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Baylor University.

The ends of love : vice and charity in The End of the Affair.

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

The End of the Affair offers a compelling portrait of the two possible ends of natural love. Sarah Miles and Maurice Bendrix are confronted with the choice to let their natural love be subsumed into the love of God, transformed by its inherent capacity to conduit divine love, or else to degrade their love by seeking an impossible satisfaction in it. Sarah transitions from disordered love to real charity, in the pattern of true eros and agape. In contrast, Bendrix attempts to make their love an end in itself, intentionally preventing its sublimation into the love of God. In this he demonstrates the capital vices lust and envy as described in the seven deadly sins tradition. Greene's compelling depiction of how natural love can be pulled toward both demonic vice and the love of God makes The End of the Affair a powerful portrayal of Catholic moral choice.

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
M.A.
Level thesis:degree_level
Masters
Grantor
Baylor University.
Year dc:date.issued
2012

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Hughes, Heather Lynn.
Advisor dc:contributor.advisor
  • Wood, Ralph C.

Subjects

dc:subject × 2

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • Baylor University works are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. Contact libraryquestions@baylor.edu for inquiries about permission.
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Handle dc:identifier.uri
https://hdl.handle.net/2104/8549
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:baylor-ir.tdl.org:2104/8549

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Baylor University
Base URL
baylor-ir.tdl.org/server/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-24
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
citation

Hughes, Heather Lynn.. The ends of love : vice and charity in The End of the Affair.. Masters thesis, Baylor University., 2012. https://hdl.handle.net/2104/8549