is slightly heavy-handed. Had he used this device more sparingly, it would have been far more effective. Nonetheless, one is instantly drawn into the narrative, which moves along at a cracking pace. The prose is fluid and extremely readable. Although Greene always tackles complex territory, he manages to do so in a compelling style. As a practicing Catholic, he often explores conflicting elements of faith – reliance upon God, feeling let down, questioning one’s faith, and believing that destiny is completely dependant on God’s will. Francis’s fear, and the power of it, is like a separate entity. Towards the end of the story, the fear seems to transfer itself onto Peter, or possibly possesses him too. Greene examines the idea that fear can be a haunting presence within the human psyche, perhaps suggesting that it exists only when faith is absent. There are parallels between Greene’s personal history and the experiences of Francis. In the story, Francis feels different and alone, and is bullied by other children at the party because of his fear of the dark. He is plagued by thoughts about death. Greene was also bullied during his childhood, and attempted suicide several times as a teenager. The writing certainly possesses a depth of understanding and sadness. Characters are finely drawn, with keen observational skills and empathy. The reader is captivated by Greene’s storytelling while being gently invited to reflect upon the ideas he is presenting. ‘The End of the Party’ leaves a resonance that is disturbing and eerie as one identifies with, and remembers, the intensity of childhood fears. Lina Vale Lina Vale is a professional writing and editing student at RMIT. She writes non-fiction, poetry and short stories. More by Lina Vale › Overland is a not-for-profit magazine with a proud history of supporting writers, and publishing ideas and voices often excluded from other places. If you like this piece, or support Overland’s work in general, please subscribe or donate. Related articles & Essays First published in Overland Issue 228 28 March 202428 March 2024 · Main Posts Why we should value not only lived experience, but also lived expertise Sukhmani Khorana In the wake of this year’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, I want to extend the central idea of El Gibbs’s 2022 essay on 'lived expertise' and argue that in media accounts of racism, analytical expertise and lived experience ought to be valued together and even in the same body. First published in Overland Issue 228 5 March 2024 · Main Posts Andrew Charlton’s school assignment Alex McKinnon Australia's Pivot to India exists for three reasons: so that when Andrew Charlton is interviewed on the radio or introduced on Q+A, his bio includes the phrase "he has written a book about Indian-Australian relations"; to fend off accusations that he is another Kristina Keneally engaging in electoral colonialism in western Sydney; and to help the Albanese government strengthen economic and military ties with Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party.