The Spy Who Came in From The Cold

The Spy Who
Came in From
the Cold
Study Guide by Course Hero
tense.
What's Inside
ABOUT THE TITLE
The title The Spy Who Came in from the Cold refers to the
j Book Basics ................................................................................................. 1 novel's protagonist, Alec Leamas, who works for British
intelligence. The word cold has multiple meanings in the title. It
d In Context ..................................................................................................... 1 refers to the Cold War, a political standoff lasting from the late
1940s into the 1980s between the United States and its allies
a Author Biography ..................................................................................... 3
and the Soviet Union and its communist satellite states.
h Characters .................................................................................................. 4 Leamas, the main character of the novel, plans to come in from
the cold, meaning he wants to retire from active service. He is
k Plot Summary ............................................................................................. 8 also hoping to come in from the cold in a different way—by
escaping the coldness, or inhumanity, of espionage work.
c Chapter Summaries .............................................................................. 16
g Quotes ........................................................................................................ 40
l Symbols ..................................................................................................... 43 d In Context

m Themes ...................................................................................................... 44
e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 45 The Cold War

After the end of World War II, two superpowers emerged that
dominated world politics for almost the next 50 years—the
j Book Basics communist Soviet Union and the democratic United States.
The rivalry between these two powers came to be called the
AUTHOR Cold War because direct armed conflict between the Soviet
John le Carré Union and the United States never took place. During the Cold
War, the Soviet Union and the United States each viewed its
YEAR PUBLISHED respective ideology, or system of ideas, as being superior and
1963 believed it needed to prevent its rival from achieving world
domination. In addition, the Soviet Union and the United States
GENRE
each had allies that supported them. The allies of the Soviet
Fiction
Union were called the Eastern bloc and included most of the
PERSPECTIVE AND NARRATOR countries in eastern Europe, including East Germany. The allies
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is told by a third-person of the United States were called the Western bloc and
omniscient narrator. included most of the countries in western Europe, including the
United Kingdom and West Germany.
TENSE
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold is narrated in the past During the late 1940s and 1950s, the rivalry between the
The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide In Context 2
United States and Soviet Union gradually increased, as each divided Germany into four zones, with each nation controlling a
side stockpiled nuclear weapons. The Spy Who Came in from zone. The Soviet Union soon began to set up communist
the Cold takes place in the early 1960s, when tension between governments in the Eastern European countries it invaded
the Western bloc and Eastern bloc reached its apex. In an during World War II, including Poland, Czechoslovakia, and the
attempt to gain an advantage, each side used espionage, or eastern zone of Germany. Hostility and distrust grew between
the practice of spying, to gather classified information about the democratic allies and the communist Soviet Union. The
their opponent. In this regard, the United Kingdom proved to be eastern zone of Germany developed into the communist nation
an invaluable ally to the United States because of its closer of East Germany in 1949, supported by the Soviets as a barrier
proximity to the Eastern bloc. against the west. The western zones united to form the
democratic nation of West Germany. Berlin (itself located in
Indeed, some view this rivalry as continuing from the Russian East Germany and totally surrounded by it) was divided into
Revolution in 1917 to the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, democratic West Berlin, where the Americans, French, and
with World War II being only an interruption. The standoff British had a strong presence, and communist East Berlin,
between the United States and the Soviet Union may be said to dominated by the Soviets.
have its roots in the Russian Revolution that began in 1917.
During this revolution, a communist regime gained control of As part of their plans for conquest and control, the Soviets
Russia and the surrounding region and later established a created trade and communication barriers that came to be part
nation called the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics (USSR), or of the Iron Curtain between the communist-controlled
Soviet Union. countries in Eastern Europe and the democratic countries in
Western Europe. These barriers served to further divide East
The United States and its allies felt threatened by these Berlin from West Berlin. However, the government of East
actions of the Soviet Union. During World War II, the United Germany witnessed that great numbers of its citizens were
States and the United Kingdom formed an uneasy alliance with crossing from East Berlin into West Berlin in search of better
the Soviet Union with the goal of defeating a common enemy, lives. In fact, from 1949 to 1961, about 2.5 million East Germans
namely fascist Germany and its allies. However, after the end escaped to West Germany. If this trend continued, the
of the war in 1945, the rivalry between the United States and economy of East Germany would collapse. To solve the
the Soviet Union resumed and escalated. The Soviet Union problem, the East German government constructed the Berlin
established the Iron Curtain during the Cold War, a political, Wall in 1961, an up-to-15-foot-high barrier to divide East from
military, and ideological barrier that separated the eastern bloc West Berlin. The wall was 28 miles long and ran throughout the
communist nations from the western bloc democratic ones. city. It was topped first by barbed wire and later by a smooth
The United States and the Soviet Union positioned themselves surface that reveals footprints and guarded by soldiers, guard
as opponents, with the development of nuclear weapons dogs, electric alarms, and land mines. Even so, during the 30
raising the stakes on both sides. years of the wall's existence, about 5,000 East Germans were
able to cross it to West Berlin. Another 5,000 who attempted
By the 1970s, however, tensions had begun to ease between
the crossing were captured and at least 139 were killed. In The
the United States and the Soviet Union, and both countries
Spy Who Came in from the Cold, le Carré describes the Berlin
reached an agreement to limit their nuclear weapons. By the
Wall in some detail in the last two chapters. Also, the author
1980s the Soviet Union and other countries in the Eastern bloc
vividly conveys the danger involved in attempting to cross this
experienced a collapse of autocratic regimes due to popular
wall, even with inside help.
uprisings, and the Cold War grew increasingly obsolete. The
Soviet Union fell in 1991, effectively putting an end to the Cold In 1989 many communist governments in Eastern Europe
War. experienced a collapse of autocratic regimes due to popular
uprisings, including the East Germans. As a result, the
government opened its borders with West Germany in 1990,
The Berlin Wall which eventually allowed for East Germans to pass through the
Berlin Wall and into West Berlin. A few sections remain as
After World War II, the four big Allied powers, the United memorials to be seen by tourists and others.
States, the United Kingdom, France, and the Soviet Union
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The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Author Biography 3
highly regarded as a literary thriller. The critic David Cranner

MI6, the KGB, and the Stasi states that the shocking end of the novel will "stick with you
like no other spy novel you'll ever read." In 2010 Time magazine
The Secret Intelligence Service or MI6 is a British government listed The Spy Who Came in from the Cold as one of the 100
agency that gathers information or intelligence about other greatest English-language novels written since 1923.
nations. The initials MI stand for military intelligence and the
number 6 refers to a section of the British War Office. During
a Author Biography
World War II, MI6 managed espionage operations in Europe
and parts of Asia. During the Cold War, MI6 agents infiltrated
the Soviet Union, where they gathered vital information. Also,
MI6 convinced some Soviet officials to secretly act as their
agents. In The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, the main Early Years and Education
character, Alec Leamas, is a spy who works for MI6, which is
referred to in the novel as the Circus. John le Carré is the pseudonym for David John Moore
Cornwell, who was born in Poole, England, on October 19, 1931.
During the Cold War as MI6 conducted their covert operations,
Le Carré's father was a con man, who kept his family moving
the Soviet Union and East Germany had their own spy
from one location to another. During this time le Carré
organizations called respectively the KGB and the Stasi. Their
attended several private schools. He did not grow up in a
goals were similar to those of MI6, namely to gather
literary family. In fact, his father supposedly never read an
information about other nations, especially those they
entire book—a fact he was proud of. Le Carré, therefore,
considered enemies. Like MI6, the KGB and the Stasi used
received most of his literary education from the various
double agents, or spies that supposedly served one side but
schools he attended. At an early age, he was exposed to the
really were giving information to the other. In The Spy Who
writings of Arthur Conan Doyle. In his teens, he became a
Came in from the Cold, le Carré refers to the Stasi as the
voracious reader, devouring works by Charles Dickens, George
Abteilung, a German term for "department." The characters
Bernard Shaw, and many German authors since he was very
Mundt and Fiedler work for this agency. MI6 agents became
gifted in languages.
involved in a deadly metaphorical chess game with agents from
both the KGB and the Stasi as each side tried to outmaneuver
the other to obtain helpful classified information.
Service and Higher Education
After World War II, le Carré became an officer in the British
Literary Legacy Army Intelligence Corps in Vienna, Austria. Part of his job
included searching through displaced-persons camps for fake
At the time of its publication in 1963, The Spy Who Came in
refugees. He also looked for people who could be helpful to
from the Cold was heralded by critics as the antidote to the
British intelligence and might consider returning to their home
genre of fantasy spy fiction, epitomized by Ian Fleming's
country to assist the British in various covert ways. When his
famous and glamorous James Bond with his fancy spy
service ended, le Carré attended Lincoln College at the
gadgets, exotic locales, and endless parade of women. Critics
University of Oxford. After graduating, he took the position of
viewed The Spy Who Came in from the Cold as being more
assistant master at Eton College, where he taught mostly
realistic and making a strong commentary on Cold War politics.
German language and literature from 1956 to 1958. He viewed
Indeed, some critics assumed le Carré used his experiences as
this experience as valuable for his later writing because he was
a spy for the novel. The author, though, takes exception to this
exposed to both the positive and negative sides of the English
view. He does not see The Spy Who Came in from the Cold as
upper classes within the elite Eton atmosphere.
an authentic spy novel based on events that actually
happened. Instead, using his experiences with the British
Foreign Service in Germany during the Cold War, le Carré says
he created a credible story—a story that could have happened
but didn't. Today, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold remains

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Characters 4
his novels. For example, The Constant Gardener (2001) deals

Foreign Service and a Writing with a corrupt pharmaceutical company, and Our Kind of
Traitor (2010) portrays an English couple who inadvertently
Career become embroiled with the Russian mob. Le Carré has also
written novels that connect espionage with terrorism, such as
Le Carré then decided to join the British Foreign Service as an A Delicate Truth (2013). In 2016, le Carré published a memoir
intelligence officer. Le Carré began writing novels during this called The Pigeon Tunnel: Stories from My Life.
time. He received encouragement to pursue writing from a co-
worker named John Bingham, an intelligence officer and an
h Characters
author of thrillers. Anything le Carré published had to first be
cleared by his superiors. Also, the British Foreign Service
required that le Carré use a pseudonym, which led him to
choose the one for which he became famous. Le Carré's first
two novels, Call for the Dead (1960) and A Murder of Quality Alec Leamas
(1962), received his bosses' approval with no problems.
However, his third novel, The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, Alec Leamas is a spy for the British secret service (also known
proved to be a different matter. According to le Carré, the as the Circus), who is stationed in West Berlin in the early
British intelligence authorities took a long time to review the 1960s. His life as a spy is based on constant deception and
book and only reluctantly gave their approval. manipulation, which causes Leamas to become cynical and
worn out. However, when the Circus wants him to get rid of
Le Carré may have received his inspiration for the main
Mundt, the sadistic head of the Abteilung (East German
character of The Spy Who Came in from the Cold through an
intelligence) responsible for killing several of the agents under
encounter with a man in a bar at London Airport. A rough-
Leamas's command, Leamas takes the assignment of
looking person sat next to le Carré, threw down a bunch of
impersonating a bitter defector. But when Leamas and Liz
coins, and ordered a large scotch. The man had a worn-down
Gold, an idealistic communist, fall in love, he sees a chance to
appearance and a "deadness in the face." Le Carré knew that
salvage and rebuild his life away from the manipulations of
this man's appearance and attitude fit a character he was
Cold War espionage. However, the tension grows between his
trying to develop, Alec Leamas.
work as a spy and his desire for a normal life with Liz. He tries
The Spy Who Came in from the Cold became a New York to protect her from being drawn into his work, but Leamas
Times best seller and was soon adapted into a successful cannot simply stop being a secret service operative. He
movie by the same title, which starred Richard Burton as Alec struggles throughout the novel on the borderline between the
Leamas. Also, the novel enabled le Carré to quit his job in the world of love and the world of cold-blooded political
British Foreign Service and devote his time entirely to writing. pragmatism represented by the Circus and by the Abteilung.
Le Carré has gone on to write many spy novels, including the Leamas clearly sees the negative aspects of the work he does
trilogy Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974); The Honourable and understands what it has cost him, but is still capable of
Schoolboy (1977); and Smiley's People (1979). In these works, defending it as necessary for the greater good. His challenge
the main character, a mastermind British intelligence officer becomes how to live outside it, or if that is even possible.
named George Smiley, who also appears briefly, but
significantly, in The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, matches
wits against a Soviet master spy named Karla. Other works Liz Gold
dealing with espionage include The Little Drummer Girl (1983),
A Perfect Spy (1986), and The Russia House (1989). All of Liz Gold is a Jew. However, Liz, like other Jewish characters, is
these novels were adapted into movies. nonreligious or practicing. Nonetheless, even years after the
Nazi period has ended, the old vestigial categories still have
In the early 1990s, the Cold War ended with the collapse of the strength to injure and affect outcomes. She is an idealistic
Soviet Union and a total restructuring of European political communist who believes the Communist Party will bring peace
alliances. As a result, le Carré expanded the subject matter for and prosperity to humankind. Liz has a strong sense of

integrity: she says what she means and is uncomfortable with

deception. When Liz meets Alec Leamas, she soon falls in love
with him. Although Liz doesn't agree with Leamas's cynicism
about life, under his bitter façade she finds him to be a caring
person. When Leamas says he has to leave permanently, she
accepts this, but is brokenhearted. Liz's strengths, namely her
purity and her loving nature, are considered weaknesses by
the Circus and Abteilung, who exploit Liz. When Liz discovers
she is being manipulated to provide evidence at a trial that
might harm Leamas, she is morally outraged. She points out
that the Circus is hypocritically protecting Mundt, a sadistic
former Nazi. Eventually, Liz is shot to death when she and
Leamas attempt to cross over the Berlin Wall. In this way, she
becomes another victim of the Cold War.
Fiedler
Fiedler is a nonpracticing Jew, a lawyer, and second in
command to Mundt in the Abteilung. Like Liz Gold, Fiedler has
integrity. He really believes in the ideals of the Communist
Party and in being honest. For example, he tells Leamas the
truth instead of leading him on. However, Fiedler is not
innocent like Liz. He fully understands the manipulation and
treachery involved in Cold War espionage and politics. Fiedler's
hatred of Mundt is understandable because Mundt is a sadistic
former Nazi, who hates Fiedler because he is a Jew. Fiedler
forms a friendship with Leamas—they are two enemies who
respect each other. As Fiedler talks with Leamas, he realizes
that the Circus and the Abteilung in some ways are very
similar. Both organizations believe that the end justifies the
means and that individuals should be sacrificed for the good of
the whole. When Fiedler discovers he has been caught in a
trap created by the Circus, he seems resigned to being
another casualty of the Cold War. Also, he understands that he
and Liz have been exploited because they are from Jewish
background and thus outsiders in both British and East
German society.

