Chapter IV -The suicide

The ex Minister killed himself to avoid the horror of the Tonton Macoute. This is no comedy.  The history is real, and the tragedy they wrought on Haiti was depraved and unimaginable. Except we can imagine.

Doctor Magiot assists in moving the body from the Trianon's swimming pool into the property of expatriates, out of the country - "it won't be found for a long time". But of course life doesn't follow the formula, nor does death. The Tonton found the body shortly afterwards when they were taking their way with a woman and seeking a place away from the street.

Dr Philipot (pronounced filipo) had trained with Dr Magiot - but went to politics and was corrupted. So too was Papa Doc -

Smiths' letter of introduction was to Philipot - that will never do. Papa Doc is furious that Philipot has avoided incarceration and torture by taking his life. It is only that Smith has money to invest, and the regime has its many ways to corruptly procure that money, that Smith may continue to investigate his potential investment: in the vegetarian centre at Duvalierville.

Petit Pierre also writes the Smiths up heavily in the Daily Rupert, 'Presidential Candidate against Truman' - so some street cred creeps in.

Meanwhile, Jones is in gaol. "On what charge" - Smith askes naively. The Minister replies "Charge?" What do you mean "charge"? He does not need to be charged.  Haunting reminiscence of The Trial - Kafka - now there is a tough book to read.

"Has he seen a lawyer" - oh no, the police wouldn't allow it. It's not possible.

The new minister sees Smith, with Brown. Grease of potential green money moves the wheels of politics.

More on the encarcerated Jones: "Minister, you have heard of habeas corpus" - reply: "Oh, yes, yes, of course, but I'm a bit rusty now on my Latin. Virgil was it, Homer?"

Jones doctors up a false further reference and finds himself persona gratia again/at last.

Chapter V:
Smith insists on going to Philipot's funeral, notwithstanding the risks, explained by Brown, that being involved will not be good with the Tonton or Papa Doc.  The hearse passed the Trianon, and was stalled by the Tonton, the body in casket snatched, and the widow left wailing.   This is no joke: they want to have the body to put it in the Presidential Palace, to strike fear in the public: a zombie, his spirit held, under control of Papa Doc.

Joseph the manservant explains: "The people are ignorant, the President is big Voodoo man." - but what do you believe Joseph: "I be ignorant man, sir."


Brown goes to the Embassy, chapter V part 2.  UP next.....

Despair

Evening Josh

Chapter 3 part IV

Greene himself is about 61 years of age at the time of writing. Brown is 'nearly 60'. The Ambassador's wife is significantly junior, I'm guessing early 40s. Brown's love affair probably emulates some similar affairs in Greene's life. 

 Jones (your namesake) is irrepressibly younger and gives joy to some, due to his humour. He is liked, and make friends. Brown on the other hand seems burnt out. His hotel is ruined, and his prospect of gaining a useful 'partnership' slim. Whilst perhaps the wife would leave the Ambassador, not to also lose her son Angel. In French that would be 'an gel' - with hard 'g' not as in gel on your hair, but 'g' as in 'go'.  But the Ambassador is from a 'little known South American republic' - probably with communist leanings. So Angel will be Spanish - pronunciation "An yhell" . In English however it is as in 'a band of Angel's coming after me'. So means the things in heaven. 

That is what is irritating Brown. His contest for the woman's affection is this shit of a kid, fat, prying, rude, and imposing, protective of his mother, destroying Brown's prospects of the life he hoped for. It is a jealousy of a type. He fears he can not compete because the ground is different for the boy.

The secret liaisons open up and are more frequent and less protective. The Ambassador must know, and Brown taunts him to extract evidence he does, but only sees double entendre (two meanings) in their discussions. [my American spell checker won't allow entendre, so we are hampered as to correct spelling. In this way, so too in 1984 by George Orwell, the language was made barren and the capacity to convey complex meaning easily was destroyed].

She comes to the Trianon and is seen by Mrs Smith. "She seems like such a nice woman". Then when the Smiths have gone they extend their relationship, and he describes their sexual play with the joy of that: drinking milk off her breasts, and licking honey from between her thighs".  Not love, but lust, and coupled with the joy of their discussions he sees hope for an enjoyable relationship - still spoilt by the boy.  Then it gets complex with Jones taking up in the embassy, and Brown fearing he is inveigling himself into the ladies affections. His taunts to gain assurance that it is not are resisted by the lady. 

He devises a plan to rid him of Jones, but in so doing alienates himself from the lady and runs the risk to himself of inability to return: but Port au Prince is no longer a place to be. His hotel empty, and anarchy  at the hands of the Tonton Macoute making any the least visibility dangerous. The stories he relates he has taken from real life experience, either by him or relayed by others in the years to 1963 and the rise of Papa Doc. The crude American response that a state against communism is worthy of support, not taking account of the excesses of that rogue state.

