The Honorary Consul

A detailed Summary of The Honorary Consul

The Honorary Consul Review (By Graham Greene)

"The Honorary Consul" by Graham Greene is a very peculiar book; I didn't enjoy it very much in the beginning as in the end. The first couple hundred pages are very slow and things don't pick up very fast. The setting of the book is Argentina during a time of political unrest in about, I'm guessing the late twentieth century. The main character is introduced as Mr. Eduardo Plarr. From how the book describes him he is quite anti-social, much of his time he would spend reading books and playing chess. He is also the son of an Englishman (Henry Plarr) and a Spanish woman. In the first couple pages the narrator gives a little history about Doctor Plarr, how he came to be, how his farther was exiled out of many continent such as Italy, Czechs, Poles, Welsh, and English. He and his mother parted with his farther for safety sakes and the two arrived at Buenos Aires where they would spend the next 10 or so years after. During this time they've only once received contact with Henry Plarr, the father.

As things picks up speed we are introduced to Leon Rivas, a revolutionary priest who Plarr secretly helped in the past. While during the demonstrations Riva's people, including Dr. Plarr, att

"Oh, everything here is machismo,' Perez said, and he smiled at the doctor's remark in so friendly a way that Plarr felt a little reassured. 'Here machismo is only another word for living. A word for the air we breathe. When there is no machismo a man is dead."

"The Spanish Language was Roman by origin, and the Romans were simple people. Machismo-the sense of masculine pride-was the Spanish equivalent of virtus. It had little to do with English courage or a stiff upper lip."

It was only at the end of the story that I thought everything became very interesting. The military had surrounded the vicinity of the kidnappers who was now only Mr. Plarr, Leon the priest, Marta, the negro, and Aquino. Colonel Perez whom led this military operation broadcasted on his loudspeaker towards the huts saying that if they do not release the British Consul by eight in the morning the military will have no choice but to kill them off. Everything is very tense inside the hut now, Aquino now pressures the group to kill the consul and escape in the dark but Plarr says that he will go out and ask for more time because he and Perez were very good friends before. So later that morning Plarr steps out into the field in front of the hut to negotiate but he is shot in the leg and falls to the ground. Unconsciously the priest comes rushing to his assistance; ultimately the two gets blasted with bullets and dies. The twist at the end, I guess was worth the languishing opening.

When ones pride is at stake one starts to hesitate, one would do anything to protect it. One example would be when the doctor was unable to make the British Ambassador to take action on behalf of the kidn

Some common words found in the essay are:
Language Roman, Plarr Perez, Dr Plarr, Graham Greene, Plarr Fortnum, Honorary Consul, Charles Fortnum, Fortnum Clara, American Ambassador, Colonel Perez, honorary consul, dr plarr, graham greene, henry plarr, american ambassador, plarr fortnum, riva's people, charley fortnum, colonel perez, hut aquino,

Approximate Word count = 1123
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)

Category: English