Character Map
Liz Gold
Idealistic, naive communist
Master
manipulator Prosecutor
Lovers
Mundt
George Smiley Sadistic head of the
Master
Mastermind for the Circus Abteilung; double agent
manipulator
for the Circus
Enemies/
Alec Leamas
Allies
Cynical, experienced spy;
manipulated by the Circus
Colleagues Enemies
Deceptive
boss Friendly
opponents
Fiedler
Control
Committed, honest
Manipulative head
Enemies communist agent; framed
of the Circus
by the Circus
Main Character
Other Major Character
Minor Character

Full Character List Frau Ebert

Frau Ebert is the branch secretary of the
communist community in Leipzig, East
Germany, where Liz stays for a while.
Character Description
Elvira is the mistress of Karl Riemeck;
she may have leaked information that
Alec Leamas is a cynical, veteran British Elvira
resulted in Karl's being killed. She is shot
spy. His love for Liz Gold gives him an
to death by one of Mundt's men.
opportunity to salvage his life, but he
Alec Leamas
can't escape the deception and
manipulation of Cold War espionage he Fawley works for the Circus and drives
is tied to. Fawley Leamas from the London Airport to
Circus headquarters.
Liz Gold is a Jew and an idealistic
communist. She falls in love with Leamas The grocer gets deliberately beaten by
Liz Gold and has a rude awakening to the Grocer Leamas for not giving him credit for
manipulation and inhumanity of Cold groceries.
War espionage.
The governor is in charge of the prison

A Jew and second in command to Mundt Governor in London, where Leamas stays for
in the Abteilung, Fiedler believes in the several months.
ideals of communism and in being
Fiedler honest. Even so, he is manipulated by
the Circus and, as a result, is sentenced Peter Guillam is a spy for the Circus,
to death by the communist government working in East Germany. His
he has supported so fervently. Peter Guillam involvement in the Circus's banking
scheme suggests that an East German
is being paid by the Circus to defect.
Ashe is a communist agent working in
London; he contacts Leamas when he
Ashe George Hanby works as the branch
leaves prison and provides him with an
opportunity to become a defector. secretary of Liz's communist group in
George
London. He tells a communist
Hanby
newspaper about Leamas's beating up a
The commissar is a female official at the grocer.
prison where Liz is staying. Brainwashed
Commissar
by communist ideals she pities Liz and
her life in Britain. Holten is an East German official; he
Holten invites Liz to a special meeting in Gorlitz,
East Germany.
Control is the anonymous manipulative
Control head of the Circus, the British secret
service where Leamas works. Karden acts as the defense counsel for
Mundt at his trial. Karden's harsh
Karden interrogation of Liz casts doubt on
Miss Crail is a rigid librarian who hates Leamas's being a defector and helps
Miss Crail Leamas because he flaunts the library's Mundt appear innocent.
rules.
Sam Kiever is a communist agent. He

De Jong is a British spy working in Sam Kiever gives Leamas a business proposition,
Berlin; he is the first person to receive which enables Leamas to defect.
De Jong
classified East German information from
Karl Riemeck.
The man guides Leamas and Liz to the
Man Berlin Wall and gives them instructions
Elsie works for the accounts section at on how to cross over it.
the Circus; she spreads the news about
Elsie
how Leamas has been treated unfairly
by the Circus.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Plot Summary 8
Maston is a top advisor for the Circus.

He supposedly did not want to capture
k Plot Summary
Maston Mundt for fear that Mundt would provide
information about how Maston botched
a job.
Creating an Impression
Hans-Dieter Mundt is a former Nazi and
now head of the communist East In West Berlin during the early 1960s, British spy Alec Leamas
German Abteilung. He hates Fiedler for waits at the checkpoint at the Berlin Wall for another agent
being a Jew, uses brutal tactics to kill
enemy agents, and works as a double named Karl Riemeck to come across from East Berlin to West
Mundt
agent for the Circus, for which he is well Berlin. Karl is late, making Leamas worried. Soon he sees Karl
paid. Although he arranges for Leamas pass the first two stages of the checkpoint. But before he
and Liz to escape from prison, he kills
Liz as she attempts to cross the Berlin reaches the final stage and safety, he is shot several times by
Wall because she's a Jew. East Berlin guards. Leamas returns to the Circus (British
secret service) in London. He figures he'll be cast aside by the
Peters is a communist agent; he Circus for his recent failures as Deputy-Controller of Area
Peters interviews Leamas at a villa in Holland while in Berlin. Several agents there, including Karl, have been
and later brings him to East Germany.
killed by Mundt, the head of the Abteilung (East German secret
service). "Control," the head of the Circus, meets with Leamas.
Mr. Pitt seems to work for the Labour
He wants Leamas to help get rid of Mundt, which Leamas is
Exchange in London, but likely works for
Mr. Pitt eager to do. Leamas will remain an active agent in Berlin, but
the Circus. He encourages Leamas to
take a job at a library. for a while he will act as if the Circus has treated him badly.
The president is the strict head of the To help further this impression, the "Circus" transfers Leamas
Tribunal, which tries Mundt. She might from operational work to the banking section in London. He
President
want to convict Mundt, but is eventually does a mundane job and appears to go to seed. As part of the
convinced that he's innocent.
cover for his assignment, he begins to drink heavily, and one
day he doesn't show up for work at all. Leamas rents a dingy
Karl Riemeck, who works as a top
apartment, gets odd jobs, and continues to drink a lot. With the
official for the Abteilung, becomes an
informant for the Circus and eventually help of an employment office, Leamas gets work at a library,
Karl Riemeck
becomes one of its top agents. He is where he meets a young female worker named Liz Gold. Liz
killed while trying to cross from East to befriends Leamas, asking him to her place for dinner several
West Germany.
times. Leamas realizes she's a communist, which he finds
ironic. This situation shows situational irony because
George Smiley is a leader at the Circus.
He apparently has second thoughts something happens to Leamas that is the opposite of what he
about Leamas's operation and Leamas expects. Because he works as a spy against communists, he
believes he may have tried to sabotage never expected to befriend one. One night Liz and Leamas
George
it. However, in reality, Smiley has devised
Smiley make love. When Leamas doesn't show up for work, Liz goes
a plan to protect Mundt, a valued double
agent, and to get rid of Fiedler, a to his apartment and finds him sick in bed. During the next
communist official who is suspicious of week, she nurses him back to health. Liz comes to love
Mundt.
Leamas, and although Leamas does not admit he loves her, he
has formed a close bond with her. Leamas gently explains to
The woman works for the communists,
Liz that he has to leave. The next day, Leamas beats up a
but acts like a friendly aunt as she
Woman grocer in a store who refuses to let him buy on credit.
greets Leamas at a villa called Le
Mirage.

Leamas denies this, saying that, having worked in Berlin,

Prison and a Gold Mine Leamas would have known if the agent was East German.
Peters tells Leamas that news has leaked in Britain about his
Leamas spends several months in prison. When he gets out, a being a defector, and, as a result, the Circus wants to arrest
man named Ashe approaches him. Ashe ingratiates himself Leamas. Peters wants Leamas to come behind the Iron Curtain
with Leamas, claiming to have met him in Berlin, but Leamas into communist-controlled Europe, where he will be safe and
thinks Ashe has an ulterior motive. At the house of George can finish his interrogation. The news leak seems to surprise
Smiley (a leader in the Circus), Leamas finds that Smiley is not Leamas, but he agrees with Peters's plan.
at home. Instead, Leamas finds Control there. He apologizes
for not making Leamas's stay in prison more comfortable. Back in London, Liz misses Leamas and has nothing to
Control knows the East Germans have contacted Leamas remember him by. One day, two men who claim to be Leamas's
through Ashe. Leamas insists that Liz not be involved in the friends visit Liz. One of them, a seemingly shy, little man, asks if
operation, and Control agrees. many people know about her relationship with Leamas. Liz
says they do not but admits she knows that Leamas has some
Ashe introduces Leamas to Kiever. The threesome go to a kind of job to do. The little man seems concerned about this
striptease club, where Leamas gets angry at Ashe. Ashe and tells Liz to let him know if she finds out why Leamas
leaves, and Kiever makes a proposition to Leamas. Kiever attacked the grocer. He leaves his card, which lists his name as
wants "journalistic" information from Leamas, which involves Mr. George Smiley.
his sharing his life experiences for a client. Leamas will meet
the client in Holland. The next morning, Leamas and Kiever Leamas and Peters take a plane to West Berlin, then take a car
take a flight to The Hague and then drive in a car to the and are permitted to drive through the checkpoint at the Berlin
outskirts of the city. At a villa named Le Mirage, Leamas meets Wall into East Berlin. They continue driving to a house in a
a man named Peters. After Kiever leaves, Peters interviews forest, where Leamas meets Fiedler—second in command to
Leamas, who tells him detailed information about his work for Mundt in the Abteilung. Leamas knows Control wants him to
the Circus during World War II and afterward in Berlin. Leamas provide information to Fiedler that will incriminate Mundt.
describes how he contacted Karl, who did important work for Fiedler can then use this information to destroy Mundt.
the Abteilung. When Karl began providing valuable information
about the Abteilung, Leamas knew he had hit a sort of gold Fiedler and Mundt themselves have had conflicts: Mundt is a
mine for his assignment. Peters believes Karl must have had an former Nazi, and Fiedler is Jewish. The next morning, Fiedler
accomplice, someone even higher up in the Abteilung. Leamas wonders if Rolling Stone has ties with East Germany, but
denies this. He says as the Circus took more direct control Leamas again denies this. During the next week, Leamas and
over Karl, the operation's security weakened. Alone at night, Fiedler have long talks. Even though Mundt killed some British
Leamas wonders if Karl really did have an accomplice. agents, Leamas admits the Circus did not seriously pursue him.
Apparently, a top advisor for the Circus, Maston didn't want to
capture Mundt for fear he'd provide information about how
Rolling Stone Maston had failed in an operation. Fiedler doesn't seem

convinced by this. He believes Mundt is secretly working for
the Circus and, as a result, often killed enemy agents to
The next day, Leamas tells Peters about his work in the
prevent them from talking, but Leamas claims this idea is
banking section, which involved an operation named "Rolling
absurd. Fiedler tells Leamas that Mundt was visiting
Stone." For this operation, Leamas set up a joint bank account
Copenhagen at the same time that money was drawn from the
in Helsinki and another in Copenhagen to help pay agents. He
joint bank account Leamas established there.
was a signee and a co-holder, probably the agent being paid,
the other signee. Leamas used an alias for the accounts, and Meanwhile, in London, Liz receives a letter from the
he assumed the co-holder did as well. Leamas deposited a Communist Party inviting her to take part in an exchange
large sum in each account. program in East Germany. Liz is dumbfounded by this letter
because she doesn't consider herself a very important member
Peters is interested that Control was directly involved in Rolling
of the Party. She decides the Party must be doing this out of
Stone and wonders if the agent being paid was East German.

the goodness of its heart and accepts the invitation. Leamas in trouble, but doesn't know what will help or hurt him.
Karden harshly interrogates Liz. She says that friends of
Leamas paid his bills after he left prison, even though Leamas
Prison and a Trial claimed not to have any friends, and a charity unexpectedly
paid Liz's apartment lease. She confesses that George Smiley
In the house in the German forest, police attempt to arrest visited her after Leamas went abroad. Liz admits thinking that
Leamas and Fiedler. Leamas kills one of the guards, but then is Leamas had some job he must do.
knocked unconscious. He wakes up in a prison cell with his
Karden insists Leamas was taking part in a plan to frame
hands and feet tied together. A guard unties Leamas and takes
Mundt. Hearing all this, Leamas becomes confused and
him to a room where Mundt is waiting. Mundt tells Leamas that
wonders why the Circus would pay his bills and Liz's lease.
Leamas will serve as a witness against Fiedler, and that
Leamas takes the witness stand, and Fiedler escorts Liz out of
Leamas might go on trial for killing the guard. Mundt knows
the courtroom. Leamas admits he took part in the Circus's plan
Leamas was feeding Fiedler information, and that Fiedler
to frame Mundt. Leamas figures Smiley paid his bills because
wants to use this information to convict Mundt of being a
he had second thoughts about the plan and therefore
traitor. Mundt views this plan as stupid and obvious. Suddenly,
intentionally sabotaged it. Fiedler seems to accept defeat.
the door opens, Mundt is arrested, and Leamas, barely
Suddenly, Leamas realizes that a terrible trick has been played.
conscious, is carried away. Leamas wakes up in a hospital bed
and has a talk with Fiedler. Mundt had Fiedler beaten because After the trial, Mundt enters Liz's cell and leads her out of the
he's a Jew. Even so, when the Praesidium (executive building, where she sees Leamas waiting for her by a car.
committee) read Fiedler's report against Mundt, they decided Leamas and Liz get in the car, and Leamas drives them toward
to arrest Mundt and free Fiedler. Berlin. He explains that Mundt really is a double agent working
for the Circus. The Circus kept this fact secret from most of
In Leipzig, East Germany, Liz attends meetings sponsored by
the organization, including Leamas. However, Fiedler was
the Communist Party. One day, officials tell her she has been
becoming suspicious of Mundt. To prevent Fiedler from
invited to a special meeting. Liz gets in a car and is driven to
exposing Mundt, the Circus had Leamas convince Fiedler that
Gorlitz, deep in the communist state near the Polish border. In
he wanted to defect. Eager to convict Mundt, Fiedler gathered
a small courtroom, the Praesidium holds Mundt's trial. There is
the information Leamas gave him to use against Mundt. Even
a Tribunal, consisting of three judges. Fiedler is the
though much of this information was actually true, the Circus
prosecuting attorney, and a man named Karden is the defense
made it appear false and made Fiedler look as if he was just
attorney for Mundt. Leamas sits near the back under guard.
driven by personal revenge. At the trial, Karden convinced the
Mundt wears a prison uniform and is also heavily guarded.
Tribunal that Fiedler was duped by the Circus and that Mundt
Fiedler claims that Mundt gave classified information to Karl, is really innocent. As a result, Fiedler will be shot and Mundt
who passed it on to the Circus. Because Mundt was such a will go free, which is what the Circus wants. Liz says it's
useful source of information, the leaders of the Circus kept him horrible how the Circus has used her and Fiedler. Although
a secret from its other members. As a result, Leamas never Fiedler is a loyal communist, he is a better man than Mundt,
knew that Mundt was a defector. Karden claims the Circus who is a racist Nazi. Leamas claims that the Circus justifies its
wants to get rid of Mundt. Because of this, the Circus, through actions by the rationale that in general individuals must be
Leamas, gave Fiedler information to use against Mundt. sacrificed for the good of the whole.
However, this information itself is false. The Circus set up the
bank accounts in Helsinki and Copenhagen to give the
appearance that Mundt was receiving payments for being an The Crossing
informant. According to Karden, Leamas's bitterness toward
the Circus and his descent into alcoholism was just a ruse to Leamas drives them into Berlin, where he picks up a man who
convince Fiedler that Leamas wanted to defect. guides them toward the Wall. The Circus has arranged a spot
where Leamas and Liz can cross over the wall but they will
Karden brings in Liz as a witness. Liz sees Leamas, but has no only have 90 seconds to do so. Leamas stops the car near the
idea what the trial is about. She's afraid to say anything to get wall by the crossing spot. He and Liz get out of the car, and the

man drives the vehicle away. Leamas climbs to the top of the
wall and tries to help Liz follow after him. However,
searchlights suddenly shine directly on Liz, and she is shot and
falls to the ground. Horrified, Leamas climbs down to Liz's
dead body. In an instant, he is also shot to death.

Plot Diagram
Climax
11
10
12
9
Falling Action
Rising Action 8
13
7
6 14
5
15
4
Resolution
3
2
1
Introduction
9. Leamas testifies and reveals the truth about his assignment.

Introduction
10. Leamas realizes that the Circus has deceived him.
1. Leamas sees an agent shot as he tries to enter West Berlin.
Climax
Rising Action 11. Fiedler and Leamas are arrested.
2. The Circus gives Leamas an assignment to get rid of Mundt.
3. Leamas quits the Circus, drinks heavily, and goes to seed.

Falling Action
4. Leamas and Liz Gold fall in love.
12. Liz is detained.
5. Leamas defects to the East Germans.
13. Leamas and Liz escape and drive to Berlin.
6. Leamas gives Fiedler information to frame Mundt.
14. Leamas tells Liz how they have both been used by the
7. Mundt is arrested and put on trial. Circus.
8. Liz's testimony at Mundt's trial supports his innocence.

Resolution
15. Leamas and Liz are killed trying to cross the Berlin Wall.

