Innocence in Graham Greene's Novels

Book excerpt: Graham Greene once wrote that «Innocence is a kind of insanity.» This book examines the many shades of innocence in Greene's characters: the «blank innocence,» «depraved innocence,» and «absurd innocence» of Anthony Farrant; the piteous innocence of Pinkie; the simple innocence of Raven; the pure innocence of Father Quixote; the paradoxical innocence of the Whisky Priest; the inverted innocence of Sarah Miles; the faithful innocence of Father Rivas, the Dog-Ears Priest; the intrusive innocence of Doctor Fischer; and the playful innocence of Harry Lime. The complex concept of innocence is found to be a prevailing theme in Greene's novels.