His relationship, like some wine, can neither mature nor travel. 

I think the fly leaf of the book better describes the selection of title: Actors with no control over their destiny - they play their parts, they experience love affairs rather than love. They have enthusiasms but not faith. 

Despairing; perhaps how Greene was at that time of his life. Somewhat of a manic and depressive.

The Life

The third volume, 944 pages: $11 on 'kindle'. Recommended. This volume deals with, amongst others, the background to Greene's writing of The Comedians.

Narrative style

In chapter 3, we see the style of the 1st person narrator. He knows only himself intimately, and shares his thoughts and words, and explains them.

He reveals himself, as if no one is listening; yet in truth he is writing and publishing and thus is sharing with the world.

In brief, his mother left him in care with the Jesuits in Monte Carlo. He slipped out when under age, to the Casino, made money and had sex, and decided he must use his nerves and talents to explore and profit.

He ran somewhat of a painting scam - getting an arts student to paint old masters and flogging them at inflated prices.

He explains that the number of pages to describe that time of his life would not be worth it, and would unreasonably overshadow the latter part. That is, the interesting times are in Haiti. Well, that is what the book is about!

He knows little with certainty of his parents. He is a careful observer of people and chooses how he reacts to them.

Brown took over the hotel on his mother's death, with intent to make it fashionable and popular. Perhaps he might have succeeded had not the mad doctor (Papa Doc) come to power and filled the nights with discords of violence.

Now, when a man says he is starving: you believe him.

Doctor Magiot is a skilled Haitian, looking after the health of Brown's mother. But she has had 2 heart attacks. The least excitement is dangerous. Crise cardiaque.

Brown and his mother have a heart to heart (as it were) on her cortesan's bed, but which is to be her death bed.

A nice turn of phrase with humour: "The Doctor says for you to keep quiet". "Here I am lying flat in bed" she exclaimed with a knowing and pleading smile. "I can do no more to please him, can I?"

She dies. They bury her the next day: it is hot. One can not wait. A quickness entailed by the climate. The will is produced. He inherits, as is the method, by a careful construction involving transfers of shares in a company, and less than 66% held by Brown. He buys out the negro lover, who wastes it at the Casino, and then (another) kills himself in the hotel.

The Doctor describes that the Haitians do not live on money, they live on debts. "You can always afford to kill a creditor, but no one ever kills a debtor".

He fears a small country doctor. Unknown presently, but soon to rise to power.

Brown meets the ambassador's wife at the Casino tables, as his mother's lover squanders his payment, Brown increases his winnings and communicates with Madame Pineda. Unenthusiastic, nevertheless he starts the dalliance.

Chapter III Part 4

Martha in the car at Columbus's statue. Brown describes his embarrassment at not having the necessary for a lustful adventure, but quirks of events enthuse him, and the tumble happens. He feels he does not wish to 'engage', but they fall asleep. She wore no stockings....'what's your name?'...'I kissed her clumsily, and missed her mouth'.

'The longer we stayed, the greater demands the future would hold for us'. Sleep shared was a bond too many.

Then after 3 years, Brown leaves on the last Delta plane to New Orleans.  He was scared. Tourism had ceased. Tonton Macoute were raining terror on the citizenry. He hoped to find 'some gambler to buy my hotel'.

But he was in misery in New York, and was dreaming of tangled limbs in the Peugeot car. No business deal on the horizon. "Half a loaf eaten in fear would seem so much better than no bread".

Chapter IV....

Chapter III: Brown gives his history

Josh has a few questions on Chapter III:

Some of them were too personal and family intrusive, so I've re-worked them a bit.

Josh says: 

An interesting chapter / part.  Looks back in time and discloses how he, Mr Brown, came to own the hotel.  His Mother was an interesting character. Flawed, bit like [amended: delete some family member, leave to imagination]. Fake,  “no doubt she could have played the part”. 

Her lover was a “negro”, which I assume was reasonably unorthodox for those times. He was also much younger than her, also unorthodox for those times.

PK: Yes, she is depicted as a libertarian, unconstrained by social milieu, but having taken that role perhaps after having 'risen' to the rank of Countess - from which one may do what one wishes. 

Part III raises some things I thought may be uncommon for the times:

younger “negro”  lover

a black doctor

As discussed: this is Haiti - things have been different there for hundreds of years. It is a black society, not an Ango-Saxon one.

what’s the count? Count would be the Countess'es former spouse, who seems to have died.

what’s:

vendeuse?

couturier?