Timeline of Events
Early 1960s
Alec Leamas watches Mundt's men shoot Karl Riemeck

as he tries to cross into West Berlin.
Days later
In London, Control gives Leamas the assignment of

getting rid of Mundt.
Months later
Leamas quits the Circus, drinks heavily, and goes to

seed.
Months later
Leamas meets Liz Gold, and they become lovers.
Months later
Leamas leaves Liz, beats up a grocer, and goes to

prison.
Months later
After Leamas leaves prison, he meets Ashe; Leamas tells

Control to leave Liz out of the operation.
Days later
Ashe's boss, Sam Keiver, offers Leamas an opportunity

to defect, which he accepts.
Next day
Leamas goes to Holland, where he is interrogated by

Peters, a communist agent.
Two days later
News leaks in Britain about Leamas's defecting, causing

him to travel to East Germany.
Days later
In East Germany, Leamas gives Fiedler information to

frame Mundt for defection.
About the same time
In London, Liz accepts an invitation to go to East

Germany on an exchange program.
Hours later
Leamas and Fiedler are arrested by Mundt's men.
Days later
The Praesidium arrests Mundt for treason; Fiedler and

Leamas are released from prison.
About the same time
Liz arrives in Germany; without telling her the destination,

a man drives her to Mundt's trial.
Days later
At Mundt's trial, Liz inadvertently gives evidence that

supports his innocence.
Hours later
Leamas confesses the plan to frame Mundt; Mundt is

freed, but Fiedler and Leamas are arrested.
Next day
Mundt helps Leamas and Liz escape from prison; the

couple drives toward Berlin.
Hours later
Leamas explains that Mundt is a double agent for the

Circus, who framed Fiedler to protect himself.
Hours later
Leamas and Liz are shot to death as they attempt to

cross over the Berlin Wall.

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Chapter Summaries 16
the scene at the checkpoint as a type of staged sporting event

c Chapter Summaries where various players act out their parts. For example, the
author describes the searchlights as "casting theatrical
beams." The demarcation line resembles the "base line of a
Chapter 1 tennis court." Also, the event has spectators. A crowd has
gathered, resembling people watching with curiosity at a traffic
accident. The two opponents in this sporting event are the
communists in East Berlin and the democratic capitalists in
Summary West Berlin. Leamas is one of the players, a British agent
working in West Berlin. He is like a sports player who knows his
In a checkpoint building at the Berlin Wall, Alec Leamas, who
limited role on certain plays, but is unaware of his opponent's
works as an agent for British Secret Service, is watching for
strategy. Because of this, Leamas doesn't know when one of
someone who will cross from East Berlin to West Berlin, but
his teammates, a spy named Karl Riemeck, will cross over from
the person is late. Leamas has been waiting for hours and
East Berlin. Indeed, Karl's mistress, Elvira, knows more about
seems anxious. Leamas, along with an American agent and a
Karl's activities than Leamas does, which upsets him. Because
policeman, see a woman in a car coming from East Berlin.
of this, Leamas snaps at a policeman who asks how an East
There are three checkpoints she must pass through. The
German agent named Mundt learned about Karl's crossing
guards at all three checkpoints allow her to do so. Leamas
over. Leamas is angry because he has no answer. Thus, early
approaches the woman in the car. She tells him that the East
on, Le Carré establishes Leamas's frustration about his own
German officials are looking for the man Leamas is waiting for,
lack of control and knowledge and shows Leamas's being
whose name is Karl Riemeck. Apparently, other British spies
manipulated by forces beyond his control.
have been caught. Leamas gets in the car to speak with her.
The woman, Elvira, is married, but is having an affair with Karl. Leamas realizes that a vital strategy in winning at the game of
Elvira knows a lot about Karl's covert activities in East Berlin, espionage is deception. He remembers emphasizing to Karl the
which upsets Leamas. Elvira claims that Karl will be crossing importance of knowing how to cheat and cover his tracks.
over to West Germany tonight. Leamas gives her a key to an However, some agents like Karl end up inadvertently cheating
apartment where she can stay safely and heads back to the the side they work for by omitting important information. For
checkpoint. example, Karl neglects to tell anyone that Elvira is his
confidant. Deception, therefore, can become a habit or a way
The policeman tells Leamas that he can't cover Karl by using
of life that may place their lives at risk. Perhaps these agents
gunfire because it would be considered an act of war. Leamas
become so enamored of their own cleverness that they
remembers a dinner he and Karl had with Control, the head of
become overconfident. In any event, Karl's confiding in Elvira
the British Secret Service. Afterward, Karl introduced Leamas
reminds Leamas that he can't even trust agents on his own
to his mistress, Elvira. Leamas didn't like Karl's affair with Elvira
side.
because it could be a security risk, but Karl trusted her. Back
at the checkpoint, Leamas sees Karl pushing a bicycle. He's Le Carré introduces a major symbol in Chapter 1, the Berlin
made it past the first checkpoint. The guards at the second Wall. This wall represents how two opposing ideologies can
checkpoint also allow Karl to pass. However, before Karl create black-and-white situations by dividing the city in half
reaches the final checkpoint, a searchlight shines on him. and setting people against each other. The communists on one
Sirens go off. Karl quickly gets on his bicycle and tries to ride side of the wall feel they are superior and need to defeat their
across. However, he is shot several times by guards and falls evil enemy on the other side of the wall, the democratic
off the bike. Leamas hopes he's dead. capitalists. The democratic capitalists feel the same way about
the communists. The author stresses this black-and-white
situation through this description of the wall: "East and west of
Analysis the Wall lay ... a half-world of ruin, drawn in two-dimensions."
The Berlin Wall sets up the deadly game between two
In Chapter 1, John le Carré sets the stage for the main theme righteous opponents that is the basis of the novel.
of the novel, political manipulation. He does this by describing

such as Karl, are sacrificed or killed doesn't matter as long as

Chapter 2 the majority of people benefit. In addition, Control addresses a
contradiction in the Circus's methods of manipulation. The
United Kingdom and the United States represent free
Summary societies, while the Soviet Union and East Germany represent
repressive, harsh ones. However, for the Circus to do its job
As Alec Leamas arrives by plane in London, he thinks about successfully, it has to use tactics just as ruthless as the ones
how the British Secret Service, called the Circus, will probably used by its enemy, the communists. So the Circus's approach
discard him because of his failures in Berlin. Leamas had many to its ideology, or system of ideas, is by need more
early successes with his work in West Berlin until Mundt took contradictory than the Abteilung's.
control of the East German secret service department, called
the Abteilung. A former Nazi, Mundt is a brutal man who is Control and Leamas's conversation is riddled with references
feared even by his fellow agents. He uncovered several agents to deception. Leamas constantly wonders what Control is
in Berlin working for the Circus and ordered them killed. getting at, as if Control has some hidden agenda behind his
many questions that he's not disclosing. In fact, Control does
A man named Fawley drives Leamas from the airport to the have a plan in mind, and it, too, involves deceit. To kick-start
Circus's office in London. There Leamas meets with Control. the plot against Mundt, he directs Leamas to mislead his other
Control wonders how Leamas felt seeing Karl being shot. colleagues in the secret service by making them believe the
Leamas says he was annoyed. Control asks if Leamas feels Circus is mistreating him.
burnt out from his work in West Berlin. Leamas is irritated
because he doesn't like Control's prying questions. Control In Chapter 1, le Carré introduces the symbol of cold, which has
wants Leamas to stay "in the cold," which means continuing to a complex meaning. The cold is a reminder of the Cold War,
be an active agent in the Berlin area. Leamas is perplexed. He the conflict underlying the acts of espionage in the novel. The
thought the British didn't have any more informants in Berlin cold also represents the deceptive and dangerous atmosphere
because they have all been killed by Mundt. Control on the in which British agents and communist agents conduct their
other hand wants to get rid of Mundt and asks Leamas if he's subterfuges against each other. The cold also represents the
up to helping make this happen. Leamas despises Mundt and inhumane rationales Control introduces to excuse its ruthless
agrees to help. Control approves and tells him as a part of the tactics, which sacrifice people for the sake of ideology.
plan to let his colleagues think that the Circus has treated him
Finally, le Carré uses Control to foreshadow the theme of love
badly.
versus inhumanity. Control mentions that spies often stop
either loving or hating and instead move into a "kind of nausea."
Even though they are immersed into a supposedly passionate
Analysis battle between good and evil, they can become emotionally
numb or dead, exhausted by witnessing—and possibly
Chapter 2 presents the Circus's two main rationales for
causing—suffering. Later, the novel delves more into this
political manipulation. The first is that the ends justify the
process of losing one's humanity when involved in human
means. Leamas knows that all the Circus really cares about is
relations which can interfere with what must be done.
getting results: "Intelligence work has one moral code—it is
justified by results." How these results are achieved doesn't
seem to matter much. Leamas accepts this code. As a result,
he expects to be cast aside himself by the Circus because of Chapter 3
the number of British agents who were killed in Berlin on his
watch.
Summary
The Circus's second rationale is that the good of the whole is
of primary importance. Control alludes to this when he says, The Circus moves Alec Leamas from operational work, or
"We do disagreeable things so that ordinary people ... can doing espionage in the field, to their banking section, where
sleep safely in their beds at night." The fact that individuals, Leamas does a mundane desk job. He eventually goes to seed.

He appears to his co-workers as if he has begun to drink Leamas's pension unfairly, giving him only 400 pounds a year
heavily. He acts vague, borrows money without paying it back, to live on. As a result, many of his colleagues will probably
and at times becomes hostile. His appearance becomes suspect that Leamas is resentful of his employer. Later, rumors
disheveled, and he keeps to himself. Rumors spread that he spread left and right about Leamas's decline, which Leamas
was transferred to banking because of mistakes he made in himself makes obvious with his belligerent behavior and his
Berlin. One day he doesn't show up for work at all and never neglect of grooming. Also, due to a mysterious leak at the
returns. Rumors spread that Leamas left because he Circus, Leamas's embezzlement scandal becomes extremely
embezzled money from the Circus. public. In the private sector, he continues his unsocial behavior,
picking fights in bars and antagonizing his employers. It's as if
Leamas rents a small, dingy apartment. He gets work as an Leamas wants to make sure as many people as possible know
assistant manager for a manufacturer, but soon leaves he's dissatisfied with the Circus and the way he has been
because of the smelly fumes. Then he tries his hand as an treated is causing his life to unravel. Also, through his decline,
encyclopedia salesman, but fails to sell any and quits within a Leamas falls from the middle class to the lower class, which
week. Leamas becomes even more downtrodden. He gets many people in British society find repellent. The United
drunk at a tavern but can't pay for the drinks. His cleaning lady Kingdom has a strict class system, in which people in each
reports that Leamas receives no letters, owns only a few class are treated and perceived in certain ways. In a way,
books, and consumes a lot of booze. He has no friends. therefore, Leamas becomes a victim of the class system that
the communists criticize. Perhaps the Circus intended this to
make Leamas more sympathetic to the communists.
Analysis
In Chapter 3, le Carré touches on the theme of love versus
inhumanity by conveying Leamas's descent into alcoholism.
Chapter 4
The Circus bureaucracy appears to treat Leamas inhumanely
by giving him meager compensation and pushing him into a job
that is below his abilities. Soon Leamas isolates himself from Summary
others, often becomes hostile, and starts to drink heavily. His
outward appearance reflects his inner decline. Others see him Alec Leamas gets a job working at the Bayswater Library for
as a "grey, shambling figure.... They thought he was dirty, too, Psychic Research through the Labour Exchange, a
the way he didn't shave weekends, and his shirts were all government employment office. A librarian, Miss Crail, starts
grubby." So Leamas appears to go into decline as a human him on the task of doing a book inventory. Leamas meets a
being. young woman named Liz Gold, who is an assistant at the

library. He takes a long lunch, bringing back some bags filled
Le Carré provides several hints that this decline might be an with groceries. Miss Crail reprimands Leamas for taking an
elaborate deception. First, it follows Control's request in hour and a half for lunch. After work, Leamas realizes that the
Chapter 2 that Leamas deceive his colleagues by acting as if electricity in his apartment has been cut off because of unpaid
the Circus has mistreated him. Chapter 3 begins with the bills.
Circus transferring Leamas to a desk job in the banking
section, creating the appearance that the Circus no longer Miss Crail treats Leamas like an enemy, either ignoring him or
wants him to work as a spy. However, in the previous chapter, scowling at him. After three weeks, Liz asks Leamas to dinner
Control indicated that he wanted Leamas to continue to work at her place. Leamas reluctantly accepts. During the following
as a spy by taking an assignment to help get rid of Mundt. This weeks, Liz often has Leamas over for dinner. Afterward, she
contradiction alerts the reader to the possibility that Leamas's talks about various topics as Leamas listens. One time, Liz
descent into alcoholism and poverty is not all it seems. asks Leamas what he believes in. He gives a cynical reply,
saying he doesn't believe in Father Christmas. Liz claims that
Also, Leamas's decline seems extremely public, as if it's a Leamas seems to be storing up some type of hate, like a
staged presentation. For example, a co-worker named Elsie "fanatic who doesn't want to convert people, and that's a
announces in the Circus's canteen that the Circus has cut dangerous thing." Leamas warns Liz to mind her own business.

He then laughs when he Liz tells him that she's a Communist. The theme of deception continues in this chapter with more
She asks him to stay the night, and they make love. After he direct hints that Leamas's decline has been planned by the
leaves her apartment, Leamas sees a mysterious man who Circus for their own ends. For example, Mr. Pitt of the Labor
disappears into the mist. Exchange, who sets up Leamas's job at the library, might work
for the Circus. Also, Liz senses that Leamas is hiding a
fanatical hatred and wants vengeance on someone. Although
Analysis she knows nothing of Leamas's history as an agent, her insight
correctly points to Leamas's desire to kill Mundt, and in turn, to
Chapter 4 explores the theme of love versus inhumanity the Circus's plot to get rid of Mundt. At the end of the chapter,
through the psychic library and Miss Crail. She can be seen as Leamas sees a mysterious man who disappears into the fog.
representing the institution of the library, with all of its Perhaps this man is a fellow spy or an employee of the Circus,
coldness and rules. Institutional rules govern her life. Leamas but his identity remains unclear.
flaunts these rules, and she can't deal with it. For example,
when Leamas puts his coat on her peg, Miss Crail "st[ands] in
front of it [his coat] shaking, for fully five minutes." Also, her Chapter 5
inflexibility causes her to treat Leamas in a harsh, inhumane
manner. She sees situations in a black-and-white way in her
deep hostility—either a person supports the institution or is
against it.
Summary
Miss Crail and her library have many similarities with the Circus One day, Alec Leamas doesn't show up for work at the psychic
and the Cold War. Both the library and the Circus are library, which makes Miss Crail ecstatic, but worries Liz. Liz
institutions that have unwritten rules employees are expected goes to Leamas's apartment, knocks on the door, and hears a
to follow. For example, spies working for the Circus should not faint groan from inside. Frantic, Liz gets a man to break down
confide in others, even trusted friends and lovers. In addition, the door and finds Leamas lying in bed, seriously ill. She makes
both institutions are riddled with deception. Within the Circus, beef tea for Leamas and consoles him. She then straightens up
deception is rampant because it is considered part of the work his apartment as Leamas looks on. For the next six days, Liz
of espionage. However, Miss Crail is also prone to deception. nurses Leamas back to health. Liz asks Leamas if he loves her,
Leamas hears her whispering over the phone, conspiring with but he replies that he "d[oes]n't believe in fairy tales." However,
her mother. when Liz and Leamas caress, he often holds her hair tightly, as
if he is clinging to her. One day, Leamas gets dressed and
Le Carré sees love as the solution to the coldness of the library gently tells Liz that they have to part. Although distraught, Liz
and the Cold War. Liz falls in love with Leamas after they meet understands and leaves. The next morning, Leamas asks the
as employees in the library. He also seems to have a strong grocer to put Leamas's groceries on credit. But the grocer
affection for her, although the strength of this bond is not yet won't agree, which infuriates Leamas, who hits the man twice,
fully revealed. Because of this intimate relationship, they do not cracking his cheekbone and dislocating his jaw. The story is
see each other in a black-and-white way, but rather as human covered in the press.
beings with needs. For instance, Leamas finds out that Liz is a
Communist. In the arena of the Cold War, Liz's ideology would
make her Leamas's enemy. However, in their relationship, her Analysis
views do not hinder them from falling in love. Her communist
beliefs are just one aspect of who she is as a person. Indeed, In Chapter 5, the theme of love versus inhumanity takes a new
Leamas seems to find it amusing that he should fall for a turn as the relationship between Liz and Leamas develops. The
Communist, after fighting against communists in his work. Also, novel contrasts the cold to Liz's and Leamas's love for each
Liz's being a Communist and Jewish foreshadows the other. When Liz breaks into Leamas's apartment, it is bitterly
character of Fiedler, another Jew, who appears later in the cold. Leamas lies in bed, looking like a frigid corpse. Cold,
novel. therefore, can be seen as in a sense representing Leamas's
spiritual condition as well as physical. From years of working

