The Light and the Dark is an interesting tale of friendship between two men who are immersed in the world of academia and British aristocracy. The story chronicles the pursuits of Roy Calvert and his friendship with Lewis Eliot. Roy has experienced men and women sexually, but his deepest bond has formed with Lewis, that is as deep of a bond as Roy can develop. Roy is a man alone who is eternally plagued by his bouts of depression and alternating burst of enthusiasm. He is searching for God and answers to life’s mysteries but comes to realize to experience a higher connection to the spiritual he must lose himself wholly. As such, he remains an observer at all times, whether happy or depressed whether alone or with others. Because Roy cannot tolerate the thought of growing old and losing his vitality he is plagued with depression which increases his isolation from the rest of the world-including his wife and closest friends. Roy’s only solution is to take up a pursuit which is the most risk-filled he can think of, flying bombing mission at night. He dies having lived a glorious youth without “tasting the tears of things”, what is perceived to be fortunate by some who eulogize him. The author uses many literary techniques to portray Roy’s story, a story of a man trying to reconcile mankind’s isolation and mortality by not opening himself up to others. Through the use of conflict, characterization and irony the author portrays Roy’s dilemma as he searches for a higher mean in a world that appears godless from his worldview.
There is a great deal of conflict in the novel which serves to underscore the internal conflict faced by Roy. There is the conflict over who will be appointed to replace the Major. There is conflict concerning those who disdain Roy because of rumor and those who love him because they know his real story. There is the conflict between god and science and the inability to prove there is a g...