Intrusion In John Frayn's 'Spies'

Explore the effects on Stephen of Barbara’s intrusion during pages 162-168
Barbara Berill becomes a key feature to the themes of leadership and power and growing up in Frayn’s novel Spies. This can be seen throughout pages 162-168 when she has a variety effects on Stephen during her intrusion. Barbara evokes feelings within Stephen and awakes his burgeoning sexuality, she makes him realise he does not need Keith and is better off without him and she also aids his blossoming understanding of the adult world.
Barbara stirs many feelings within Stephen and contributes to his sexual awakening and this can be seen throughout pages 162-168. A first instance of this is seen whilst she flirtatiously teases with him by saying ‘you face has gone all

Loads and loads.’ Stephen’s repetition of the word loads shows that he really is trying to impress Barbara with the amount of cigarettes he has claims to have smoked, even though what he is saying is a conspicuous lie. At this point some of Stephen’s sexual desires start to be awaken. Barbara does effectively stir Stephen’s emotions, this is seen when he narrates ‘My lap’s full of the weight and softness of her.’ Positive imagery is created through the soft sounding syllables in the words ‘softness’ and ‘lap,’ portraying how Stephen has now come to think of Barbara in a new light, this is also a part of his sexual awakening. He has taken a keen interest in everything that she seems to be doing. This can also be seen when he narrates ‘She blows the smoke out.’ Stephen’s close observation of her and use of the smooth, long sounding word ‘blows,’ portrays that he wants the moment to last for as long as it can and that he is absolutely captivated and aroused by what she does. Another way it can be seen that Barbara stirs feelings within