for the Circus in the Cold War, Leamas has become an from years ago in Berlin. Leamas suspects Ashe is not really
isolated, cynical person who exists without the warmth of telling the truth but agrees to go with Ashe when he offers to
human affection. Even if Leamas's decline is part of the take him to lunch. During lunch, Ashe explains to Leamas how
Circus's plan, his isolation is still a reality. In Chapters 1 and 2, they met in Berlin. Finally, Leamas pretends to remember,
before his decline, Leamas already gives the impression of which pleases Ashe. Ashe ingratiates himself with Leamas by
being a solitary, bitter man. This is why Control wonders if agreeing with everything he says, but Leamas knows Ashe
Leamas is mentally exhausted from doing his work. must have an ulterior motive. Ashe pays for lunch in repayment
for his supposed debt to Leamas.
However, Liz's love challenges the coldness of Leamas's life.
When she finds him ill, she cares for him for six days. She After they part, Leamas takes a convoluted route, which
cooks him hot food and makes his apartment more livable. involves changing multiple buses and trains. He ends up at the
Also, she gives him the warmth of her affection, which seems house of George Smiley, a leader in the Circus. However,
to restore his soul. Leamas tries to maintain a cynical façade Smiley is not at home. Instead, Control is there. Leamas
with Liz, saying he doesn't love her because he "d[oes]n't explains in detail what has happened from the day he beat up
believe in fairy tales." But when they caress, he clings to her, the grocer to his recent contact with Ashe. Control says he's
holding her hair tightly. It's as if he wants to hold on to her love sorry he couldn't have made Leamas's prison stay more
and not let go. Also, Leamas says good-bye to Liz in as gentle comfortable, but that would have blown his cover. When
a way as possible, showing his love for her. Control asks Leamas if anyone took care of him when he was
ill, Leamas hesitates to mention Liz, but Control clearly knows
Le Carré continues to provide clues that Leamas's decline is a about her. Leamas insists that Liz not be involved in any way
deception planned by the Circus. In this chapter, Leamas with Circus's plan, and Control agrees. Leamas wonders how
completes his downward spiral by beating up a grocer. Control is so certain that the East Germans have contacted
However, like Leamas's embezzlement in Chapter 3, this is a him to "get us where we want," instead of the Czechs or
very public act, intended to attract attention, and the story Soviets. Control assures him not to worry because this issue
conveniently winds up in the press. In addition, the grocer, "has been taken care of."
whose wounds are very real, also represents another kind of
deception: he is an example of an innocent bystander who it is
necessary for Leamas to hurt in order to fulfill his mission. Analysis
Finally, if Leamas's decline is a deception, then Leamas himself
could be seen as a pawn being used by the Circus in another Chapter 6 exposes what has been hinted at in previous
elaborate form of political manipulation. chapters, namely that Leamas's decline is a deception staged
by the Circus as part of its scheme to get rid of Mundt. Le
Carré reveals this in stages. First, Leamas acts in a secretive
Chapter 6 way in prison, which implies he is hiding something. Later,
Leamas knows almost immediately that his chance meeting
with Ashe is not really a coincidence, and Ashe is not who he
Summary seems and likely has an ulterior motive. Finally, when Leamas
meets Control, Control already knows that Ashe, who sought
Due to his attack on the grocer, Alec Leamas spends several out Leamas, is a contact from the East Germans.
months in prison, where other inmates treat him with hostility
In Chapter 6, le Carré further explores this relationship
because he acts aloof. When he gets out, he is given a
between deception and reality. Leamas's entire decline up to
package that contains all his possessions. Leamas wants to
this point in the novel involves real suffering. He drinks too
get rid of the package and so leaves it on a park bench. A man
much; he lives in a cold, dingy apartment; and he experiences
named Ashe picks it up and approaches Leamas. He tells
the humiliation of poverty and social rejection. He is forced to
Leamas that he forgot his package, but Leamas says he
part from Liz, the woman he actually has come to love. Finally,
doesn't want it and accuses Ashe of following him. Ashe claims
he spends several months in prison, still undercover. Leamas is
that he recognizes Leamas as a person he borrowed money
playing a part dictated by the Circus when he goes to prison.

However, the pain he feels there is not fake, but real, as human Leamas to some important contacts who might help him
pain contrasts with political manipulation that uses it. The financially, including Ashe's boss, Sam Kiever. Leamas agrees,
Circus, therefore, appears as a master manipulator that and they go to Ashe's apartment. After Ashe steps out,
manipulates a person's real pain for its own ends. Leamas contacts the Circus about the upcoming meeting with
Kiever. Ashe returns and introduces Leamas to Kiever. The
Le Carré returns to this theme of political manipulation during threesome go to dinner, where Kiever talks about the political
the conversation between Leamas and Control. As suspected, situation in West Germany and France.
Leamas is being used as a pawn in a game with the East
Germans that has to do with getting rid of Mundt. But because After dinner, Ashe and Kiever take Leamas to a striptease club.
Leamas plays only one part in a much larger plan, his Leamas gets annoyed at Ashe and asks Ashe why he followed
perspective is limited and he cannot see its full scope. Leamas him from the prison and paid for his meals. Also, Leamas
reveals this limitation when he wonders how the Circus knows glances at Ashe's club card, which has the name Murphy.
that the East Germans, and not the Russians or Czechs, have Leamas asks why Ashe is using a phony name. Kiever then
contacted him. Control seems to know more about it than tells Ashe to leave, which he does. Kiever makes a proposition
Leamas, but rather than sharing further information, tells him to Leamas. He says he has a journalistic offer, which involves
not to worry about it. Leamas's providing him with information. The assignment pays
extremely well and promptly. When Leamas asks who
Also, Chapter 6 demonstrates the conflict between political publishes the material, Kiever gives the mysterious reply,
manipulation and love. Although Leamas accepts his role as a "International clients." He offers Leamas 15,000 pounds, which
pawn, he knows that this type of game can take unexpected, he can draw on almost immediately, with more to follow.
often dark, turns. Because of his limited knowledge, however, Leamas thinks to himself that the East Germans are rushing
he has no way to prepare for them. As result, his love for Liz the offer, probably wanting to take advantage of his bitterness
makes him worry that she will somehow be pulled into the over his prison experience, his general "social resentment," and
game. Leamas emphatically says to Control, "I just want her his diminished financial situation. Kiever wants Leamas to write
left alone. I just don't want her to be messed about." Control all his reminiscences about working for the British Secret
agrees and says, "This is your last job. Then you can come in Service. They will take a flight to Holland, where they will meet
from the cold." In this context, the cold can refer to the Cold the client. Kiever takes Leamas to his apartment. Early the next
War, but also more. In the novel, it can also signal the morning, Kiever gives a passport to Leamas and says the trip
possibility that Leamas may be able to move away from his will be paid for by the firm.
solitary, cold existence as a spy and embrace the warmth of
love with Liz. For Leamas, his relationship with her stands
outside, and possibly in direct competition with, his work for Analysis
the Circus. This tension will move along with the spy story.
During Leamas's talks with Ashe and Kiever, no one tells the
direct truth. Instead, the three of them use a type of code,
Chapter 7 which involves the use of innocuous statements that must be
interpreted to understand their real meaning. For example,
when Ashe tells Leamas that he needs good contacts to get
Summary satisfying work, he is not really showing concern for Leamas's
welfare. Instead, he's suggesting to Leamas that influential
Leamas has lunch again with Ashe, during which Leamas people will pay him for certain services. Ashe is not exactly
continues to build up the impression that he has been sure how much Leamas understands these implications, but
mistreated by the Circus. He complains about being used in figures he's getting the idea. Later, Kiever apparently offers a
Berlin as no more than office boy for the Americans and journalistic job to Leamas. However, what Kiever is doing has
mentions that he's homeless because his previous employer nothing to do with journalism. In reality, he is offering Leamas
gave him a lousy pension. Ashe seems to take pity on Leamas the chance to provide classified information to the East
and invites him to stay at his place. He offers to introduce Germans for which Leamas will be well paid.

These conversations involve layers of deception within the sure people remember Leamas, making it harder for him to
story. Leamas deceives Ashe by appearing oblivious to his real leave the country again without being identified. They get in a
intent, namely to make him an informant. Eventually, Leamas car and are driven to a villa called "Le Mirage" on the outskirts
appears to realize that Ashe has ulterior motives. He gets of The Hague. In the villa, Leamas meets a man named Peters.
angry at Ashe and asks what he is really up to. By doing this, Kiever leaves. Peters asks Leamas to make himself available at
Leamas appears as if he's really being honest and is just a later date for follow-up questions. Leamas refuses, saying if
starting to figure out the truth. At least, this is what Leamas he waits around to be contacted he's likely to be caught by the
wants Ashe and Kiever to believe. The fact is that Leamas has Circus. Peters wonders if Leamas would be willing to live in a
been suspicious of Ashe from the moment they met. communist country for safekeeping, but Leamas declines.
Underneath it all, however, Leamas is still being deceptive. He
does not want to give classified information for money, but Peters tells Leamas to just talk, beginning with his war service.
instead wants to use this ruse to get rid of Mundt. Leamas describes working for the British Secret Service in
Holland and Norway during World War II. After the war,
Kiever's layers of deception are more thinly disguised. At first, Leamas left the service and tried working for a travel agency.
Kiever acts like a disinterested businessman. Eventually, he In 1949, he rejoined the secret service, now called the Circus.
puts aside this façade and makes an offer to Leamas to Because of his break in employment, Leamas has reduced
provide information for money. He disguises his offer as an pension benefits. He describes his work in the Circus's banking
opportunity to do journalistic work. But Leamas and Kiever section, which was a simple, boring job. He dealt with agents'
both know what is really being discussed. Kiever is asking salaries and overseas payments for secret purposes. Peters
Leamas to become a paid defector, a person who betrays his wants Leamas to feel comfortable but also wants to make sure
country by trading classified information, usually with another he doesn't lie, even by omission. He knows that defectors often
country, in return for protection, such as asylum. have a deep, unspoken guilt about betraying their country, and
he makes sure to ask Leamas for the specifics of his work,
It is interesting to note that Leamas makes one direct, truthful such as procedures he followed.
statement, specifically when he tells Kiever that everything is
being paid for by the Worker State. This in fact is true. The Leamas talks in detail about Berlin where he was made
Worker State, East Germany, is paying for Leamas's expenses. Deputy-Controller of Area (DRA) in 1951. At first, Leamas had
However, Leamas notes sarcastically that the Worker State is to deal with a lot of amateurs. Eventually, he and his colleagues
also paying for Kiever's "luxurious and expensive" flat. In doing developed a strong workforce. Leamas explains how he got
so, Leamas is pointing out the hypocrisy of a communist involved with Karl Riemeck. An agent named de Jong drove
government paying for an elegant apartment. This is normally with his family to a remote area and left his car to go on a
something communists, who do not favor wealth and picnic. When he returned, his car had been broken into, but
extravagance, would oppose. It reveals the contradictory nothing was taken. Instead, he found a tin containing
layers of truth in the Cold War with countries doing things microfilms with classified information from the East German
seemingly against their own interests, all in the nature of government. Leamas took over the case. He drove to the same
gaining the upper hand. Kiever gets angry for the first time. area, left some money in a car, and went for a long walk. When
Leamas has broken a rule of espionage by telling the truth he came back, the money was gone and in its place were more
about some of the hypocritical actions underlying the Cold roles of microfilm with valuable information: "Leamas knew he
War. As a result, Kiever tells Leamas to "shut up." had hit a gold mine." Through a process of deduction, Leamas
figured out that the defector leaving the information was Karl,
who worked in the Secretariat.
Chapter 8 Leamas arranged a face-to-face meeting with Karl and from
then on dealt with him personally. Peters claims Karl must have
had help from someone higher up because the information he
Summary provided was so comprehensive. Leamas insists that Karl
worked alone. Eventually, the Circus took more direct control
Kiever and Leamas fly to Holland. At the airport, Kiever makes
over Karl, which Leamas believes was a mistake. The Circus

asked Karl to recruit other sources to provide information, wound up being controlled by the Circus's bureaucracy.
thereby weakening Karl's position. Soon the East Germans
became suspicious of Karl. Peters tells Leamas that Karl's Also, as has been shown previously, Leamas has limited
mistress, Elvira, has been killed and asks Leamas if he knows knowledge about his current assignment, which makes him
who did it. Leamas says he has no idea. vulnerable because he is a pawn in a larger game he cannot
fully understand. Because of this, Leamas wonders if Karl really
During the night, Leamas thinks about Peters's insistence that did work with someone higher up in the East German
Karl had help. Leamas remembers Control mentioning the bureaucracy and why Elvira was killed. He has no way to
same thing. Perhaps there is someone else, and Control wants answer these questions. All he can do is continue to be used
to protect this person from Mundt. Leamas also wonders who by the bureaucracy that enmeshes him.
killed Elvira and why. He's perplexed about why Control never
mentioned that Elvira had been killed. He thinks of Liz. In addition, le Carré explores how spies use normalcy as a
form of deception. For example, Kiever gives Leamas luggage
so he'll look like a normal traveler to Holland. Leamas cautions
Analysis Kiever not to show his anger toward a waiter because doing so
would create a scene and appear abnormal. The sense of
In Chapter 8, le Carré examines the theme of political normalcy even applies to Le Mirage, where a woman who has
manipulation in three ways: the structure of the secret service never met him before acts like a friendly aunt toward Leamas.
organizations, the role of the individual versus bureaucracy, In fact, Leamas gets fed up with these attempts to make things
and the significance of limited knowledge. appear normal, and he tells Peters, "from now on I can do
without the goodwill."
As Leamas talks about his work for the Circus, he realizes that
he has been passed along the hierarchy of the East German This creates the impression that Leamas wants to avoid
Secret Service. First, Ashe contacted him; then Kiever took pretense: he's a professional agent who is defecting and wants
over; and after him, Peters took charge. This progression to be treated honestly as such. But this is an instance of
reflects a movement up a hierarchy, or chain of command. dramatic irony in which the reader has more knowledge than
However, this type of hierarchy does not only apply to the East the characters, or at least some of the characters. In reality,
Germans, but also to the Circus and the secret service the reader knows that Leamas doesn't favor honesty at all. His
organizations of other countries. whole interview is a ploy to enable the Circus to get rid of
Mundt. In fact, by insisting on dropping all pretenses in favor of
Leamas mentions that the employees of the Circus are each an honest exchange, Leamas makes his ploy more effective.
given an identification code, consisting of two numbers and a Peters, though, is completely unaware of this.
letter. So secret service organizations are also bureaucracies,
in which an individual is depersonalized by being identified by a The name of the villa, Le Mirage, is entirely appropriate for
code rather than by name. During his interview, Leamas what takes place in the villa and also in the entire world of
expresses his struggle as an individual against the bureaucracy espionage. A mirage is an illusion, something that appears to
of the Circus. For example, after Leamas made contact with exist but doesn't really. For example, a person in a desert might
his defector, Karl Riemeck, he wanted to protect this see water on the horizon, but it's really a mirage, or an illusion.
information from getting into the hands of bureaucracy. The The villa appears to be a normal, nice home on the outskirts of
narrator says, "if [Leamas] gave London ... an opening they The Hague, but in reality it is a meeting place for spies. Also,
would control the case direct." Leamas wanted to avoid this spies constantly deal in illusions. For instance, Leamas gives
because he felt that the Circus would foul up the operation, the appearance of being a defector, but really isn't. In all, the
which is what appears to have happened. The Circus, like most "mirage" name is a perfect summary of all the illusory aspects
bureaucracies, has a set way of operating, which might not be of the espionage and counterespionage world. Until the very
the most effective way to handle each case. As an individual, end, no one can ever really be sure what he sees is or isn't a
Leamas could fine-tune his relationship with Karl as needed, mirage.
which would be more secure and effective. Leamas, though,
could not fend off the Circus. Instead of being in control, he

