Heart Of The Matter

Scobie is a police officer. He is capable but somewhat short-sighted and lacks self-awareness. He longs for peace and a simple life. He feels a strong sense of pity and responsibility for the ugly and downtrodden; he tries to secure his wife's happiness even though he does not love her and has an affair with young Helen Rolt mostly out of pity. He struggles internally to reconcile his sins with his Catholic faith, and the resulting tension ultimately leads him to commit suicide.