english literature unit 1 assignment 2

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Spies

Assignment 2:

The women in Spies are mainly presented through the eyes of the younger Stephan, whose growing maturity means that his views often change throughout the novel. It is important to note that his views may be mixed due to the nature of the main women in the text; Mrs Hayward and Barbara Berrill; they do not portray the typical attitudes of women in the 1940 era.

Stephen's particular attention to Mrs Hayward when comparing their families greatness to his own is important, because it shows early on that he notices things about women that he finds particularly remarkable; this is apparent when the older Stephan ponders whether his younger self 'would have perceived the grace and sincerity of Keith's mother quite so clearly if his own hadn't spent most of the day in a faded apron, sighing and anxious?' It is clear that Stephen admires Mrs Hayward for her social appearance amongst the women of the era. The attention to details of Mrs Hayward such as 'her perfectly plucked eyebrows' is a clear indication that the admiration of her by Stephan soon turns to fixation as he steps into the world of adolescence,