Chapter 9 Analysis
In Chapter 9, Leamas weaves deception and truth in order to
manipulate Peters. On the one hand, he provides legitimate,
Summary concrete details that make his narrative sound credible. For
example, Leamas gives Peters the correct aliases he used for
The next morning, Leamas sits continues his interview with
Rolling Stone. On the other hand, Leamas also includes details
Peters. Leamas talks about his work in the banking section of
he knows are incorrect to make himself sound believably
the Circus, which he took up after Karl's death in Berlin. He
flawed.
seems resentful about the Circus's having given him this boring
job and recalls drinking heavily as a result. He describes his job. Leamas must make Peters believe that he needs to use his
He was mostly involved with standard payments to agents; superior deductive skills to get at the truth, so Peters will feel
however, even this routine work was convoluted. Leamas as if he, not Leamas, is in control of the interrogation. If
would sign each check, but never knew the name of the payee. Leamas seems too competent, then Peters will get suspicious.
The check would then go back to Special Dispatch, where the So Leamas sets up Peters. He insists that he knows the agent
payee's name would be added. being paid is not German, because as Deputy-Controller in
Berlin, Leamas would have known otherwise. His statement is a
Leamas describes a special operation called Rolling Stone. For
lie because Leamas has no such knowledge. However,
this assignment, Leamas traveled once to Copenhagen,
Leamas's statement allows Peters to see him as a person who
Denmark, and another time to Helsinki, Finland. In each city, he
has made mistaken assumptions, such as the agent's not being
opened a joint account using aliases, with himself as a signee
German. This allows Peters to think he knows the more than
and the co-holder, whose real identity he did not know, as the
Leamas, and therefore has the upper hand.
other signee. Leamas would deposit money in the account.
Later, the agent would use a false passport to identify himself The reader is aware of Leamas's deception of Peters. At other
at the bank and then draw the money. The payments were times during the interview, however, Leamas blurs the line
each $10,000. Leamas knows Rolling Stone was operational between truth and deception so effectively it's difficult to
before he came on board. A previous payment was made in a figure out what is actually happening and what is made up. The
bank in Oslo, Sweden. However, with this payment, a resident reader knows that Leamas worked for the banking section of
of Norway who worked for the Circus would make the deposit. the service. He appears to be annoyed about working with
Control had Leamas do so instead because he feared the women. Is this true or a lie? The layers of deception keep
resident might be recognized. adding up and any certainty of "truth" becomes more and more
illusory. Also, Leamas claims that when he signed checks he
Peters is interested in Control's direct involvement with Rolling
never knew the names of the payee. In addition, he says the
Stone. He asks Leamas for more details about the operation,
Circus got the whole security operation from the Russians. Are
such as the identity of the agent receiving payments. But
these two statements true? Apparently, Leamas must have
Leamas claims to know nothing more. Leamas figures the
gone to Helsinki and Copenhagen and made the bank deposits
source must have been important to Control, since the
to give the appearance of reality, or did he? But because truth
payments were so large. Also, Leamas suspects that the
and deception are so mixed up in the world of espionage, the
money might still be in the banks on hold for the agent. Peters
reader is not exactly sure of what is real and what is not. At
wonders if the agent was German, but Leamas insists he
one point, Leamas reflects to himself about this situation:
couldn't have been. Because of Leamas's work in Berlin as a
"[Leamas] heard himself talking and it all sounded so
Deputy-Controller, he would have known if the agent was
ludicrously improbable."
German. Leamas remembers Control's advice to make East
German interrogators like Peters feel as if "they know better"
and thereby extend the subterfuge of what he was doing.

the gesture of casting breadcrumbs relates to Jewish tradition.

Chapter 10 On Rash Hashanah, Jews cast crumbs of bread on water to
signify the casting away of their sins. So this ritual can be seen
as a type of renewal. It is appropriate, therefore, that this
Summary woman by the ocean reminds Leamas of Liz, who is Jewish.
Also, Leamas hopes to cast away his sins as a Cold War spy
At Le Mirage, Leamas waits to have his interview with Peters, and renew his life with Liz.
who is late. To pass the time, Leamas takes a walk along the
North Sea, where he sees a young woman throwing Le Carré contrasts this scene with a new twist on political
breadcrumbs to the seagulls. The woman reminds him of Liz. manipulation, probably instigated by Control. To his surprise,
Leamas hopes to go home to England in a week or two, where Leamas realizes news has spread about his being a defector.
he looks forward to quitting the Circus and living with Liz. After As a seasoned spy, Leamas knows he has limited knowledge
this job, he should have enough money to do so. about his assignments and is used for reasons he is not fully
aware of, but in this case, Leamas didn't realize the extent of
Back at Le Mirage, Peters tells Leamas that word has leaked his lack of knowledge. For the first time, Leamas is confounded
out in England about Leamas's being wanted for an offense about how Control wants to use him. Because of this, his future
"under the Official Secrets Act." Apparently, the news has also plans with Liz are in jeopardy. The Iron Curtain was a political
spread throughout Western Europe. Leamas did not expect barrier but also a real imprisonment of sorts established by the
this development. He figures Control is behind it for reasons he Soviet Union during the Cold War to separate Eastern bloc
doesn't know. Peters could be lying, but Leamas doubts it. communist nations from the Western bloc democratic nations.
Peters says that Leamas has two options. He could go on the If Leamas goes behind the Iron Curtain, he may never be able
run, but eventually the Circus would capture him. On the other to return to Liz.
hand, Leamas could let Peters and the communists take care
of him. Leamas could go behind the Iron Curtain to Poland and The name of Leamas's boss, Control, is apt: he truly is in
Czechoslovakia, where he'd be safe, but he would have no control of Leamas's fate. Any control Leamas felt he had over
guarantee of ever coming back. Leamas presents a third his own life has been ripped away. He is like a piece of
option: Peters could give Leamas a Swiss passport and some driftwood cast on the sea completely at the mercy of the
cash and let him take his chances. Peters says this isn't various currents. It is important to note that when Leamas
possible because he hasn't finished Leamas's interrogation. realizes the extent of how Control is manipulating him, he can
After the interrogation, Peters would be willing to suggest this no longer see the woman throwing breadcrumbs by the sea.
option. Leamas agrees to go behind the Iron Curtain with She has disappeared along with Leamas's dreams.
Peters. As Leamas waits at an airport for a flight to Berlin, he
checks a British newspaper and finds a story about his being a
defector. Peters has not lied, and for the first time Leamas is Chapter 11
frightened.
Summary
Analysis
Liz misses Leamas and finds his absence particularly difficult
In Chapter 10, le Carré again contrasts love and political because she has nothing to remember him by—no
manipulation. The woman throwing breadcrumbs to the photographs, no souvenirs. In fact, she continues to work at
seagulls in a sense connects with Leamas's love for Liz and his the psychic library because it reminds her of Leamas. Liz is
desire to regain the "faith in normal life" that living in the perplexed about Leamas's beating up the grocer because he
deceptive world of espionage has curtailed. The action of seemed to plan this assault ahead of time. Also, she knows
throwing breadcrumbs is trivial, and therein lies its beauty. It Leamas has something he must do, although she has no idea
has nothing to do with ideologies, politics, or beating the what it is. Two men visit Liz at her apartment. One of them is a
enemy. Instead, it's just something a person does to enjoy plump, shy, little man, who does most of the talking. He asks
living, which is what Leamas wants to do with Liz. In addition,

Liz if anyone knows that she was friendly with Leamas. She harsh environment. In the beginning of the chapter, Liz
replies, "No." Liz admits she knows Leamas has a job to do, but remembers gazing into a gas fire while caressing Leamas on
she doesn't know what it is. The little man seems concerned the bed. The warmth of the fire echoes the warmth of their
about this. In prison, Leamas gave Liz's name as his contact relationship. Also, the fire casts the only light in the room,
person instead of his ex-wife. The little man wonders why he signifying her attempt to keep the emotional warmth of their
did this. Liz says she loves Leamas and perhaps he loves her, relationship going in dark surroundings. In addition, this
but Leamas never gave any indication that he'd come back to symbolic use of heat contrasts with the symbolic use of cold in
her. The little man says he wants to help Leamas. If Liz knows previous chapters, which is associated with the harsh,
any reason why Leamas attacked the grocer to let them know. impersonal world of espionage.
He leaves his card. Liz gets upset and asks where Leamas is
and wonders if she can help him. She begins to cry. The little
man says Leamas has gone abroad and assures Liz that he's Chapter 12
Leamas's friend. The two men leave. Liz looks at the card,
which has the name Mr. George Smiley.
Summary
Analysis On a plane heading for Berlin, Leamas recalls how he was
driving too fast to reach an important meeting with Karl
Up to this point, Liz's love for Leamas is in constant conflict
Riemeck. As a result, he almost caused a serious accident with
with the harsh, cold world of espionage in which he works. For
another car containing a family with four children. Leamas was
example, Liz wants to have photographs of her absent lover so
severely shaken by the near hit. He also remembers to
she can remember him. But because Leamas is a spy, he can
approach interrogations as Control advised by making the
leave no evidence of his personal life or trace of his existence.
interrogators have to "work for it." Instead of giving them all the
Liz of course has no idea that Leamas is a spy. She just knows
information straightforwardly, he should cause the East
some type of deception is happening, but she's not sure what it
Germans to feel they have to deduce, or figure out, the truth.
is.
This way, they can feel assured of their intellectual superiority
Smiley's visit makes Liz even more confused. During their and believe they are in more in control of the situation than
meeting, le Carré contrasts Liz's emotionality with Smiley's Leamas. He also recalls how Control said if Leamas would
objective, clinical detachment. Smiley asks her a series of succeed on this assignment, it would be a major victory for the
questions, as if he's a doctor trying to diagnose a patient. At Circus.
one point, Liz becomes hysterical with anxiety about Leamas.

The plane lands in Berlin, and Peters leads Leamas on a
In response, Smiley remains calm, polite, and remote.
devious route to a waiting car. As Peters and Leamas are
Obviously, some form of manipulation is occurring: Smiley
driven into West Berlin, Leamas imagines killing Peters and
claims he wants to help Liz but he most likely has another
running away. He considers it "his last chance" to escape his
motive that has nothing to do with being a "friend of Alec."
mission, but does nothing. Leamas realizes a small car is
Smiley gives the appearance of being a controlled person
following them. The two cars pass through the checkpoint at
whose every move is well-thought out and has a specific
the Berlin Wall, enter East Berlin, and then drive east out of the
purpose behind it. For example, he often pauses after Liz's
city. Leamas asks Peters if Fiedler is going to interrogate him,
responses, as if trying to calculate the best way to proceed. In
but Peters offers no clues.
the end, he seems like a mysterious master manipulator, who is
using Liz for his own purposes, although those purposes are Fiedler is feared and disliked in the Abteilung. He is second in
not yet clear. Leamas had hoped to keep Liz separate from the command after Mundt. Because Mundt is a former Nazi and
context in which he works. Now she, like Leamas, has become Fiedler a Jew, he and Fiedler have been in conflict. Control
a pawn in the game of Cold War espionage. wants Leamas to give Fiedler enough information so Fiedler
can destroy Mundt. However, Leamas never expects to see
Also, le Carré uses fire and heat in a symbolic way to represent
Fiedler face-to-face in East Germany. The car he is in and the
Liz's love for Leamas and her desire to keep this love alive in a

small car stop by a remote house in a forest. Peters takes democratic capitalists to defend their often cold and callous
Leamas inside; they are soon joined in fact by Fiedler. actions. In addition, these rationales have a chilling effect.
Leamas almost has a serious accident with a car containing a
Leamas recalls Control's advice to "always remember to family, an incident which symbolizes how powerful these
dislike" his interrogators, so "they will treasure" any information rationales can be when they seep into daily life and the ever-
he gives them. So he acts angry with Fiedler, accusing him of present dangers surrounding the people involved and those
leaking the story of his defection to force him to go behind the whose fates they can affect.
Iron Curtain. Fiedler remains polite and offers Leamas some
dinner. Peters leaves. Fiedler claims he had nothing to do with Leamas was so intent on meeting his contact Karl, who had
leaking the story. After the meal, guards lead Leamas to a some important information for him, that all that mattered was
bedroom, where he falls asleep. getting to the meeting on time. How he did this didn't
matter—the end justifies the means. So Leamas drove
The next morning, Fiedler enters Leamas's room and says he recklessly to make sure he wasn't late. As a result, he almost
wants to finish the interrogation. Leamas insists he's told them had an accident, which probably would have killed five innocent
everything, but Fiedler claims that Leamas told only what he people. According to the ethics of espionage, the death of
was conscious of. Fielder wants more details about how files these people wouldn't matter in comparison to the good of the
were transferred for Rolling Stone. Leamas remembers that he whole. What are few individual lives when the preservation of
got the files from Peter Guillam, who used to work in West democratic society is at stake? However, Leamas is a human
Berlin. Fiedler wonders if Guillam's involvement suggests that being with feelings like any other, no matter how much his
Rolling Stone had ties with East Germany. Leamas insists that work may affect him otherwise. Because of this, he is terribly
this is impossible, because as Deputy-Controller he would have shaken by the near accident. The incident also demonstrates
been aware of it. how being a spy cuts off Leamas at his peril from ordinary life,
symbolized by a father performing the common, everyday
activity of driving his children down a highway. Living the cold,
Analysis impersonal life of a spy has started to take its toll on Leamas.
In Chapter 12, le Carré demonstrates the many means of The near accident also shows how Leamas is following a set
deception used in espionage. Once again, spies use various route, be it driving on an expressway and doing other tasks for
codes to communicate. Peters makes various motions, such as the Circus. On this route, Leamas pursues his goals with a
putting his suitcase down and removing his newspaper from fierce determination, without thinking of the effect that doing
under his arm. A pair of headlights turn on and off as a signal. so may have on innocent people around him. Leamas is not
At a certain point, Leamas sees a man on the phone watching completely aware of why he's performing his assignments. He
him drive by. At the house in the forest, Fiedler stays in the car just does them with a blind faith in a higher power, namely the
as everyone else goes into the building. Fiedler joins them 10 Circus. In Chapter 12, Leamas once again finds himself
minutes later. All of these actions have some significance, but following a set route, not knowing completely why he doing so,
Leamas is not completely sure what it is. Also, le Carré as he continues to play the part of a bitter defector. He even
indicates that Leamas is constantly deceiving Fiedler during considers killing Peters and making a run for it, but he decides
their talks. Leamas's anger at Fiedler, his inability to remember almost passively to continue along his predetermined path.
details, and his insistence that an East German had nothing to
do with Rolling Stone are all a façade presented by Leamas to
make Fiedler believe that his defection is genuine. Chapter 13
Fiedler reinforces the two main rationales for the
manipulations used by espionage. First, "the whole is more
important than the individual." The second is getting good Summary
results: the end, therefore, justifies the means. Fiedler's
statement reinforces the idea that, although they are on Fiedler and Alec Leamas take walks in the forest, during which
opposing sides, communists may use the same rationales as Fiedler asks detailed questions about working for the Circus.

