Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent

Introduction

These notes are for Joseph Conrad's novel, The Secret Agent. I compiled them during my senior year of high school and decided to make them available on the web for all those who could use a little help with the book.

Title : The Secret Agent

Genre : Novel

Author : Joseph Conrad

Date of Publication : 1907

Period of Literary History : Twentieth Century

Major Characters :

Mr. Verloc, lazy and vulgar, is assigned to spy on any possible anarchists while posing as a small business owner and operator. He is instructed to bomb GreenWich Observatory by his superiors, although he believes such action to be irration al and radical enough to spark an anti-anarchist campaign by the London police. He is eventually murdered by his wife for using her brother as a pawn in his mission, and is responsible for his death.

Winnie Verloc, the wife of Mr. Verloc, married primarily to provide for the needs of her brother Stevie, whom she loves very much. After learning of her husbands contrivances dealing with her imbecilic brother, she kills Mr. Verloc and attempts to flee to the Continent, only to be deserted by her companion. After being deserted, she jumps from the steamer while in route to Calais and dies.

Chief Inspector Heat, a methodical man, and investigator for the London Police, attempts to solve the mystery of the bombing by following convention and other standard procedures. With his inability to comprehend the actual motives for the act, he arrests Michaelis, the most harmless anarchical propagandist. Due to a new commissioner’s insistence and a small portion of evidence, he is forced to approach Mr. Verloc, who has been quite helpful in previous cases.

The Assistant Commissioner, recently accepting a position in the London Police force, realizes the quandary of relying on standard police procedures. Questioning Chief Inspector Heat’s methodology, he eventually gains an active role in the inve stigation of the observatory bombing.

Privy Councilor Wurmt, a representative for the foreign embassy, demands Verloc be reprimanded and given instructions.

Mr. Vladimir, the First Secretary of the embassy, accuses Verloc of indolence and pressures him to bomb the Greenwich Observatory so the British People may renew their European responsibilities.

Comrade Ossipon, "the Doctor," escapes with Winnie Verloc after she murdered her husband, and is willing to share the bank account, but deserts Winnie when he thinks she may begin to become suspicious of him. He holds quite remarkable anarchica l viewpoints.

Michaelis, or the "Apostle," is arrested by Inspector Heat, so that the inspector would not loose prestige. An ideal anarchist, he writes a book of his experiences while in prison. Lady Mabel, his patroness, cares for him.

Professor X, the perfect anarchist, has grand visions of creating the perfect detonator. For protection he strapped explosives to his physically deformed body, and supplied Verloc with the necessary explosives for the bombing.

Karl Yundt, the old terrorist, is a man of much talk but little action.

Stevie, Winnie’s half-witted brother, is manipulated into Verloc’s scheme and killed when the bomb accidentally explodes.

Sir Ethelred, The Home Secretary to whom the Assistant Commissioner reports progress of the bombing investigation.

Lady Mabel, the young patroness who supports Michaelis.

Toodles, the young secretary to Sir Ethelred.

Plot Synopsis :

Mr. Verloc, an agent provocateur, traveled alone to the foreign embassy, wear he had been summoned at eleven in the morning. As he entered the embassy he reminded himself how inopportune it might be if one of the anarchist g uest whom he often entertained at his shop may catch him at such a place. His work with the embassy was a well kept secrete at his business, which also served as his residence. The thought of visiting Mr. Vladimir did not begin a reign of contentment in Verloc’s soul, rather forced him to realize how lazy he had become through the years. Now, standing in front of Mr. Vladimir, Verloc found himself receiving a verbal lashing of sorts due to his ‘slothfulness’ and ‘inefficiency,’ and was threatened with dismissed. Vladimir demanded Verloc take action to ‘upset English complacency,’ and specifically requested it be directed toward the Greenwich Observatory. Badly shaken, Verloc returned to his home behind the store and regained his composure before reve aling his troubles to his anarchist friends. His wife however, did manage to detect Verloc’s anxiety and frustration. Mrs. Verloc married her husband, not for love, but rather the security of her half-wit brother Stevie, who she had protected since the days of their childhood. Stevie was taught to respect Verloc and listen to every word he said, so Verloc grew a tolerance for his presence in the household. The mother of Winnie Verloc and Stevie then decided it would be Stevie’s benefit if she were to move to an almshouse, allowing Verloc to get more rest. In his sorrow, Stevie mopped. Winnie, being troubled with Stevie’s actions, suggested that he accompany Verloc on his long mysterious walks, and this soon became an established practice. After som e time, Mr. Verloc suggested that Stevie go spend some time with Michaelis, an anarchist whom they were both fond of. Winnie approved, and Stevie embarked on his trip. A few days passed without any unusual occurrence until Mr. Verloc returned home from a walk rather upset. After showing signs that he was obviously worried about something, Verloc was taken By the London police that evening. While he was gone, Chief Inspector Heat brought a piece of Stevie’s clothing to the house, and allowed Winnie to examine it. Upon the sight, Winnie became quite frantic, and demanded to hear know what happened. Mr. Verloc arrived home just in time to interrupt the conversation and speak with Heat privately in another room. Mrs. Verloc, very upset, attempted to ea vesdrop, and heard her husband explain that he had trained Stevie to bomb the Greenwich Observatory, but he had tripped in the fog and blown himself to bits. When Heat departed, Winnie confronted her husband, without listening to anything he had to say. He sat on the couch, and in her rage, Mrs. Verloc grabbed a carving knife and stabbed him in the heart. While Verloc died on the couch, Winnie fled, and happen to meet with Comrade Ossipon, an anarchist friend who eyed her from time to time. Ossipon p romised to help Winnie, but then discovered the happening of the past few days, and did not wish to be associated with her. Ossipon persuaded Winnie to accompany him on a boat, then jumped off once it began moving, taking all Winnie’s money with him. Fe eling heavy-hearted for his actions, he read a newspaper and discovered Winnie had jumped from the boat and taken her life. This increased his sadness, and forced him to realize what he had done.