Madame la Comtesse? His mother, the madam, the countess. Not madam in the sense one might think.

crise cardiaque? Crisis of the heart: meaning heart attack, but may even mean also an emotional time.

courtesan? woman who spends time around 'court' giving pleasure, entertainment, but holding her own to gain privilege from association

mechant?

almanach de gotha?

billet-doux The letter of love: have you not received or given one Josh?

coup de grace 

grande amoureuse

en plein

tout ce que j ai eu de chance dans ma vie m’est venu de votre famille

salle

“he paid for his drinks only with his pen” a reference to him drawing cheques that bounce or being an author? Reference to Petit Pierre not paying for his drinks but rather currying favour with those who might provide them, by his useful epistles in the newspaper.

“In those days there were no secret police” Telling of the times, or the changes that have since occurred. “the telephone frequently worked in those days” . “during the years of occupation”. “the elections"

He reminisces that when he (Brown) first took occupation of the Trianon (the hotel) the Tonton Macoute were not in existence. Papa Doc had not been elevated by election to power, phones worked. But now....

What was the “only” purpose the bed was built for? For the courtesan to entertain. 

I like the expressions:

• “He was not boasting, just explaining” “He knew his value” - very hard to do, always misinterpreted by others. Yes Josh, sometimes we may explain but it sounds to the uninformed that we are boasting. Dealing with such times gracefully will achieve a better result.

• “He was quite right to trust me but not to drive a Mercedes sports car on the roads we have here”. I think that is the former owner of the Trianon, having died. He did however put the hotel in the Countess's name to protect it, and she asserts he was right to trust her. He hated his family, so it wasn't wasted there.

• “They say to be dead is about as quiet as you can get.  I don’t see the point in my anticipating death.  It lasts a long time”. She lives her life at a fast pace. Quietude is unnecessary during life. It will reign supreme in death.
• “..his face dripped with tears like a black roof in a storm”
• “nothing can be more inconsiderate to a man of Doctor Magiot’s profession than a telephone”. A lovely expression, evocatively making us aware of the distraction of the telephone, and hence the inability to continue a train of thought or passage of discussion -
• “one buttock heavily swollen with hundred dollar bills”. Yes; we have had some in our family who trusted only in a Greek wad of cash dollars being in the pocket, ready for the spending thereof - on business of course. It served two purposes. Depleted the growing cash mountain, avoiding the tax man's insidious eyes.

how do you pronounce “Magiot”? We must seek advice.

are the observations of the Trainon readily applicable to the Astor? [deleted under rules of courtesy and discretion]

Had his mother died during sex with Marcel? Yes; she implored him. He is much embarrassed. He did not wish that to happen. Well, who does!

Very cunning when it comes to business- “when I passed him on the stairs I noticed he smelt of rum, so I had a glass ready for him" . How nice, but manipulative.

The Comedians - chapter 2

The Comedians - chapter 2 -

The 3 named as the comedians, Brown, Smith and Jones, continue on their Medea journey. Trepidation is heightened as those with prior visits to Haiti explain how the terror scene is worsening. The fear of the Papa Doc and Tonton Macoute is explained.

Minor characters Baxter and Fernandez have their time in the light, but are sad renditions.

Part 7 (chapter 2) Jones again comes to Brown - at his cabin after midnight. Brown (our narrator) was destroying papers which might be embarrassing if viewed by the authorities - possible sale of hotel etc. Jones indicates his true mission is something else. Brown notes that the army has 'gone'. Papa Doc doesn't trust them. "We've been at see 3 days, a lot can happen...." - a recommendation from the consul-general in New York may be a death sentence due to changes.

"Not exactly a tourist paradise any longer?" - "No, it never really was."

Jones evinces intention to explore opportunities - such as may present for a man without scruples.

Chapter II

The Petit Trianon, Versailles

Returning without much hope to a country of fear.

Geography: Kenscoff - leaning over the town half in deep shadow. New buildings for the exhibition, glassy, near the port. A stone Columbus statue - under which he used to meet his lover. Chaos at the wharf, yet no cause for it: one small ship. Beggars, Tonton Macoute, officials - immigration and customs, confusion. Road blocks.

The Jones's letter of introduction is to an out of favour politician. Petit Pierre, a journalist, however curries favour with all and assists the Joneses to avoid having their letter exposed and their entry to Haiti blotted. Pierre returns as the penman for the local paper, with deft writing skills, ingratiating himself such as to avoid having to pay for his drinks.

In a public park the musical fountain stood black, waterless, unplyaing. Electric globes winked out the nocturnal message, Je suis le drapeau Haitien, Uni et Indivisible. Francois Duvalier.

- I am the flag of Haiti, united and indivisible. So said Papa Doc.

- The Baron Samedi:
The former President for Life of Haiti, François Duvalier, modeled his cult of personality on Baron Samedi; he was often seen speaking in a deep nasal tone and wearing dark glasses.