Fiedler asks what the philosophy is of the people working for in a hypocritical way, according to Fiedler.
the Circus. Fiedler explains that the people working in the
Abteilung believe in the philosophy of the Communist Party In this chapter, Leamas continues to deceive Fiedler by making
and, as a result, their actions reflect these beliefs. Leamas him believe that he is a bitter man who wants to get back at the
claims that the people in the Circus don't believe in a shared Circus. However, le Carré points out that Leamas, unlike a
philosophy. Most of them aren't even Christians. Fiedler asks stage actor, can never stop performing his role. Leamas's
more about the Rolling Stone operation, such as whether deception must be constant for fear that he will slip up and
Control has samples of false signatures. Leamas says Control reveal some hint about his true motives. The narrator states,
has plenty of sample signatures, which enabled Leamas to "When alone, [Leamas] remained faithful to these habits. He
forge a signature and write directly to the banks in Helsinki and would even exaggerate them." The implication is that the
Copenhagen. Fiedler wonders if Leamas could write to the border between fantasy/playacting and reality is blurring for
banks now using one of these false signatures and ask for a Leamas even more than it has at previous points in the novel.
current statement. If Leamas did this, Fiedler might be able to In Leamas's life, deception is becoming so integrated into his
trace the location of the agent being paid from these accounts. life that it becomes the truth. For example, to present a
Leamas refuses, saying he never agreed to write any letters. convincing façade of a down-and-out person, Leamas drinks
Fiedler admits that he wants Leamas to stay in East Germany heavily. He does this all the time, even when alone. So in
for a while in case he needs more detailed information. essence, Leamas becomes an alcoholic. The pretense is no
However, Fiedler promises that after he gets the needed longer false, but the dramatic irony is true.
information, he will assist Leamas in getting out from behind

By being immersed in constant deception, Leamas is in danger
the Iron Curtain. Leamas agrees to write the letters.
of losing his true self. Because of this, he has reached out to
Leamas wants to make sure his deception of being a bitter an outsider, Liz. As a Jew and a Communist, Liz is separate
alcoholic is completely convincing. As a result, he even plays from the mainstream of British society and definitely from the
this role when he is alone. He adopts a shuffling walk, neglects world of the Circus. He sees loving her as a way to lift himself
his appearance, and demonstrates "an increasing reliance on out of this web of lies and salvage his personal life.
alcohol and tobacco." Leamas realizes that Control was right Interestingly, le Carré also begins forming a connection
about how to approach the mission: "Fiedler was walking ... into between Liz and Fiedler. Both are Jewish, Communists, and
the net which Control had spread for him." outsiders, like Leamas but different. The author also portrays
Fiedler as a solitary person who does not belong in the cliques
within the Abteilung. In addition, both Liz and Fiedler offer their
Analysis friendship to Leamas. Le Carré further develops these
resemblances between Liz and Fiedler in later chapters.
Chapter 13 continues to explore the rationales behind political
manipulation by contrasting the Abteilung with the Circus. As
Fiedler points out, the people working for the Abteilung share a Chapter 14
common philosophy, communism. Communism is based on the
concept that the good of the whole supersedes the good of
the individual. As a result, Fiedler and other officials in the Summary
Abteilung have no qualms about abusing or killing individuals if
doing so will benefit the masses. The people working for the At Fiedler's request, Leamas signs a letter with an alias to the
Circus definitely do not believe in communism, as Fiedler bank in Copenhagen, asking for a duplicate bank statement to
knows. In fact, these people live in a Christian country and may be sent to him in Paris. He also signs a similar letter addressed
have been influenced by Christian morals. Christianity, though, to the bank in Helsinki. When Fiedler mentions Leamas's
he says, does not support harming individuals for the good of involvement with Liz, Leamas threatens to not provide any
the whole. Each individual life is sacred and thus is worth more information if Fiedler or anyone else in the Abteilung
saving. Democracy also favors the individual. Even so, the mentions Liz again. Fiedler mentions ominously that "it may be
Circus uses the same rationale as the Abteilung, namely too late."
sacrificing individuals for the whole. The Circus, therefore, acts

Leamas and Fiedler go for a long walk, during which Fiedler a friendship. Although this friendship is based on deception, it
talks about Mundt's work in Britain. Even though Mundt had has an authentic quality, similar to how Leamas really becomes
killed some people, Leamas says the Circus did not seriously an alcoholic in the process of pretending to be one. Indeed,
pursue him. He and Fiedler discuss Mundt's surprising ability to Leamas may believe that feeling friendly toward Fiedler will
leave Britain by plane despite the fact that "the whole of British only add to the credibility of his performance, but at the same
Security" was looking for him. Leamas plants the idea in time, he might be developing a genuine respect for Fiedler.
Fiedler's mind that the British actually allowed Mundt to leave
so he wouldn't reveal how badly one of their agents named By showing this developing friendship, le Carré also
Maston had handled a case. Fiedler reveals his confusion that strengthens the resemblance between Fiedler and Liz
there was no full-scale search for Mundt, as he had thought. established in Chapter 13. In fact, the scene in which Leamas
Fiedler, though, does not seem satisfied with this answer. He and Fiedler talk as they gaze at the flames in a fireplace is
asks for more information about Karl Riemeck. Leamas similar to the scene in which Liz caresses Leamas as she
describes a meeting with him, Karl, and Control. Control asked stares at a gas fire (Chapter 12). Soon after the fireplace
Leamas to leave for fifteen minutes because he wanted to talk scene, Fiedler is referred to as Leamas's "companion." Leamas
to Karl alone. Leamas has no idea what they talked about and tends to bond with outsiders—people who are part of a system
doesn't care. Fiedler admits he is "beginning to like" Leamas, and yet separate from it. Perhaps Leamas trusts outsiders
but still does not understand why he defected. more because they are not so enmeshed in the system. Both
Liz and Fiedler are outsiders who have a purity and integrity
One evening, Fiedler gets some important news from the about them—they state what they believe is true. Because of
Copenhagen bank, but doesn't give Leamas any details. Fiedler this, Fiedler tells Leamas the truth when he says he doesn't
describes Mundt's ruthless tactics to Leamas. At times, Mundt know how long Leamas will have to remain in East Germany.
killed people before Fiedler could even interrogate them. Under the circumstances, Fiedler could easily have lied to
Fiedler asked Mundt to stop this practice, but he refused. Leamas but chooses not to. And because he is so immersed in
Fiedler believes Mundt killed these people to prevent them a world of deception, Leamas highly values people who tell the
from talking. He also thinks Mundt was being paid by the truth.
Circus to be an informant. Leamas exclaims that Fiedler's
theory is crazy. Having been an agent in Berlin for years, Le Carré thus creates more sympathy for Fiedler through his
Leamas would have known if Mundt was a defector. Fiedler views about Mundt. Fiedler sees Mundt as a brutal man, who
tells Leamas what he found out about the bank in Copenhagen: seems to kill without a rational explanation. This type of
money was drawn from that bank at the same time that Mundt brutality may relate back in time to the Holocaust, which
was visiting the city. involved Nazis murdering millions of Jews. Being a Jew, Fiedler
must see the connection to Mundt's methods, especially
because Mundt is a former Nazi. In this way, therefore, Fiedler
Analysis can be seen as a less brutal and guilty man than Mundt.
Leamas most likely realizes this and finds it appealing.
In Chapter 14, le Carré interweaves the themes of political
When Fiedler mentions Leamas's relationship with Liz, Leamas
manipulation and deception through Leamas's budding
reacts with volatility. He threatens to provide no more
relationship with Fiedler. During their talks, Leamas continues
information if Liz is even mentioned by Fiedler again. Leamas
to deceive Fiedler by pretending to believe that most of
sees the inhumanity of Liz's getting involved with his business.
Fielder's conclusions based on the information provided are
He loves her and is fiercely protective of her because she is
false. By doing this, Leamas is manipulating Fiedler for the
innocent, outside the political manipulations and deceptions of
purposes of the Circus. However, as the previous chapter
the Cold War. Getting her involved would be an insult to her
suggests, the line between deception and truth has blurred for
honesty and integrity.
Leamas. He has to constantly play his role, which in a way
makes it become real. For example, Leamas takes long walks
with Fiedler, eats and drinks with him, and tells him stories
about life in the Circus. They seem like two old buddies
reminiscing about the good old days, and appear to be forming

support for the cause, which can be seen as a form of

Chapter 15 manipulation. Therefore, she immediately eliminates the
possibility that the letter is a deception. However, because of
this, she has difficulty coming up with a reason for it. She
Summary eventually decides her acquaintance, Ashe, had something to
do with it. Finally, Liz comes to a conclusion that is true to her
Liz receives a letter from Party Centre, inviting her to take part nature, which is loving and kind. She thinks the Communist
in an all-expenses-paid exchange program between East Party must be filled with good people who want peace. This
German and British communists. Liz would travel to East conclusion solidifies her decision to accept the offer.
Germany, where she would take part in discussions and
studies about industry and social welfare. Liz is baffled by this In reality, though, the letter is an attempt to manipulate Liz
letter. She has no idea how Party Centre got her name. At a through the use of deception. In other words, the letter exists
district meeting, she met a man named Ashe, who took her out to manipulate Liz—exactly what Control told Leamas would not
for coffee and asked her questions. He wondered if Liz had happen. This deception is a particularly cruel form of
many boyfriends or just one special friend. Liz thinks Ashe manipulation. These powers are taking an innocent person and
acted a little odd, but assumes he recommended her to Party using her for their own ends. Liz is completely unaware that
Centre for the exchange program. She knows the party tends she is a pawn being used for the supposed good of the whole,
to be secretive, which might explain why she had no previous and thus has no say in what is happening to her.
idea about being considered. The letter mentions that Liz was
good at generating action at the street level, which is not true.
Liz hates passing out pamphlets and avoids this work as much Chapter 16
as possible. Liz considers the positive side, thinking it would be
nice to travel and learn more about East Germany. She
concludes that the party gave her this opportunity rather out of Summary
the goodness of their hearts, which makes her proud. She
types a response letter, accepting the offer. She notices Fiedler and Alec Leamas drive back to the house in the forest.
Smiley's card and remembers his asking her, "Did the party As they walk toward the building, three men greet them. The
know about you and Alec?" men say they are from Berlin. Fiedler seems suspicious,
noticing that the lights in the hall are out. Leamas enters the
house and heads to the annex behind it. He enters the guards'
Analysis room, which is across from his bedroom. The door closes,
making the room dark. Leamas hears the door to his room
Chapter 15 examines the themes of political manipulation and open. He prepares a makeshift weapon by crushing a box of
deception through the character of Liz. In previous chapters, le wooden matches. He places a chair in front of the closed door.
Carré shows Leamas's expecting to face deception in his work The door opens and a man enters, stumbling over the chair.
and accepting it as part of his life. He knows the Circus Leamas drives the sharp, broken matches into the man's neck.
manipulates him for reasons he is not fully aware of and The light goes on. A police captain stands in the doorway with
accepts this as part of the job. In fact, being immersed in this two men behind him. Leamas is knocked unconscious. He
environment has begun to take its toll on Leamas, which is why wakes up in a prison cell with his hands and feet tied together
he wants to get out. In many ways, Liz is the complete opposite behind his back. When Leamas tries to straighten his legs, he
of Leamas. She is innocent and honest, qualities which Leamas feels excruciating pain. He lies there for hours. Finally, the door
and other people in his profession have long lost. opens, and Mundt enters.
As a result, the letter she receives from Party Centre baffles

her. She does not expect to find deceptive behavior in her
everyday life, much less the levels of deception found in
espionage. In fact, she dislikes any type of secrecy, even the
secrecy of the party, and hates canvassing, or soliciting public

in his cell, Mundt intends to send him back there and tie him up
Analysis unless he provides an answer. Suddenly the door opens and
Leamas hears shouting. He wakes up in a hospital bed and
In Chapter 16, le Carré focuses on how deception can lead to
sees Fiedler standing at the foot of it.
brutality. Three men have come to the annex. Fiedler and
Leamas suspect they have been deceived. Because of this
deception, Leamas has been thrust into a precarious situation.
He doesn't know why these men have come, but he doesn't
Analysis
trust them. As a result, he feels he must fend for himself to
Leamas has been thrust into a situation devoid not only of love,
survive, so he ends up committing a brutal act by killing a
but also any type of human consideration. Previously, he has
guard.
been manipulated in a game by the Circus for its own ends.
Leamas is also placed in a physically and psychologically brutal However, Mundt seems to have won this game by capturing
situation in prison as a result of his espionage activities. The Leamas. As a result, the degree to which Leamas is treated like
pain of his body reflects how his soul has been tortured by his an object rather than a person increases. He is abused by his
involvement in the Cold War. Leamas's cry of pain is "like the captors and will continue to be abused until he provides the
last cry of a man upon the rack." Also, the description of the information Mundt wants. In the black-and-white world of the
prison cell reflects many aspects of the Cold War. The cell is Cold War, each side vilifies the other, and winning is all that
cold and harsh with whitewashed walls and a large, clinical matters. Leamas is seen as the enemy and thus receives no
light. In the Cold War, each side has a severe approach that consideration as an individual.
does not allow for any warmth or human affection. In addition,