Plot Structure :

Introduction – Conrad begins the novel by introducing the characters and describing them. Afterwards of the description episode, he begins the main action by planting Mr. Verloc in the embassy to take on a new assignment or face termination .

Rising Action – Upon receiving the new assignment, the actions of Mr. Verloc, in preparation for execution of a plan, contribute to the rising action. Among the conditions existing, the relocation of Winnie’s mother, and Stevie’s trip to see Mi chaelis were two major contributors.

Climax – The indirect news of Stevie’s death, and the murder of Verloc sustain the climax and put an end to the increasing excitement of the mission of which Verloc was involved.

Falling Action – In response to the climatic action, Winnie is forced to flee, and happens meet with Comrade Ossipon in the process. Ossipon concludes this episode with the abandonment of Winnie.

Conclusion – After being abandoned, Winnie takes her own life, placing a conclusion on the novel.

Recurring Themes :

Alienation : The theme of alienation is found principally in the relationship betwixt the city and citizens thereof. Those who dwell in the city feel alienated from it, causing a degree of corruption in their lives. This is particularly a pparent in the Commissioner’s journey. ‘His descent into the street was like the descent into a slimy aquarium from which the water had been run off. A murky, gloomy dampness enveloped him. The walls of the houses were wet, the mud of the roadway glist ened with an effect of phosphorescence, and when he emerged into the Strand out of a narrow street by the side of Charing Cross Station the genius of the locality assimilated him.’ (122-123)

Breakdown of Communication : After the death of Stevie, Mr. and Mrs. Verloc were unable to communicate with each other in any intelligible fashion. This failure to communicate leads to the destruction of relationships, as seen in Mr. and Mrs. Verloc lives. ‘Mrs. Verloc's philosophical, almost disdainful incuriosity, the foundation of their accord in domestic life made it extremely difficult to get into contact with her, now this tragic necessity had arisen.’(185)

Death : Throughout the course of events, death seemed to be a minor theme, rearing itself only in response to the development of the plot. The reader is forced to deal with the death of several main characters including Stevie, Mr. Verloc, and Mrs. Verloc. Stevie was ‘blown to small bits: limbs, gravel, clothing, bones, splinters - all mixed up together. I tell you they had to fetch a shovel to gather him up with.’ (166). Mrs. Verloc watched the blood of her husband after killing him, ‘It wa s a trickle, dark, swift, thin…Blood!’ (204)

Literary Techniques :

Foreshadowing is use to create unity. It is present throughout the novel in many places, such as Mrs. Verloc being angry if Stevie is hurt, and her killing Mr. Verloc after Stevie’s death is discovered. ‘I had to take the carving knife awa y from the boy…Some people don’t deserve much mercy.’ (62) Specifically, it can be seen when the story of Stevie playing with fireworks is given, foreshadowing the bomb explosion. (26)

Repetition allows for emphasis to be placed on a specific set of variables. This technique makes clear to the reader the consequences for a given action or set of actions. Winnie’s relationship to Stevie is mentioned time and time again throug h the course of the novel to enforce her action when Stevie dies. Phrases such as, "She could not bear to see the boy hurt," (47) are found throughout the novel.

Flashback enables Conrad to further explore the possibilities of unity through the work by uniting the past with events yet to come. This technique is closely linked to foreshadowing, and each is used as a catalyst of sorts. Chapter eight full y incorporates flashback technique, as is evident in the very first sentence of the chapter. ‘Having infused by persistent importunities some sort of heat into the chilly interest of several licensed victuallers (the acquaintances once upon a time of her late unlucky husband), Mrs. Verloc's mother had at last secured her admission to certain almshouses founded by wealthy innkeeper for the destitute widows of the trade.’ (126)

Comments on Style :

Conrad has a unique style on which his specific diction and somewhat advanced vocabulary, coupled with complex sentence structure and plot development, hold the potential to confuse and frustrate the average reader, while attempting to engag e their minds and create original thought. In depth description is also very characteristic of Conrad’s style and is found through many of his works. Due to this stylistic writing, an inexperienced reader may find themselves becoming to lost in his desc riptions, and lose the story line in the process.

