Essay on Uncertainty in Spies by Michael Frayne

Spies written by Michael Frayne is a novel set in world war II but narrated in the present. It is very uncertain how events then were linked to the present. Stephen is a key narrator who begins in the present and then reflects back at the past remembering his childhood which is defiantly uncertain. Stephen returns 50years later at the scene of his childhood to attempt and unpick events of one period of his life. Through mind exploration, he tries to remember what happened and looks back with both homesickness and sadness about what happened. Stephens background is surrounded with mystery. Because the narrative originated from an adult looking back at his childhood, the events are uncertain and unclear since it is not possible to remember everything clearly after all the period and also memory fades.

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It is uncertain in the novel for Stephen to understand at last who the man was down there in the darkness when he heard his own name spoken. Description of Stephens surrounding creates an atmosphere of uncertainty because Stephen could see because of darkness and relied on senses. Stephen relied on his sense of hearing to understand what was going around him; he could hear the man approaching the box and even deduce what he looks like out of sound he makes, he could tell that he was an adult out of breath and size and describe his movements using auditory images. Stephen notes that the voice was not foreign and wonders who the man was. Old Stephen was looking back; and shocked that he didnt know who the man was. On the other hand, the man is heard saying it is over implying that he is in love with Hayward. He repeated that forever and it was always her The figure seems to know Stephen and the old Stephen wonders if he knew who it was in the hole when his name was spoken. It was interesting how the figure asked why he had come and if Bobs had sent him. Through the coughing, Stephen was able to realize that it was not a tramp and also realizes he is English and not German. It is uncertain how Stephen was not able to identify the man and also did not respond to the mans question about Keiths mother and why she did not come. The man purported that it must have to do with her husband Ted and asks Stephen to tell her he was sorry. In agreement, Stephen nods his head and goes to leave, but the man insists that he stays. The man seems to have known Stephen before and even attempts to write a letter for him to take back but instead gives him something silken from around his neck and asks Stephen to give it to her. Stephen realizes why his mother wears a scarf in the height of summer. He also finds out that the scarf is a map of the German countryside when he tries to hide it Keith discovers and wounds him because he believes he had broken their oath

Stephen goes out to hide the secret scarf but hears men collecting a body under the tunnel. The have him who. It was at this point that Stephen discovered the worthiness of his parents when his father wiped the wound after Keith hurt him. The negative perception he had for his family had not allowed him to see the positive side of his parents. They were hiding interesting things about their origin but still Stephen discovered their worthiness at last. The narrator uses suspense and uncertainty in context, why would Stephen protect the scarf if he did not know what it's significance? Stephen must have known something to do with the man, but the man remained uncertain. Eventually Stephen did not know the man but he understood his family.

Work Cited

Frayn, Michael. Spies. 1st ed. New York: Metropolitan Books, 2002. Print.pg 199-200