2. How do you interpret Smiley's feelings that his attachments are a weakness? (chapter 3)

[Jen]

2. How do you interpret Smiley's feelings that his attachments are a weakness? (chapter 3)

[John]

Quoting Aga "In almost every spy novel there is a statement that having a family, a wife, a child is a potential source of weakness. And it was a little surprise for me reading this novel that a lot of le Carré's spies have someone who they have to look after. And this scene when they talk to Tarr and the children of one of them are playing outside, riding a pony. Obviously British spies are more family men."

Building on Aga's point, contrary to a lot of spy novels and the movies, Le Carré reflects a world of spies as ordinary men and women, with lives and loves that can trip them up in their profession. Yes, a family is a source of weakness, but if spy agencies demanded that their spies have no families, they would find recruiting tougher, and would have greater turnover. It is Le Carré's willingness to deal with the intersection of regular life and espionage that makes his books so interesting.

[Jen]

He also describes love as both "self-delusion" and "illusion." Attachments very much are a weakness for Smiley at least since his feelings for Ann and the impact of her affair with Bill, affect his ability to see Bill for what he truly is. There are several cases of where those attachments are portrayed to be weaknesses. Tarr & Irina, Guillem and his doubts about Camilla, etc.

[Patrick]

I agree with you both. Also, with respect to Bill Haydon, there was mention of "illusionless" to describe him, which seems to fit the character: he didn't have any steady relationships, we are aware that he might have been attracted to both genders (a possible relationship with Prideaux), that he had an affair with Smiley's wife and that he didn't care too much for his current partner, Jan.

Karla's theft of Smiley's lighter in India provided him with a great weapon to exploit Smiley's weaknesses, even though it took him years before making "good" use of it.