Loyalty And Betrayal In The Novel Spies Michael Fayn

Discuss the importance of loyalty and betrayal in the novel and how Frayn presents this in a dramatic manner. Michael Frayn’s novel spies is placed in the middle of World War Two. Betrayal and loyalty are central to a novel about World War Two as these two factors affected how the war played out. This is because for someone to be fully loyal they must betray another. This cause of being loyal affects every character in a novel in the era of World War Two like Spies as the characters must be loyal to their country. The two contrasts of betrayal and loyalty are key to Frayn’s novel as they influence the continual relationship changes throughout. Betrayal is when you endanger another person or country at risk by unfaithful giving information

He describes his visions of what she is doing in a very particular way as she is in the ‘cellar’ of and ‘old castle’ whilst over a ‘radio transmitter’ sending ‘Morse key’ to the Germans. This language is very specific and we realize that his dramatic and adventurous visualisation of what Mrs Hayward is doing has come from the books on Keith’s shelf that present the life of spies on ‘missions’ on ‘biplanes’ and down ‘secret passage’ ways. It is almost ironic that Stephen is more included to believe that Mrs Hayward has dropped through a manhole than been for a visit to The Lanes. By presenting this view though an exaggerated child-like perspective, Frayn shades the light on the unexamined beliefs of adults. This shows that Stephen is very easily influenced by things which can be traced back to the idea of him always being second fiddle in his life behind characters such as Keith, his brother and the bullies at school. Secondly, it shows that the war has had an effect of his judgement as he always predicts the worst of people. Throughout the novel there is a strong impression that propaganda and patriotism have a solid effect of Stephen’s and Keith’s decision making and thought process. This is exemplified by the repeated use of the phrase ‘the duration’ by Stephen as it has been integrated into his

In a powerful speech to Stephen Uncle Peter talks in the second person which adds a chilling meaning to the section. The use of the second person distances Uncle Peter’s awful memories and the shame they place inside him which causes him to not acknowledge them. In the novel, the trains sound represents a passing of time. By suggesting a connection with the rest of the world the railway shows the separation of a small community and the people in it. Uncle peter is linked with the railway as he is physically and socially deserted from the Close and in this speech by Uncle Peter he is using himself as a symbol to what will happen to Stephen if he carries on being a hero. Also, Uncle Peter will be judged extremely harshly by The Close if he emerged as the war is still going on and he has ditched the war effort which is a huge act of disloyalty to his country and he as be falsely leading The Close on to believe he is a hero. This could lead to him being caught as a deserter which could lead to a sanction of 5 years of prison which shows his massive fall from grace from war hero to prisoner. Afterwards there is another act of betrayal as Uncle Peter confesses that it was ‘always her’, Mrs Hayward that he loved, not