Our man Brown has a knee trembler in the diplomat's wife's (Madame Pineda) car, and then must return to his hotel. The lights are not working, and there is a suicide in the empty pool.  Things are not starting well. Dr Philipot has chosen to end it to avoid the suffering in store from the Tonton. He was the Minister for social services, and the Joneses did have a letter of introduction to him. 

The body must be removed. Brown enlisted Dr Magiot to assist. He is discrete.

Far in the mountains, toward Kenscoff, the drumming of a Voodoo tonnelle beats the concern (a tent for voodoo worship).

Now to Chapter III.

The Story so far....

I have Josh re-treading aback to work through the story from beginning to end. We are 'under a promise' to do one chapter a day/night. Perhaps we will read ahead, but that is not to alleviate the responsibility to read 1 chapter each day: I'm after continuing of thought.

The Comedians - by Graham Greene
Written in approx 1966.

Historical context: the western side of Hispaniola, the Island almost within sight of the eastern side of Cuba (Santiago de Cuba) is severed south/north, with a Spanish speaking western Santo Domingo country, and the French former colonialist western Haiti.

Like so many such countries (and as to which, read the Feast of the Goat by Mario Vargas Llosa), a despotic regime has taken control, and in this, under a strong man known as "Papa Doc" being Duvallier.  He maintains his control by use of abhorrent practises through his secret police activity: they known as the Tontons Macoute.

As we have seen in other countries lacking proper government, the country falls into disrepair, the force of the gun gains privelege, and the people suffer. The despot holds on to power, and takes the riches of the country offshore and at some point normally flees as the regime falls: read Cuba under Batista to 1959, and the various coup and military dictatorships and attempts at stable government in Peru during the 20th century. Other examples abound around the world.

It seems Greene is intending to use comedy as stark contrast to the adverse nature of the despotic regime and the situation of the people of Haiti.

We know now from subsequent events that the decline and fall of the country and physical events (cylones, earthquakes) have the left the country the poorest in the world.

So; back to the novel:

Chapter 1
Page 1: you only get one opportunity to impress in page 1 of a novel, and I sense that an author wants to give at least a hint at the ambit and nature of the novel - something catching and attractive, memorable.

Greene writes of a statue near International Rd in haiti and cynically comments on how whether for politician or warrior, they all end up with bird excrement.

He says there is a point of no return in lives, and that rarely does the individual know at that time that the point has been reached. He implies he, the narrator, is at that point as he sails in a trading ship from New York to Port au Prince in Haiti, and draws the analogy between that point in the narrator's life and the wake left by the ship, a Netherlands steamship the Medea.

He speaks of his empty hotel and similarly empty love life. There is an air of melancholic defeatism.

Greene employes Latin and French short form phrases. No doubt they reflect his classical education, and the implications such phrases bring - what is the English for je ne sais quoi - for example?

First person narration impresses as personal and open. Almost as if he can share secrets, knowing it is only to you in the privacy of your reading space. But it might also bring with it an absence of overview- lacking in objectivity. We shall see. Maybe that is overcome by the cynicism.

He implies a bizarre business is to follow in the north on the border with Santo Domingo.

The other main characters are introduced, with the intention of adding an air of comic to it: Brown, Smith and Jones.

Smith is a vegetarian and teetotaler, and a former unsuccessful Presidential candidate. Accompanied by his competent and direct wife.

Jones impresses as a likeable charlatan. Capturing attention but being untrustworthy in that je ne sais quoi! He likes to start his drink early, and share or extract confidence.

The Tontons Macoute - president's bogeymen and henchmen, and failing economy and governance of Haiti is raised. It has worsened since Brown was there recently.

Smith and wife are invited to stay at Brown's hotel in the foothills of Port au Prince and are pleased to accept. Jones importunes himself into the same.

The Purser suggests no one leave the boat in Haiti, and they continue on after shedding the freight, and they rather go to the other end of Hispanola.

The Captain raises confidential concerns about Jones. We shall remember that in the context of Josh's surname being the same. No coincidence? Jones evidences a canny method of extracting living expenses from punters by simple card games. Just sufficient not to scare the pigeons. His story of being a Major and of battle fatigue are just not quite believable or provable (or disprovable).

Comedy is kept up by the Purser using condoms as balloons for a festive evening. The woman won't know and the men who do will enjoy the joke.

Papa Doc or the Baron - after Baron Samedi who in Voodoo mythology haunts the cemeteries in his top hat and tails, smoking his big cigar is spoken of - in context of the Northern city of Cap Haitien - near the border with Santo Domingo - is under martial law. Note now the airport has recently been renovated (2017) with funds from Venezuela and renamed after the recently deceased Hugo Chavez - that great friend of the Cuban people. I note there is an air of independence about Cap Haitien, similar to the Cuban Santiago - distanced from the main capitals.

Cap Haitien - today:

Adjourn now at p35. 17.3.17 PAK