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.