Mundt reflects this severe world view. Le Carré depicts him as
each side tries to whitewash its actions to cover up any faults
rigid and almost expressionless. In a way, he acts less like a
and uses a clinical type of analysis to detect any weakness in
human being than like a machine executing its set purpose. His
the enemy.
face is described as "barren of humor or fantasy." Cold is an
important symbolic feature in the description of Mundt: "There
was a coldness about him, a rigorous self-sufficiency which
Chapter 17 perfectly equipped him for the business of murder." In previous
chapters, le Carré uses coldness to represent the Cold War
and to signify the harshness of Leamas's world of espionage.
Summary In this case, coldness is used to represents Mundt's lack of
humanity. He has become the embodiment of the cruelty of the
In a prison cell, a guard unties Leamas and kicks him when he Cold War.
tries to stand up. Stiff from being tied up and shaky from lack
of food and water, Leamas manages to get to his feet and Although Leamas has been caught in a black-and-white
leans against the wall. The guards lead Leamas to a room, struggle, it is important to note that he is also in a gray or
where Mundt is waiting. Leamas sits in a chair, and Mundt murky area, in which the truth can never be known for sure at
gives him food and drink. Mundt tells him Fiedler has been any moment.
arrested, and Leamas will serve as a witness against him. If
necessary, Leamas will stand trial for the murder of the guard.
Mundt has an athletic, disciplined appearance and an Chapter 18
impersonal manner. He knows the Circus has planned an
operation to frame him. He realizes Leamas's bitterness
toward the Circus was all a façade to convince Fiedler that Summary
Leamas was a real defector. From his interrogation of Leamas,
Fiedler believed he was getting information to convict Mundt of In a comfortable hospital bed, Alec Leamas eats a meal as he
being a traitor. Mundt considers Fiedler stupid for falling into talks with Fiedler. Leamas says he feels a little better and
this trap. He asks Leamas when he last talked to Smiley. Even wonders what happened to Fiedler. Fiedler claims he was
though Leamas is sick from the physical abuse he experienced beaten by Mundt because he's a Jew. Fiedler tells Leamas that

he had been accumulating evidence against Mundt for some participants in the Cold War are supposed to disregard all
time. Leamas's information gave him the final proof he needed personal considerations. Even if Fiedler was a kind, loving
to compile a report accusing Mundt of treason. Fiedler had person, he would be arrested and tortured by the Abteilung if
sent the report to the Praesidium, or executive committee, and he opposed communist ideology. Likewise, sadistic Mundt
to other officials, but not to Mundt. Even so, Mundt learned would be celebrated as a hero if doing so supported
about the report and immediately had Fiedler and Leamas communist ideology. In this chapter, Le Carré points out the
arrested. Mundt tried unsuccessfully to get Fiedler to confess inhumanity of this situation in which these men are struggling
that he was working with the British Secret Service to get with each other for a truth that is still hidden.
Mundt killed. Meanwhile, the Praesidium read the report and
realized that Mundt, not Fiedler, is a possible traitor. So Mundt
was arrested, and Fiedler and Leamas were released. Chapter 19
The Praesidium sets up a Tribunal, which will try Mundt for
treason. Fiedler serves as the prosecuting attorney, and Mundt
is defended by a man named Karden. Apparently, Karden has
Summary
an unnamed witness who will testify on Mundt's behalf. Fiedler
As part of the exchange program with East Germany, Liz stays
recalls the talk he and Leamas had about the beliefs of people
in an austere house in Leipzig, where she attends various
working for the Abteilung versus those of the people working
meetings. She enjoys the local children, who view her as a type
for the Circus. He wonders if the Circus would kill an innocent
of celebrity. Liz looks forward to the Communist Party's branch
man. Leamas replies, "It depends on the need." Fiedler seems
meeting, which she expects to be well-attended and have
relieved by this response. He knows his side would do the
excellent speakers. She wants to use this meeting as an
same. He says, "We're all the same, you know, that's the joke."
example of what her own branch meetings in England could
one day become. However, the meeting turns out to be a huge
Analysis disappointment. Only seven people attend, and the German

speaker uses many words Liz can't understand. The meeting
In Chapter 18, le Carré shows the black-and-white view of the proves to Liz how difficult it is to inspire the masses, and as a
Cold War opponents through the arrest of Mundt and the result, she feels crushed. She wonders if Leamas was right
release of Fiedler and Leamas. One day, Fiedler and Leamas when he said that people believe in things, such as political
are in prison being tortured by Mundt, and the next day Mundt ideologies, to fill a need, not because the ideologies have any
is arrested and the two men are set free. This almost absurd real worth. However, Liz rejects this viewpoint and clings to the
manipulation reveals how ideology controls the Cold War. At belief that the Communist Party is fighting for the truth and
first, Fiedler is seen as the enemy because he supposedly peace. After the meeting, a man arrives and tells Liz she has
turned against communist ideology, and is arrested. But then been invited by the Praesidium to a special meeting. The
Mundt is seen as the enemy for the same reason, and Mundt is meeting will take place soon in Gorlitz in East Germany near
arrested. The personal characteristics of Fiedler or Mundt do the Polish border. Liz is confused and amazed, but packs her
not matter. suitcase and joins the man in a military-looking car.
This chapter also confirms earlier reports about Mundt: he is a

sadistic Nazi who hates Jews and therefore kills and tortures Analysis
for pleasure. Fiedler is a purist, who kills people only when he
feels it's necessary for the good of the masses he serves. Also, Chapter 19 explores Liz's belief system and its link to the
Fiedler has been very honest with Leamas. Neither Mundt nor theme of love versus inhumanity. Liz is a person who acts out
Fiedler is a loving human being, but a case could easily be of love. For example, she believes in communism because she
made that Fiedler is a better person than Mundt. Indeed, is convinced this ideology will benefit humankind. However, she
Fiedler seems to have some qualms about sacrificing the still sees this benefit in individual terms. In Leipzig, Liz is
individual for the good of the whole and is relieved when he pleased that her stomach isn't full because some of the food is
learns that the Circus uses the same tactic. However, the going to local children, which means that she's doing her part

to help individuals. The Communist Party knows the important Mundt is a British agent. Fiedler then claims that Mundt used
truth, namely why people throughout history have suffered the Abteilung in order to serve England, an anticommunist,
injustices and how to solve this problem. So the party gives Liz imperialist nation. Early in his career, Mundt did some
the framework in which to express her love of humankind. admirable work for East Germany, but when he was in England
he "fell foul of the British secret police." However, despite a
In this way, Liz even resembles a pious person who believes in massive search effort to find him, Mundt managed to escape
a religion. In fact, the narrator says that Liz views her stay at from the country. Fiedler, though, insists that Mundt was taken
the house in Leipzig as being similar to staying at a convent or prisoner and made a deal with the Circus, which involved being
a kibbutz. A kibbutz is a communal settlement in Israel. All of paid large amounts for providing classified information from
the wealth is held in common and reinvested in the settlement. the East German government. Leamas takes the stand and
Many religions claim to know the truth about the best way to tells the same story he had told Fiedler: he admits the Circus
live and how to inspire their followers to behave accordingly. If didn't try very hard to capture Mundt. Maston, a top advisor in
people act against this truth, they will suffer the consequences. the secret service, didn't want Mundt to provide any
Liz, therefore, believes that people will be crushed by history incriminating information against him. Also, Leamas again
until they are converted to the truth of communism. However, insists he would have known if Mundt made a deal with the
Liz is apparently unaware that her noble ideology has been Circus because of Leamas's role supervising the Circus's
responsible for some of the worst atrocities known to her agents in Berlin.
century. For example, the Soviet Union's communist dictator,
Joseph Stalin, was responsible for the deaths of millions. However, Fiedler claims that Mundt received money from the
Circus through banks in Helsinki and Copenhagen. According
Liz is about to find out firsthand how such a severe to Fiedler, Mundt gave detailed information about the Abteilung
contradiction can exist between an apparently noble ideology to Karl Riemeck in Berlin, who then passed this information to
and its ignoble outcomes. She is deceived into believing that Leamas. Mundt ordered Karl to be killed after Riemeck's
she has been invited to a special meeting in Gorlitz only to mistress, Elvira, caused him to come under suspicion by the
discover she is being manipulated as a pawn by her own party, East Germans. Mundt also ordered Elvira's death. But because
which sacrifices her for the good of the whole. he was such a great source of information, the leaders of the
Circus kept Mundt a secret from other members of their
organization. As a result, Leamas never knew that Mundt was a
Chapter 20 defector.
Summary Analysis
In a small courtroom, the Praesidium holds the trial of Mundt, to Chapter 20 is the first of four of chapters depicting the trial of
be judged by a Tribunal. A few spectators, including guards Mundt and, therefore, should be understood as a unit. Across
and warders, sit on benches at one end of the room. On the these four chapters, the full extent of the manipulations of the
other end, the three members of the Tribunal sit behind a table. Circus unfolds. This process takes place in four stages, one for
On either side of them sit Fiedler and Mundt's defense counsel each chapter. The first stage occurs in Chapter 20. During the
Karden, facing each other. Near the front of the room, Mundt trial, deception and truth fluctuate for Leamas as the Circus's
sits in a prisoner's uniform surrounded by police. Leamas sits plan reaches its climax. In the process, Leamas changes from
at the back of the room guarded by two men. The president of a man confident in what he's doing to a frantic, confused
the Tribunal, a woman with a short, masculine haircut, reminds person who has lost his bearings. It's as if the constant
everyone that the trial is secret and the Tribunal is only deception and limited knowledge Leamas has dealt with during
responsible to the Praesidium. She tells Fiedler to begin. his work for the Circus culminates in this trial.
Fiedler asserts that Leamas is impartial for two reasons. First, Fiedler states what Leamas wants him to say because Leamas
Fiedler insists that East Germany sought out Leamas and has tricked him into believing it, and Fiedler assumes it is the
induced him to defect. Second, Leamas still refuses to believe truth. For example, Fiedler comes to the conclusion that Mundt

was captured by the Circus and convinced to become an Leamas had any contact with Smiley after leaving the Circus.
informant. Later, Fiedler claims that the leaders of the Circus Leamas says he didn't, but Karden shows that Leamas went to
kept Mundt a secret from other members of their organization. Smiley's house. Karden wonders why Leamas beat up the
Although Leamas outwardly denies these conclusions, he has grocer. Leamas claims he was broke and needed food, but
been manipulating Fiedler to arrive at these conclusions Karden questions his statement, pointing out that Leamas had
himself. In Chapter 20, therefore, the Circus's plan is still a check waiting for him at the library. Leamas shrugs, saying he
unfolding in the way Leamas expects. probably didn't collect the check because he thought the
library was closed on Saturday. Leamas steps down, and a
It is important to note that the trial of Mundt is secret. Only the woman brings Liz into the courtroom.
Praesidium and a few other people in the East German
government will know the verdict. Such a situation is pregnant
with the potential for deceit. The Tribunal, the defendant, and Analysis
the counselors will not be held accountable to the public or the
press. As a result, the participants in the trial have more leeway Chapter 21 presents the second stage in the unfolding of the
to use and interpret information based on their own political extent of the Circus's political manipulations. In the first stage,
agendas. If Fiedler, for example, twists information to make a Fiedler conveyed what he believes is the truth, but Leamas
point, a member of the Tribunal might allow this if it supports knows is a deception, namely that Mundt is a defector. Now
his or her agenda or resist it if it does not. Deceptions, Karden presents what Leamas knows is true, specifically that
therefore, are more likely to be allowed in a secret trial if they Leamas has been setting up Fiedler to convict Mundt. At this
serve the political purposes of the Tribunal. Le Carré suggests point, Leamas's confidence in the Circus's plan to get rid of
that each member of the Tribunal has his or her own biases. Mundt must begin to feel shaky. Karden not only exposes
Leamas figures that the President of the Tribunal will lean Leamas's manipulation of Fiedler accurately, but also provides
toward condemning Mundt, while one of the other members many specifics about the Circus's overall plan, such as setting
will probably want to acquit him. up payments in foreign countries to coincide with Mundt's
presence in these nations.
Chapter 21 However, le Carré uses an interesting technique to present

this. Instead of revealing Leamas's reaction to Karden's
presentation, he just describes what Karden says. By doing
this, le Carré puts the reader in the position of Leamas and
Summary how he must be responding emotionally to the proceedings.
Therefore, when Karden mentions that Leamas took a
As Mundt's trial continues into the next chapter, his defense
mistress, the reader feels the same alarm that Leamas
counselor, Karden, makes his statement. Karden claims that
probably feels without the text's directly describing it. Even
Fiedler has been manipulated into a plot to disrupt the
when Leamas takes the stand, le Carré does not describe
Abteilung. According to Karden, Leamas pretended to be bitter
Leamas's emotions, but rather lets the reader infer these
at the Circus and angry at the Americans. Leamas's downward
emotions. By doing this, the author strengthens the reader's
spiral into alcoholism was just a trick to convince Fiedler that
identification with Leamas and increases the novel's suspense:
he might want to defect. Leamas provided Fiedler with just
why is Liz there, and what will happen next? What is the truth
enough information to confirm his suspicions about Mundt's
about Leamas's mission?
being a defector. Fiedler was eager to believe this because of
his hatred of Mundt and his ambition to rise in the Abteilung. All In addition, Chapter 21 shows how the secrecy of this trial
along, Mundt was aware that Fiedler was plotting against him. allows bias to influence the proceedings. Throughout
To defend himself, Mundt looked for an error in judgment by Kardens's presentation, he interjects comments that cast
Leamas and found one. Leamas took a mistress, who Karden Fiedler in a more and more negative light. At first, Karden
will soon call as a witness. admits that Fiedler might have unknowingly been deceived by
Leamas. However, he says later that Fielder has a sickness in
However, first Karden questions Leamas. Karden asks if
his mind. Finally, he accuses Fiedler of hatching a plot against

the Abteilung. If the trial was open to the public and press, the a fool, but says that Leamas's relationship with her has proved
Tribunal might have been compelled to object to Karden's to be fortunate. Because of it, Leamas's plan to frame Mundt
making slanderous statements against the prosecuting as a defector has been exposed.
counsel instead of just providing the facts. After all, Mundt is
on trial, not Fiedler. But because of the trial's secrecy, the Leamas's mind whirls with questions. Why did the Circus try to
Tribunal allows Karden to lead them on, thereby twisting their pay off his bills and Liz's lease after Leamas left prison? Was
judgment, which allows Karden's manipulations and deceptions the Circus trying to sabotage their own plan? And how did the
to do their work. Abteilung hear the rumor that Leamas stole money from the
Circus?
Chapter 22 Analysis
Chapter 22 reveals the third stage in the revelation of the
Summary Circus's manipulations. During this stage, Leamas completely
loses his bearings as to what is true and what is deceptive.
Bewildered, Liz enters the courtroom and sees Leamas, which Through Karden's interrogation of Liz, the Tribunal finds out
surprises her. Leamas screams, "You bastards! Leave her vital information that exposes Leamas's plan to get rid of
alone!" A guard hits him. The trial continues. The President of Mundt. More importantly, the Circus exposed this plan by
the Tribunal reminds Liz that the party has "a need for secrecy" paying off his bills after Leamas left prison. None of this makes
and that Liz should not ask questions about how or why the sense to Leamas. Throughout his career as a spy, his life has
party is run. She stresses that Liz should tell the truth. If she been filled with deceptions, but he always felt he knew
does this, then she can go home. Liz asks if Leamas is on trial, basically what he needed to accomplish and why. In Chapter
but the President refuses to tell her, saying it's better if Liz 22, these deceptions become so confusing and contradictory
doesn't know anything. Karden questions Liz, asking her if that he becomes lost. Is the deception about Mundt's being a
Leamas knows she's a Communist. She replies that he does. defector actually true? Is the Circus deceiving Leamas in some
Karden continues to interrogate her, but Liz is not sure how to way? Leamas no longer can identify what is real and what is
respond because she doesn't know what's at stake. She wants not.
to protect Leamas if possible. Liz says Leamas disliked
communism, and he didn't have much money. A friend of During Liz's interrogation, the Tribunal uses her limited
Leamas paid his bills after he went to prison, but Leamas never knowledge about the trial to control her: love now comes face-
mentioned having friends. Also, a charity paid for her to-face with ruthless inhumanity. Liz has no idea who's on trial
apartment. and what to say to protect Leamas. She fears that "a word, a
gesture ... could do terrible harm to Alec." She is not even
Liz then breaks down crying, feeling she is inadvertently giving allowed to see Leamas so she can read his expression
information that will get Leamas in trouble. She admits that the because she is forced to stand with her back to him. Like
grocer who was beaten by Leamas got quite a bit of money Leamas in the Circus, Liz has become a pawn whose limited
after Leamas was arrested. Also, Karden gets Liz to confess knowledge of what is happening enables the powers that be to
that two men visited her after Leamas's incarceration and that manipulate her as they please. As part of this manipulation,
one of them was Smiley. Karden claims that Leamas made a Karden uses Liz's love for Leamas against her. He baits her by
mistake the Circus never expected, namely getting saying she took other lovers after Leamas went to prison,
romantically involved with Liz. He wonders if Liz visited Leamas which makes her appear to not care about Leamas. Karden
after he was released from prison. When she says no, Karden knows that Liz's love for Leamas will compel her to deny this
accuses her of taking other lovers and thus forgetting Leamas. and to provide proof that the accusation is a lie. So she says
Liz vehemently denies this, saying Leamas didn't want her to the two men that visited her were not lovers, but rather friends
visit him. He had something to do and would see Liz after it of Leamas. In the harsh world of the Cold War, romantic love is
was over. Karden declares that Leamas must have known he viewed as a weakness and also as an opportunity to obtain an
was going to prison before beating the grocer. Karden calls Liz advantage against the enemy. All that matters is winning. How

