AO1: Articulate creative, informed and relevant responses to literary texts, using appropriate terminology and concepts and coherent, accurate written expression.

AO2: Demonstrate detailed critical understanding in analysing the ways in which structure, form and language shape meanings in literary texts.

‘The effective use of imagery and symbolism is at the heart of the novel’s success’

Greene uses an extensive amount of imagery and symbolism to conjure an intricate understanding of the characters and plots within the novel. Imagery and symbolism is used throughout the novel to create contrast between characters or settings. For example Greene uses it to demonstrate Pinkie’s superiority in comparison to Rose’s meek inferiority, to highlight the class difference between Pinkie and Colleoni and to define characters as good or evil.

Pinkie’s dominance and control over Rose stems from the first night on which they meet up. The vitriol bottle is a symbol of fear and destruction as Pinkie shows it to Rose in an attempt to scare her to stay quiet. Although he then lies that it isn’t really vitriol, she still becomes obedient towards him as she is in awe of his knowledge ‘”you know an awful lot about things, Pinkie,” she said with horror and admiration’. Her wonderment with Pinkie foreshadows the lengths she will go for him. Pinkie is brutal, venomous and destructive much like the bottle of vitriol. Pinkie is presented as emotionless however he feels ‘sensual pleasure’ whilst holding it as he believes that it gives him power, reinforcing his twisted characteristics. He is often described as poisonous ‘the poison twisted in the boys veins’ demonstrating that the bottle of vitriol is a symbol of Pinkie’s nature, which is ironic as it causes his death. Rose’s naivety ‘what’s vitriol?’ is contrasted with Pinkie’s accurate perception of the world by Greene to express how Pinkie has power over Rose in the form of knowledge. The pathetic fallacy used, ‘the thunder cracked overhead’ builds on the theme of fear within this section as thunder and lightning storms are usually associated with fear. The weather often depicts characters inner feelings, ‘more alone with the lighting on the horizon and the thunder coming closer’; the incoming thunder may foreshadow the downfall of Pinkie, which is inevitably coming closer. The words lightning and thunder have connotations of danger, chaos and destruction which coincides with the events which follow in the novel due to Pinkie becoming closer to Rose. The weather is also unchangeable and unpredictable which links in with ideas of fate within the novel as Pinkie can’t determine the events which occur at the end of the novel. The weather is used again at the end as an external force which displays the characters internal feelings, ‘they could hear the sea battering the cliff’, this use of weather again at the climax of emotion within the novel is a structural technique used by Greene to employ the reader to explore the destruction caused by Pinkie’s actions. The light imagery of dark and dreariness in association to Pinkie used by Greene suggests his evil nature and his affiliation with hell. Darkness is always linked with hell, which Pinkie is constantly surrounded by. This links with Pinkie’s inhuman nature as hell is often seen as transcendent. There are many other things within the novel, which point to Pinkie being inhuman (‘inhuman eyes’) such as his discomfort with music, ‘the orchestra was playing… a little venom of anger and hatred came out on the Boy’s lips’. Pinkies uneasiness when music plays demonstrates his hatefulness as music is drawn to humans as it involves emotion, harmony and structure, which are key parts of human fulfillment and happiness.

Greene’s use of symbolism and imagery in Pinkie’s encounter with Colleoni at the cosmopolitan creates contrast between their classes. Colleoni is described as eloquent and sophisticated, ‘an acre of deep carpet’, ‘double breasted waistcoat’ suggesting that his wealth should intimidate Pinkie who is described as shabby and unkempt, ‘cheap black shoes’. Colleoni attempts to belittle Pinkie by sending the fancy letter to his house. Dallow says ‘it’s an elegant letter’. This letter is symbolic of Colleoni’s vast wealth and therefore power and the fact that it contrasts immensely with Pinkie’s home (‘the bed was sprinkled with flakes of pastry’) demonstrates the power that Colleoni has above Pinkie. Colleoni’s advantage of age and wealth over Pinkie is made clear in this section as he undermines Pinkie with his glamour. This section contrasts with how Pinkie impresses Rose who is far more naïve than him and makes Pinkie appear naïve in comparison to Colleoni meaning that the reader sees Pinkie from an adults viewpoint instead of his own. Although Pinkie is not naive and is a vicious murderer, he often makes references to not having enough experience of the world. Pinkie never leaves Brighton, has grown up in poor living conditions and is a virgin. This contrasts with Colleoni who has had vast experience in life. Greene creates Colleoni this way to give the reader a different perspective of Pinkie displaying that he is not as mature as he believes. Colleoni’s references to being a businessman ‘I’m just a business man’, ‘I employ a great many people’, displays his professionalism and organisation compared to Pinkie’s gang consisting of only four people living in a run down old house. The grand imagery of the Cosmopolitan is a symbol of Colleoni’s wealth opposed to the damp description on Frank’s where Pinkie lives being a symbol of Pinkie’s poverty and hopelessness against Colleoni.

Religion is a main theme of ‘Brighton Rock’ and religious imagery and symbolism is present throughout. There is a constant battle between good and evil (right and wrong) through the novel: Ida representing good, Pinkie representing evil. Pinkie is associated with hell and evil in many ways: he commits mortal sin; he believes that hell is all around him which is evident when he establishes, ‘This was hell, then; it wasn't anything to worry about: it was just his own familiar room’, he is adjusted to hell and seems comfortable with it which again highlight his inhumanity as hell is something which should be feared and resented. Greene does this to consolidate Pinkie’s character further and makes the reader astonished by his attitude towards hell. Ironically Pinkie is a Catholic. Although he is not a practicing Catholic many aspects of the religion influence him and he believes in hell, ‘heaven was a word, hell was something he could trust’. His constant referral to hell demonstrates his demonic and evil nature as he is surrounded by images of evil and ‘mortal sin’. Murder, not marrying in a church, corrupting an innocent girl, not visiting church are all considered mortal sins and are all things that Pinkie does within the novel. This constant subject of hell consuming Pinkie’s life symbolises his evil, twisted nature and explains his character in a lot of detail. Alternatively, Ida’s will to do right and gain justice (even though she is not religious) illustrates her good nature. Although it is clear that both Ida and Pinkie are both resilient and willing to go to extremes, Greene successfully shows that good overcomes evil through the plot as Ida’s goodness leads to Pinkie’s downfall.

Greene’s interesting and subtle techniques lead the reader to understand the characters and plot. The novel is successful in making the reader question human morality and Catholic ideas. These themes are constantly depicted through imagery and symbolism to