How does Frayn represent the female world within "Spies"
How does Frayn represent the female world within “Spies”?
Frayn presents us as a reader with a great comparison within one a single theme in the book. We as a reader are presented 2 perhaps extremes within the female world. Firstly motherhood, a world of security and love; however women are also presented in a sexual fashion one of again love but a very different and erotic love compared to that of a mother.
A further subdivision is made in the theme of motherhood, we are presented with Stephens mother and Keith's mother who not only differ in class but personality. Keith's mother is top of the rank, a higher social class, but we soon realise that doesn't make her a better mother. “You cant look her in the face. You cant look at her legs.” This portrays a different image of female world, Stephen is intimidated by Mrs Hayward and finds it initially difficult to interact with her something that the stereotype of a mother would contain. However in contrast to Mrs Hayward is Stephens mother, although Stephen would generally be able to relate to his own mother in a different way, Frayn still displays her in a far different way to Mrs Hayward. Stephens mother is portrayed as a figure of security and comfort, “I can hardly hear what she is saying, though, because i am running home to mummy.” The word memory brings significance to the security and comfort that Stephens mother offers, mummy is perhaps a puerile term. As a reader from this we pick up that to Stephen no matter his age his mother will always be an important part of his life. Stephens mother fits perfectly into the stereotype of a mother however Mrs Hayward does not.