Humans are perfectly imperfect creatures. The flaws found in us humans are present in every aspect of our being. These defects are found in all aspects of our being, in our physical appearance as well as in our mental and emotional states. Contrary to popular opinion, hatred is not the opposite of love, it is indifference. These two feelings are fueled by passion and are more connected than we would like to admit. One of the main arguments regarding the novel The End of the Affair revolves around the question of whether or not it is a story of hate or love. Greene's novel is undoubtedly a love story. This idea is often mistaken for hatred due to the initial passion shown by narrator Bendrix. The End of the Affair is a love story due to the human nature described in the novel, the discernment that each character undergoes to understand that they feel love and the bond that forms between Bendrix and Henry after the death of Sarah. The novel opens with the narrator, Bendrix, saying “I hated Henry – I hated his wife Sarah too. And he, I suppose, came shortly after the events of that evening to hate me: as he must surely sometimes have hated his wife and that other woman in whom, at that time, we were lucky enough not to believe. It is therefore a record of hatred much more than of love” (Greene 4). This statement, at this point in the book, seems accurate because of the aggressive and passionate tone of the speaker. Additionally, this quote is placed at the very beginning of the novel so that the reader is unaware of the events that have occurred. However, this does not mean that this is a hate story since the same person who declares hatred towards Sarah and Henry undergoes a massive emotional change at the end of...... middle of paper. ...There are different ways, but love is not the same for everyone and cannot be limited to one concrete definition. Throughout the novel, one of the major challenges for the reader and the main characters is the discovery of true love. There are instances in which the passion felt by these characters can be misrepresented as hatred or another negative emotion. This misconception is developed through the humanity of the characters, the reader must remember that these characters are human beings and are not perfect. These characters are meant to feel all the “negative” emotions of jealousy and obsession necessary to find a more authentic form of love. This human aspect leads each character to reflect and discern the state of love they feel. This novel depicts the struggle that humans face in the face of passion and unfortunate circumstances..