Archetypes :

The Triangle – Commonly found in reference to Verloc, the triangle is used in many instances to elude to the trinity, having three parts. ‘This was then the famous and trusty secret agent, so secret that he was never designated otherwise but by the symbol [delta] in the late Baron Stott-Wartenheim's official, semi-official, and confidential correspondence; the celebrated agent [delta], whose warnings had the power to change the schemes and the dates of royal, imperial, grand ducal journeys, and sometimes caused them to be put off altogether!’(39)

Circles – Stevie is found drawing circles at on point in the unveiling of the plot, suggesting a style of completeness or infinity. ‘Stevie, seated very good and quiet at a deal table, drawing circles, circles, circles; innumerable circles, con centric, eccentric; a coruscating whirl of circles that by their tangled multitude of repeated curves, uniformity of form, and confusion of intersecting lines suggested a rendering of cosmic chaos, the symbolism of a mad art attempting the inconceivable.’ (52)

Light – Often symbolizing a supreme being, or some type of nourishment, is seen in reference to characters at times. ‘The Assistant Commissioner, driven rapidly in a hansom from the neighbourhood of Soho in the direction of Westminster, got out at the very centre of the Empire on which the sun never sets. ‘(169)

Darkness – Having an inverse effect of light, darkness seems to deprive rather than nourish. ‘Mr Verloc cared nothing for Stevie's excitement, but he felt horribly wakeful, and dreaded facing the darkness and silence that would follow the extin guishing of the lamp.’ (61)

Historical Relevances in the Plot :

Shortly before the time in which The Secret Agent was written, an actual bombing attempt was made upon the Greenwich Observatory, but failed as did the attempt which Conrad conjured up for his novel.

Narrative Technique :

The narrator always distances himself from any and all characters, yet reveals the thoughts, feeling, and emotions of each of them through the course of the novel. A third-person omniscient point of view is revealed as the narrator unfolds the plot.

Significant Passage Quotes :

"There could be nothing better. Such an outrage combines the greatest possible regard for humanity with the most alarming display of ferocious imbecility. I defy the ingenuity of journalists to persuade their public that any given member o f the proletariat can have a personal grievance against astronomy. Starvation itself could hardly be dragged in there - eh? And there are other advantages. The whole civilised world has heard of Greenwich. The very boot-blacks in the basement of Chari ng Cross Station know something of it. See?" (44)

‘Mr Verloc never meant Stevie to perish with such abrupt violence. He did not mean him to perish at all. Stevie dead was a much greater nuisance than ever he had been when alive.’ (180)

‘By the position of the body the face of Mr Verloc was not visible to Mrs Verloc, his widow. Her fine, sleepy eyes, travelling downward on the track of the sound, became contemplative on meeting a flat object of bone which protruded a little beyond th e edge of the sofa. It was the handle of the domestic carving knife with nothing strange about it but its position at right angles to Mr Verloc's waistcoat and the fact that something dripped from it. Dark drops fell on the floorcloth one after another, with a sound of ticking growing fast and furious like the pulse of an insane clock. At its highest speed this ticking changed into a continuous sound of trickling. Mrs Verloc watched that transformation with shadows of anxiety coming and going on her f ace. It was a trickle, dark, swift, thin. . . . Blood!’(204)

‘"Don't ask me!" cried Mrs Verloc with a shuddering, repressed violence. All her strong vitality recoiled from the idea of death. "Never mind where I was going. . . ."

Ossipon concluded that she was very much excited but perfectly sober. She remained silent by his side for moment, then all at once she did something which he did not expect. She slipped her hand under his arm. He was startled by the act itself certa inly, and quite as much too by the palpably resolute character of this movement. But this being a delicate affair, Comrade Ossipon behaved with delicacy. He contented himself by pressing the hand slightly against his robust ribs. At the same time he fe lt himself being impelled forward, and yielded to the impulse. At the end of Brett Street he became aware of being directed to the left. He submitted.’ (210)

‘They ran thus: "AN IMPENETRABLE MYSTERY SEEMS DESTINED TO HANG FOR EVER OVER THIS ACT OF MADNESS OR DESPAIR."

Such were the end words of an item of news headed: "Suicide of Lady Passenger from a cross-Channel Boat." Comrade Ossipon was familiar with the beauties of its journalistic style. "AN IMPENETRABLE MYSTERY SEEMS DESTINED TO HANG FOR EVER. . . " He ke ew every word by heart. "AN IMPENETRABLE MYSTERY. . . . "’ (234)

Other Secret Agent Resources

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