“The Secret Agent” By Joseph Conrad

The Secret Agent is a book written by Joseph Conrad that was very interesting and took you on an adventure to London 1886. Adolf Verloc’s story is told by the book. He is both a successful businessman and secret agent. Verloc is an anarchist who believes in the overthrow of government. He also functions as a terrorist. But he’s not only a terrorist, but he’s also a provocateur working for a foreign nation (22). Mr.Verloc had to make a decision that would change his life and the lives of everyone around him. He discovers that the ripple effect of his decision affected all his family members. This book was my favorite because it gave each character a unique perspective, and the writing style was so diverse. The book was full of action and excitement, while also presenting an important lesson and theme.

The way the author wrote the book is quite unusual and impressive. The Secret Agent is unlike other books, as it does not have a clear protagonist or antagonist. Conrad never took a side, but instead introduced the ideas of each character. He went his own way, giving each character a lot of depth and perspective. The cast acted according to their own opinions and motives. Each thought that the work they did was the most beneficial to the situation. Adolf Verloc’s only concern was making money. He did this by being lazy and lying. He believed the value of people was determined by their usefulness. For him, a government agent provocateur would be the best thing to do if he could make money. Winnie is Verloc’s spouse. Winne was a loyal wife who was dedicated to Stevie, her mentally-disabled brother. She sacrificed a lot to make sure her brother was taken care of. When she heard that her brother had died in the bombings, her first thought was to kill her husband, who was responsible for it (241). She was only protecting her brother. They were all sympathetic and heroic, but none were evil. This novel was more relatable and realistic because of this.

The Secret Agent is a book that is full of enthusiasm and energy. While reading this novel, I was never bored. Verloc has to initiate an attack at Greenwich Observatory. (27). In the following chapter, we are informed that this attack is already over and the person who was carrying the bomb has blown himself up. Verloc’s suicide is made to appear as if Verloc was the culprit. Verloc managed to escape, but two other passengers got off. It’s all because they can’t understand each other. Verloc was too trusting of Stevie and killed him (197). Further, his inability of understanding Winnie’s love towards her brother results in his death. Winnie, on the other hand, is unwilling to look past the surface to find out what’s going on. This novel also had a lot of irony and satire. The Secret Agent is a Simple Tale, was the title. The story, in reality, is far from simple. The story was full of plot twists and characters that were highly complex. Conrad named the book “A Simple Tale”, despite it dealing with many complex issues.

The Secret Agent is not a book that seems to have much compassion in it. However, the theme of compassion is one of the most important themes in the novel. Conrad wants to know if people can even care for each other in modern society. Stevie Michaelis share a great deal of compassion. But despite their best efforts, they still cannot change the world (159). Conrad suggests in The Secret Agent that there may be compassion out there, but it is destroyed and abused by the world. Winnie Verloc’s mother and Winnie are two of the characters that most often display devotion. Both show Stevie a deep love, but it is important not to confuse their devotion with Stevie’s compassion (161). Stevie’s empathy is a result of his connection to earth. Winnie, and her mother, are more protective towards him out of duty. The final theme is that of deceit and lying. The main tool of a secret agent is deceit and lies. It seems that the entire social order is based on deceit and lies. The characters seem to believe that those who lie are the ones with the most success. This statement, however, is false if you take the time to read through the entire story. They also all lost their lives. Dishonesty will never help you win anything. It can actually cause you to lose your motivation and drive your goal farther away.

The Secret Agent was a novel that gave me so much more. It’s so much richer than a boring story. Each character was so well-defined and believable, each with a purpose as well as a belief. The action was never-ending. There was always a scene waiting to unfold. Despite all of that, there were still themes. The themes were deceit, compassion, and devotion. The writing is tied together by all of these themes. These themes teach us about honesty. The book is ironic, with all its themes and actions. It is a good idea to give the book’s title the opposite name of what it describes. This novel has so much to offer. This novel offers a wide range of expressions. Joseph Conrad is a great writer and I recommend it for its many benefits.