Explore the ways Frayn presents the relationship between Stephen and Keith
From the beginning the audience learn that there is a sense of hierarchy in Keith and Stephens’ relationship, that Stephen is ever more aware of “even then, of my incomprehensible good fortune in being Keith’s friend” even as a child. Such a friendship is conveyed through the hierarchy and is significant in the development of Stephens’ character, and this is inherent from Chapter two beginning with the comparison Stephen makes of himself in relation to Keith. However it is important to remember that this high regard which Stephen does hold is implied through Frayn’s presentation proves that his perception is unreliable.
The twin narrative in spies represents the same person at two different stages in his life. This idea introduces uncertainty because the narrator constantly questions himself and therefore as the audience it is open to interpretation as to whether all the details we are presented are entirely accurate with Stephen and Keith’s changing relationship. The relationship of these children can be paralleled to the journey the narrator embarks on because it is his childhood described at “frightening, half-understood promises of life” that he needs to revisit and he same way there is a journey of this secret, similarly Frayn displays a journey in the relationship with Stephen as Keith.
The relationship between Stephen and Keith is first exposed in chapter two when Stephen repeatedly uses the word “special” which gives the audience a good idea of Keith status in the eyes of Stephens. Even though we are never told how Keith see Stephen they way he act towards him shows no resemblance of Stephen seen as “special” from the viewpoint of Keith. This is further conveyed through Stephen’s inferiority and gratitude he gives Keith in believing everything he says: “with my mouth slightly open, as I’ve done so many times before, waiting to find out what comes next.” Stephen believes everything Keith says to be true, he doesn’t even for a moment doubt the lies that pour out of his mouth, but instead envies him even more for Keith’s “unending good fortune”. But in the same paragraph Frayn juxtaposes “admiring jealousy” conveying a sense of a symmetrical novel because earlier on in the play the older Stephen introduces contradictions in phrases: “Everything is as it was…yet everything has changed”, could reflect uncertainty. In this case uncertainty may be that although Stephen thinks highly of the fact that Keith thought of such a good game, he is envious because he knows its not true but cannot say anything to him because of his inferiority. Either way the narrator is not perhaps entirely accurate, but it could be just Stephen’s naivety.
