Greene, Graham: 1904-1991

Brighton Rock, 1938 - Thematic Parallels: Good vs. Evil

Greene, Graham: Brighton Rock, 1938
The main topic of this novel is the clash between good and evil, explored through the story of a 17-year-old gang leader, Pinkie Brown, who becomes embroiled in murder, gang rivalry, and moral corruption.
The following books are thematically similar. They lend themselves well to being read in groups, compared with one another, or used to teach a similar topic over an extended period with a class:
- Golding, William: Lord of the Flies, 1954, ~250pp
  This novel explores themes of human nature, morality, the battle between good and evil, and social order in a microcosmic setting, somewhat analogous to the moral and existential exploration in “Brighton Rock."
  Both novels reject the idea that humans are naturally good; instead, they present evil as fundamental, lurking beneath social order. They show youth not as symbols of purity but as capable of deep cruelty and moral decay. In both, the setting is a deceptive surface masking deeper corruption and danger.
- McCabe, Bret Easton: The Butcher Boy, 1992, ~210pp
  This novel deals with dark, psychological themes and troubled characters.
  Both works portray Catholicism as a pervasive moral and psychological force that distorts identity, relationships, and self-perception. They reveal how violence festers beneath the veneer of civility in tightly contained communities.
- Smith, Zadie: On Beauty, 2005, ~440pp
  This work addresses themes of morality, human conflicts and social dynamics.
  Both novels show characters trying to survive or assert themselves in environments that view them as outsiders. Both authors examine how idealistic or naïve characters are tested by exposure to a corrupting force.
- Wyndham, John: The Chrysalids, 1955, ~180pp
  This novel is exploring morality, intolerance, and survival.
  Both works depict societies or individuals whose moral outlook is inflexible, severe, and destructive. The characters are trapped in hostile worlds where deviation from the group’s norms is punished—physically, socially, and morally. Both novels carry a sense of inevitability—characters act under the shadow of a system or moral order that will eventually catch up with them.
List of general discussion questions on Good vs. Evil (pdf)
List of essay prompts on Good vs. Evil (pdf)