The Heart of the Matter

Scobie starts out for the Nissen huts. Along the way, he passes Helen and tells her about Ali’s death. Helen informs Scobie she is planning to go away so they can find peace and happiness, to which Scobie objects, saying “happiness isn’t the point” (235). Scobie prays for God to kill him because he carries suffering like a “body smell” (235). Later, after talking to Louise about Ali, Scobie thinks about how he has never lied, exaggerated, or speculated in his diary entries. He thinks to himself, “all he had written here was fact” (237). Having privately come up with a plan to solve the issue of his romantic entanglements, Scobie decides to retroactively add to old diary entries comments on sleeplessness and heart pain. He makes these addendums, disguised as part of the original entries, for the coroners and insurance agents who will look at his journal after his “death-warrant” is signed (238). He proceeds to visit Robinson’s doctor, Dr. Travis, to disclose his fictional ailments, hinting at a possible diagnosis of angina pectoris. Dr. Travis prescribes him a sleeping medication but is reluctant to confirm Scobie’s self-diagnosis.

At Church, Scobie begins suffering from competing internal monologues contradicting his plan to commit suicide.