The Dangers of Fanaticism

Paper Summary:

The paper examines "The Secret Agent", a political thriller that depicts the dangers and futility of blindly pursuing allegiance to any singular goal, whether personal or political. The paper portrays the contrast between two characters, Winnie Verloc and the Professor, who both represent the extremes of human attitudes towards the importance of personal life.

From the Paper:

"Winnie Verloc originally has no interest in improving her life through political channels. She is solely focused on improving the life of her old mother and brother. Winnie's disdain for intellectualism is seen in her affection for her brother Stevie. She seems to mainly be interested in her older husband's ability to provide for her brother, and does not comprehend the full nature of Verloc's complicated past. ""He'll have to get tired of me first,'" she says, before her husband will get rid of Stevie (Chapter 2) Stevie, along with her mother, is all she cares about, to the point that she will sacrifice her personal happiness in a loveless marriage (Chapter 2)."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Conrad, Joseph. The Secret Agent. Originally published 1907. The Online LiteratureLibrary. 2002. 2 Mar 2007. < http://www.online-literature.com/booksearch.php>

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