Third Man Themes of Empathy Research Proposal

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The other important plot insight offered by this description is Martins' vulnerability to women in particular, which with the introduction of the deceptive Anna to the narrative, would become a prime operant in his misjudgments and entanglements. The resolution which finds them somehow coming together suggests that this vulnerability is damning in Martins, who somehow finds a way to forgive the moral trespasses of this alluring woman even as he felt compelled to kill his own former mentor in Harry Lime.

The story complies with a strange set of moral prerogatives though, a point reinforced throughout and no doubt owing to the decayed and splintered post-war Vienna which it had made as its setting. As Greene writes, "if you are to understand this strange rather sad story you must have an impression at least of the background -- the smashed dreary city of Vienna divided up in zones among the four powers." (Greene, 14)

This disjointed quality is also shown in Martins himself, a juxtaposing and colorful character of strange insight.

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So is illustrated as he witlessly foresees the later revelation that Harry was indeed still alive during a conversation about his alleged death with Anna. Here, it is described that "Martins suddenly saw in that odd chamber of the mind that constructs such pictures, instantaneously, irrationally, a desert place, a body on the ground, a group of birds gathered. Perhaps it was a scene from one of his own books, not yet written, forming at the gate of consciousness." (Greene, 54)

To Martins, it now seemed somehow apparent that Harry's death had an oddly constructed surrealism to it. Of course, he is able to dismiss this instinct in his grieving state. Consistent with Greene's writing throughout, we find that the human condition is one of moral compromise, a dark but timely theme for its day.

Works Cite:

Greene, G. (1999). The Third Man. Penguin….....

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