The Heart of the Matter characters

Appears from the start

A long-serving colonial police officer in a British West African territory during the Second World War. He is conscientious, weary, and governed by a powerful sense of responsibility for other people's happiness, especially that of his wife. He is also a Catholic who judges his own conduct against beliefs he cannot set aside.

Appears from the start

Scobie's wife, an educated and sensitive woman who feels stranded and mocked within the small colonial society. She reads poetry, values social standing, and believes that Scobie's stalled career reflects the deadness of their life together.

Appears from the start

A newly arrived Englishman presented as an accountant for the trading company. He is observant, solitary, and immediately interested in Louise; he also has a less public official reason for being in the colony.

First appears in chapter 2

Scobie's trusted African servant of many years. Quiet and attentive, he manages daily practicalities and gives Scobie a form of loyalty that crosses the rigid social divisions of the colony.

First appears in chapter 3

A wealthy Syrian merchant operating within the colony's black market and political rivalries. Courteous and calculating, he cultivates Scobie's acquaintance despite the policeman's distrust of him.

First appears in chapter 3

Yusef's principal commercial rival in the Syrian community. Allegations about diamonds and smuggling make the contest between the two merchants part of Scobie's police responsibilities.

First appears in chapter 3

The Catholic priest who knows the Scobies and understands the strain in their marriage. He offers Scobie pastoral advice but cannot remove the moral consequences of choices Scobie wants to conceal.

First appears in chapter 2

Scobie's superior in the colonial police. His impending retirement makes the question of promotion urgent, while his decision about a successor deepens the Scobies' dissatisfaction.

First appears in chapter 7

A young widow rescued after many days in a lifeboat when her ship is sunk. Exhausted and traumatized by the loss of her husband, she is placed among the survivors whom Scobie helps receive ashore.

First appears in chapter 5

The Portuguese captain of a neutral ship that Scobie searches under wartime regulations. A private letter found during the inspection forces Scobie to choose between strict duty and mercy.

First appears in chapter 4

The colonial doctor and one of Scobie's regular acquaintances. His knowledge of illness and official procedure makes him important whenever Scobie's physical condition is in question.