Spies (novel)
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| Author | Michael Frayn |
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| Country | United Kingdom |
| Language | English |
| Genre(s) | Novel |
| Publisher | Faber and Faber |
| Released | 1 April 2002 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback & Paperback) |
| Pages | 302 p. (hardback edition) & 272 p. (paperback edition) |
| ISBN | ISBN 0-571-21286-7 (hardback edition) & ISBN 0-571-21296-4 (paperback edition) |
Spies is a 2002 novel by the British author and playwright Michael Frayn. The story takes place during both World War II and the present day, as narrator Stephen Wheatley returns to the scene of his seemingly ordinary suburban childhood. Stephen is unsure of what he is actually trying to find and, as he walks once-familiar streets he hasn't seen in 50 years, he unfolds a story of childish games eventually colliding cruelly with adult realities.
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[edit] Plot introduction
The story is structured as a bildungsroman, with the central character going on a journey of self-discovery by way of re-analysing his childhood through the eyes of an adult. Frayn is heavily ironic in his treatment of both memory and character, casting light on the instinctual paranoia and hypocritical voyeurism of Britain during the war.
[edit] Stephen's Chronology
Stephen was born in Germany as "Stefan Weitzler" in 1933. His mother was English and his father was a German Jew. In 1935 the family moved to England, presumably running away from persecution in Germany; it is here that they took on their English name, Wheatley. During his childhood living on the Close, he befriended Keith Hayward to whom he looked up to: "He was the officer corps in our two-man army. I was the Other Ranks - and grateful to be so". Away from the terror of war, the two boys embark on an adventure when Keith announces a disconcerting discovery: his mother is - according to Keith - a "German spy".
[edit] Themes
Themes and dual themes in this novel include: loss of innocence, virginity, adventure, mystery, relationships, memory, German-ness, English-ness, war, military, coming of age and growing up.
[edit] Ambiguity / Uncertainty
The twin narratives in the novel represent two parts of the same person. For ease we can refer to the child as Stephen and the narrating adult as Stefan. The uncertain narration constantly questions itself and we are left to wonder if all the details we are presented with are entirely accurate. This suggests the fallibility of human memory. The novel is also open to the interpretation of the reader. Readers contribute to the story in their own unique way, making assumptions or sharing Stephen's naivety.
[edit] Duality and conflict
Although Stephen does not know it yet, his entire life so far represents the theme of duality; born in Germany and being forced to move to England because of his religion. Duality and conflict also lie in the child/adult relationship between Stephen and Stefan. Also, and more obviously, the setting of the novel in the Second World War displays the theme of conflict, even though the war itself seems very distant from the Close. However, elements such as the bombed house 'Braemar' pose as an ever present reminder, even if the site has turned into the perfect playground for the children of the Close.
[edit] Gardens
The Hayward's immaculate garden: represents Stephen's view of Keith's family - making perfection ever more perfect.
The Berrills' garden: Wild roses growing, which symbolises how the two daughters are "running wild" whilst their father is away at war.
Stephen's garden: "Full of who knows what" symbolises the mystery surrounding his family's history and how Stephen's thoughts remain a mystery to Stefan as he looks back on his childhood.
[edit] Privet
Privet acts as a symbol of Stephen's sexual awakening (in particular reference to its smell) and adult confusion. Also a stimulus for memory within the novel- this use is deeply ironic, as the purpose of privet is to conceal and repress, but here it takes the opposite effect, as it liberates what Stephens calls 'such powerful feelings'. The spelling of this word also leads to confusion; the semantics behind the word Privet become implicit to mean 'Private' which also gets confused with 'Privvy' and this links to Germans and Germs.
[edit] The Bayonet
There are two bayonets within the novel. Mr. Hayward's bayonet is a symbol of power and authority. It is also used as a weapon against his wife and represents the repression within the household. Keith's bayonet symbolises not only how he admires his father but also the friendship between himself and Stephen as they swear oaths on the object; when the oath is broken, so is their friendship.
[edit] The Diary
Mrs. Hayward's diary symbolises secrecy and a lack of understanding of the adult-female world. An example of this is that Stephen fails to understand that the "x"'s represent her periods. Even though the true meaning of the "x" symbol in Mrs. Hayward's diary is never actually explained to the reader, it is implied and the reader is expected to come to the conclusion that they mark her periods. This bolsters the idea that there is more than one level to the mystery in "Spies" - the reader understands certain things that the boys do not. To the boys, the markings in the diary are a mystery to be solved. To the reader, it has already been "solved" and they are able to watch as Stephen and Keith continue in their attempts to make sense of the world around them. Furthermore, the meaning of the exclamation marks also remain clouded to us for some time. Both of these innocent signs are misinterpreted by the children.
[edit] Clothing
The older Stefan compares the two uniforms of Keith and Stephen: the yellow and black belt of the preparatory school contrasted with the green stripes of "the wrong school". This symbolises the difference in social class between the pair and links in with the resonating theme of Stephen viewing himself as inferior to Keith. Stephen's sock always falls down due to a failed garter; this symbolises his inferiority in comparison to Keith who is always dressed smartly. Mrs Hayward wears a cravat round her neck when it is indicated that she gets attacked by Mr. Hayward, yet she stills looks immaculate wearing it. Both boys are expressed to wear a snake 'S' like broach on their belts, this could be present to symbolically forshadow that there is going to be deception later in the story. This indeed proves heavily the case with examples such as 'the judus kiss' being highlighted.
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[edit] Awards and nominations
Spies won the 2002 Whitbread Novel of the year.
