The Secret Agent - Week 2

[Robin P, Moderator]

I"m a little behind, but here are a few topics to start with:

A lot of this book is about bureaucracy and hierarchy. What do you think of the interactions of the various levels of police, security, and state department, and how their representatives interact?

There is some dark humor in the language of those who had to deal with the aftereffects of the bombing. Is this in bad taste, or just to be expected among those who deal with violence regularly?

Finding out that the criminal/victim had his address marked in his coat points us to the person a lot of us suspected. What do we know and not know at this point?

[Lori, Moderator]

Frankly, I found the hierarchy confusing. I couldn't figure out how everyone was connected. I found much of the book confusing until close to the end (I went ahead and finished it last week).

The dark humor seemed kind of normal to me for people who deal with violence.

[Jenny]

I’m wondering how and why Verloc convinced Stevie to carry the bomb. Cowardice? How does he come to that decision, especially since his wife clearly dotes on her brother so much. What will she find out/ suspect regarding the details of Stevie’s death? And how will she react?

[Lori, Moderator]

I wondered if he might let Winnie believe that Stevie wandered off or got lost and hope the police don't make the connection.

[Robin P, Moderator]

I first thought that Stevie did the whole thing on his own but we know that two men were seen. It certainly would be convenient for Verloc to get rid of a dependent while keeping his superiors happy.

[Robin P, Moderator]

Lori wrote: "Frankly, I found the hierarchy confusing. I couldn't figure out how everyone was connected. I found much of the book confusing until close to the end (I went ahead and finished it last week).

The..."

I was confused because some of the officers are never given a name, just referred to by their titles and the titles aren't obvious as to who is above whom. I am reminded of the bureaucracies in 19th-century Russia, where each rank had a title, uniform, etc.

[Emma]

Robin wrote: A lot of this book is about bureaucracy and hierarchy...

Yes, it is hard to follow when characters aren't described by name. I was struck by how conscious the characters are of their own place in one hierarchy or another.

Even the anarchist the 'Professor' (on meeting Detective Heat) basks in his own sense of power over the law and sees the meeting as "affirming his superiority over all the multitude of mankind" (though Conrad is at pains to point out how physically inferior he is). As for Heat, he mentally ranks thieves above anarchists because of their respect for authority.

Regarding the dark humour, Heat doesn't seem to treat the explosion lightly. Although he says very little, seeing the remains fills him with an intense awareness of what the dead man might have suffered. This is a more compassionate response than that of the Assistant Commissioner, who thinks, "Horrible, horrible!" - but is actually referring to the rain.

And the Assistant Commissioner seems to be more interested in whether Inspector Heat is trying to outwit him than he is in the actual crime.

[Frances, Moderator]

Is the Assistant Commissioners whole reason for trying to go above Inspector Heat that he does not want Michaelis arrested, as this will upset his wife’s friend? I’m also wondering if at this time there was a separate “police “ force for foreign matters-the MI5/MI6 set up (which I don’t entirely understand).

[Phrodrick slowed his growing backlog]

Pardon me for popping in, This is an old favorite book of mine and your discussion has helped me.

"Even the anarchist the 'Professor' (on meeting Detective Heat) basks in his own sense of power over the law and sees the meeting as "affirming his superiority over all the multitude of mankind"

This is a very insightful psychological profile.
Among the things you look for in a serial , or mass murderer is a feelings of victim status and confidence that you are smarter than your pursuers.
I doubt that this profile had been formally cast or was known or well known in Conrad's time

[Jenny]

I never would have thought of the Professor in terms of being a serial killer. Great connection.

[Gem , Moderator]

Lori wrote: "Frankly, I found the hierarchy confusing. I couldn't figure out how everyone was connected. I found much of the book confusing..."

I'm in good company then. I've read and re-read some of the passages and I still wasn't 100% who was who.