this is accomplished doesn't matter, because the end justifies that he noticed that Liz increased her monthly Party's
the means. Love is nothing more than another casualty. subscription by ten shillings. He wondered how she could
afford this, so he checked into her financial history and found
Again, secrecy enables the Tribunal and the Circus to commit out that her apartment was paid off. The President says the
this political manipulation. At the beginning of her interrogation, Tribunal has enough information to make a report to the
the President of the Tribunal reminds Liz about the importance Praesidium. Fiedler will be relieved of his duties, and Leamas
of secrecy in the Communist Party. A party member should will remain under arrest. Suddenly, Leamas realizes "the whole
never ask questions about the party's purposes. In other ghastly trick."
words, a party member should allow the party to use whatever
methods it chooses to get what it wants. Such a lack of
accountability is a breeding ground for the kind of deception Analysis
and inhumane manipulation Liz and Leamas are forced to
endure. Chapter 23 is the third stage in the revelation of the Circus's
manipulations. At this point, Leamas has become totally
confused about what is really happening with his mission.
Chapter 23 However, he realizes that the plan to convict Mundt of treason
has been blown. Because this, he falls back on what he knows
for sure. Leamas admits he pretended to be a disillusioned to
Summary alcoholic to convince Fiedler he wanted to defect. Also, he
knows that Smiley left active work in the Circus for personal
In the courtroom, Leamas takes the witness stand and tells reasons. Putting two and two together, Leamas figures Smiley
Karden to let Liz go. Leamas insists that Liz knows nothing felt guilty about his work in the Circus and so sabotaged the
about the operation. Liz begs Leamas to reveal nothing operation. In the fourth stage, therefore, Leamas gives a full
because of her, but he refuses, saying "it's too late now." confession of what he believes is true, thereby admitting
Fiedler says Liz has told everything she knows and so keeping defeat.
her serves no purpose. The President of the Tribunal is
When Fiedler is arrested, "with the terrible clarity of a man too
amazed that Fiedler is willing to let Liz go without questioning
long deceived, Leamas understood the whole ghastly trick." He
her. Fiedler escorts Liz out of the courtroom and tells her to go
is suddenly in a different position than usual. As a spy, Leamas
back to England.
is aware of some details of a given mission, but not others. His
Leamas confesses that he intentionally lived like a down-and- knowledge is limited, so he cannot see the big picture. At this
out alcoholic, assaulted the grocer, and went to prison, all to moment in the trial, however, Leamas can finally see it, "the
convince Fiedler that he wanted to defect. After that, Leamas whole ghastly trick." Exactly what that means will be revealed
provided enough information to convince Fiedler that Mundt is in the final chapters of the novel, but Leamas's sudden
a defector. According to Leamas, Fiedler's hatred of Mundt comprehension suggests that the level of manipulation which
made him eager to convict him, but Fiedler did not betray the he, Liz, and Fiedler have been forced to endure is even worse
Communist Party. Mundt tells Leamas that he'll hang. than he had previously thought. Fiedler's arrest, not Mundt's,
has been the aim of the mission all along.
Leamas tries to defend Fiedler. He tells the Tribunal that
Fiedler is not working with the Circus, and that Mundt beat up Le Carré further develops the resemblance between Liz and
Fiedler repeatedly for being a Jew. Leamas figures Smiley paid Fiedler in this chapter. As has been shown previously, Liz and
Leamas's bills because he was shaken about a previous Fiedler are both Jewish and, therefore, are both outsiders in
botched operation. He realized that Leamas's mission was their respective societies. In addition, Liz and Fiedler are both
inhumane, and therefore tried to wreck it on purpose. Fiedler, honest people who have a sincere belief in their ideologies and
though, does not believe Smiley would intentionally sabotage try to play by the rules. Each has a strong link to Leamas. Liz
Leamas's mission. He asks Mundt how he knew Liz's loves Leamas; Fiedler befriends him as a respected adversary.
apartment lease had been paid by the Circus, when neither Liz However, in the manipulative world of the Cold War, a person's
nor the Circus would admit this. Mundt hesitates, then claims individual qualities don't matter. Instead, what matters is that

Liz and Fiedler are Jewish and thus expendable outsiders. bought his services. To prevent Fiedler from exposing Mundt
Indeed, Mundt hates Jews, which must make the plan to as a defector, the Circus arranged for Fiedler to be killed. This
manipulate Liz and Fiedler especially attractive to him. Fiedler is the "whole ghastly trick" that Leamas finally understood at
realizes how Mundt has used him and Liz and why when he the end the trial in Chapter 23.
gazes at her at the trial: "[Fiedler] smiled very slightly, as if in
recognition of her race." After this, Fiedler treats Liz in a gentle
way by escorting her out of the courtroom and telling her to go Analysis
home. Later, Leamas tells the Tribunal how Mundt tortured
Fiedler because he's Jewish, hoping to elicit sympathy. Liz has love for humanity, but also for individuals. She follows
However, the Tribunal just stares coldly at him, which suggests communism because she thinks the Communist Party shares
that they likely share Mundt's prejudice against Jews. her views. Liz displays her love of individuals through her
feelings for Leamas and her overall love of humanity. The
narrator says Liz would be willing to take on Leamas's "will, life,
Chapter 24 his image, his pain, if she could." However, Liz's love contrasts
sharply with the inhumanity of the Communist Party. In fact,
according to the Commissar, the party wants to do away
individualism, which is the direct opposite of what Liz believes.
Summary So the party that Liz has followed so dutifully actually
embodies the antithesis of her approach to life. It has set itself
Liz looks out the window of a prison office. A severe-looking
up to function like a god: the party knows more about people
woman named the Commissar tells Liz to eat some food, which
than they know about themselves. However, this is not a god
has been put out for her. Liz says she isn't hungry and wonders
that loves each individual and see each life as sacred. Instead,
where she is. The Commissar says they are in a place where
it is a god or kind of antigod that dehumanizes people. It treats
the Communist Party puts enemies of the state. She claims
them like objects and places them in one of two
that the state must do away with individualism; all people
categories—for the state or against the state. As a result,
should be treated as workers, and all work is considered equal.
people who are kind, honest human beings can be condemned
The other prisoners are progressive intellectuals who foolishly
by the party, and people who are cruel abusers, like Mundt, can
continue to defend individualism. The Commissar tells Liz that
be supported by it.
Leamas will be executed because he killed a guard, and Fiedler
will be executed for plotting against Mundt. She adds: "Mundt Because of Liz's innocence, she has failed until now to realize
knows what to do with Jews. We don't need their kind here." the inhumanity of black-and-white ideologies. Often, such
Liz feels mortified because she inadvertently gave information ideologies are inhumane because they cover up severe
that helped to convict Leamas and Fiedler. The Commissar prejudice. For example, the Commissar claims that Fiedler will
says Liz will stay at the prison because she might be needed to be executed because he is an enemy of the state. Then she
provide evidence against Fiedler. Liz asks who Mundt is, but adds that Fiedler is a Jew and thus should be eliminated:
the Commissar insists on the Party's code of secrecy then "Comrade Mundt knows what to do with Jews. We don't need
leads Liz down various corridors to a cell. their kind here." So the Commissar's fervent belief in the
Communist Party covers up her hatred against Jews. The
Hours later, Mundt takes Liz from her cell and leads her down
same is true for Mundt and most likely many other members of
a corridor. He acts as if he is sneaking Liz out of the prison. He
the party.
brings Liz outside, and takes her to Leamas, who stands by a
car. Mundt leaves. When Liz asks Leamas what's happening, Le Carré goes on to reveal the full story behind the political
he tells her to shut up and get in the car. He explains that they manipulation of Leamas and Liz, the "whole ghastly trick" that
need to arrive at Kopenich in Berlin by quarter to one in the Leamas finally understood at the end of the trial in Chapter 23.
morning. As Leamas drives, Liz peppers him with questions. All along, the Circus has used Leamas and Liz in an elaborate
Why did Mundt let her go? Are Mundt and Leamas enemies? plot to shield Mundt, who is indeed a double agent working for
Why didn't they shoot Leamas? Finally, Leamas gives in and East Germany and the British Secret Service. The goal of this
tells Liz that Mundt works as an agent for the Circus, who plot was to kill Fiedler in order to protect Mundt from being

exposed. However, by supporting Mundt, the Circus is also

supporting his hatred of Jews. Leamas states, "They [the
Analysis
Circus] made us kill him [Fiedler], d'you see, kill the Jew." The
A dialectic is a discussion or argument, in which two opposing
Circus is supposed to support democratic ideals, but in
views are presented with the aim of finding the truth. In
supporting Mundt's bigotry, the organization acts in an
Chapter 25, as the book nears its end, le Carré examines the
immoral, hypocritical manner. The Circus would likely argue
themes of political manipulation and love together to oppose
that the ends justify the means, and that killing a Jew in order
inhumanity, through the use of a dialectic between Leamas and
to preserve a Nazi they are using and need to go on using is a
Liz. Leamas presents the view of the Circus and the Abteilung,
necessity, not a moral outrage. It means that the Circus will
namely that individuals need to be sacrificed for the good of
continue getting inside information about their enemy from
the whole, and the end justifies the means. Both organizations
Mundt that will help them continue to fight for democratic
use these rationales to justify the political manipulation and
ideals and to protect their citizens from the threat of
occasional abuse of individuals. Although Leamas hates these
communism. Liz and Leamas, who have been cruelly and
rationales, he still clings to the idea that they do some good,
brutally manipulated in the process, may see the situation
especially in regard to protecting democracy. The
differently.
underhanded, immoral work the Circus does keeps ordinary
people in the United Kingdom safe from being taken over by
the communists or other repressive ideologies. The Circus,
Chapter 25 therefore, helps to preserve a valued way of life.
On the other hand, Liz argues that these rationales "make you
Summary [Leamas and the Circus] the same ... the same as Mundt and all
the rest." While Leamas finds a way to justify the inhumanity of
As they drive to Berlin, Leamas explains more about the the espionage that underlies the Cold War, Liz argues that it is
Circus's operation to Liz. The Circus needed to get rid of not justifiable because it is inhumane. She points out the lack
Fiedler because he threatened to expose Mundt as a double of humanity in the Circus's and the Abteilung's methods and
agent. But the Circus had to do this without casting any questions whether the end truly justifies the means. She
suspicion on Mundt. The Circus used Liz to discredit Leamas argues that the Circus supports the very thing it supposedly
and thus cast suspicion on Fiedler. They didn't know that fights against, namely fascism in the form of Mundt. Liz says,
Leamas would become Liz's lover, but when this development "Mundt is a Nazi, do you know that? He hates Jews." A little
worked to their advantage, they did not hesitate to exploit it. more than a decade earlier the British Secret Service fought
Liz feels used and dirty. She and Leamas argue about the against the Nazis during World War II. Now it is supporting a
ethics of espionage work and the Cold War. Liz claims the Nazi so it can win the Cold War. Also, the rationales mentioned
Circus and her Party are wicked for using people and earlier end up being used to harm good people, like Fiedler and
supporting people like Mundt. Leamas counters that winning is Liz herself. In fact, the Circus and the Abteilung see the
all that matters in this game, but admits that he has become goodness of people as a weakness that can be exploited. Liz
sick of the whole mess. says they have a "contempt for what is real and good;
contempt for love." Leamas responds that "it was a foul, foul
Leamas drives the car into Berlin, where he meets a man operation. But it's paid off, and that's the only rule."
waiting in the street. The man gets in the car and gives Leamas
instructions on how to get over the Berlin Wall. Leamas and Liz Liz and Leamas's dialectic at the philosophical center of the
will only have 90 seconds to climb over the wall. If they are novel reveals that the Cold War is far from a simple battle
spotted by the East German guards, they will be shot on sight. between good and evil, and the way the war is fought raises
The man directs Leamas to take a serpentine route toward the far-reaching, complex questions about the role of human
Berlin Wall. He says the wire at the top of the wall has been cut beings in such a war. What happens to Leamas and Liz in the
at a specific spot so they can climb over. Leamas stops the next chapter emphasizes the severe consequences of
car, and he, Liz, and the man get out. Leamas and Liz walk communists and their enemies in the free world seeking to
toward the crossing area as the man drives away. defeat each other at all costs and becoming corrupt in the

process. the city of Berlin itself and the millions living there. No one is
near the wall and no sounds are heard, emphasizing the
In the last part of Chapter 25, le Carré uses his description of loneliness and emptiness of the Cold War espionage. The wall
Leamas's drive to the Berlin Wall to represent the character's has coarse cinder bricks, a "triple-strand of wire," and "cruel
life as a spy during the Cold War. Leamas and Liz are carrying hooks," representing the Cold War's harshness and inhumanity.
out a deception against the East German government by
attempting to sneak across the Berlin Wall. This final act, too, As Leamas attempts to get himself and Liz over the wall, he is
requires secrecy: Leamas has to drive through dark streets, blinded by bright lights. For example, when he is on top of the
taking a confusing, serpentine route to reach the wall. This wall, Leamas is blinded by searchlights, thereby hindering his
route resembles Leamas's journey in the Circus, which has attempt to pull Liz toward him. When Leamas descends to Liz's
been filled with deceptions, twists, and turns. Also, Leamas has corpse, he looks around in the glare of the searchlight like "a
no idea where to go and thus has to rely on the directions of blinded bull in the arena." These references emphasize how
his guide. As a spy, Leamas often has had to trust the the harsh, clinical elements of the Cold War blind people who
directions of others without knowing exactly where he's going. are immersed in this conflict, thereby inhibiting their ability to
help others. The searchlights, which are like spotlights that
illuminate the stage in a theater, are also a reminder of the
Chapter 26 manipulation of events by the Circus and the East Germans,
but with a terrible twist: Liz and Leamas are part of a staged
production on behalf of the Cold War that ends in their real
Summary deaths.
The symbol of the Berlin Wall and Leamas's attempt to get

Leamas leads Liz to the area where they are to cross over the
over it tie into the theme of love versus inhumanity. By getting
Berlin Wall. They wait for a moment when the beams from
over the wall, Leamas is trying to salvage his personal life
searchlights turn away, leaving the area in darkness. Holding
through his love for Liz. However, various elements of the Cold
Liz tightly, Leamas brings her to the base of the wall. Using
War such as deceit and harsh, impersonal values prevent him
metal wedges driven into its surface, he climbs to the top,
from doing this. It is important to note that Leamas fails to get
where finds that the barbed wire has been cut. He grabs Liz's
over the wall because of yet another deception, namely
arms and tries to pull her to the top. Suddenly, the searchlights
Mundt's betrayal. Leamas and Liz supposedly have 90 seconds
go on, illuminating Leamas and Liz. Blinded by the lights,
to get over the wall. However, this amount of time has barely
Leamas still tries to pull up Liz, but she is shot and falls to the
elapsed when the searchlights shine on Leamas and Liz, and
ground. Although a person calls to Leamas to jump over the
Liz is shot immediately. Also, Leamas hears Smiley say, "The
wall into West Berlin, and he hears Smiley ask, "Where's the
girl, where's the girl?" So Smiley expects Liz to be brought to
girl?" Leamas climbs back down to the East Berlin side of the
safety. When Leamas descends to Liz's corpse, the guards
wall. He looks at Liz's body and realizes she's dead. Leamas is
seem to hesitate before firing, as if they are confused. It is
then shot two or three times. As he falls, Leamas imagines a
likely that they did not expect Leamas to go back to Liz.
car containing children being crushed between huge trucks as
Apparently, as Leamas feared, Mundt has decided not let Liz
they "wave cheerfully" through the window.
go free because she is a Jew, further reflecting his bigotry. So
he arranges for her to be shot at the last minute, expecting
Leamas to jump to safety into West Berlin and the hands of the
Analysis Circus.
In Chapter 26, le Carré brings the complex symbol of the Berlin But the Circus, by supporting a fascist racist, has now caused
Wall to center stage. The author conveys the symbol's the deaths of Leamas and an innocent victim, Liz. Le Carré
meaning through the description of the wall and Leamas's and ends the novel as Leamas recalls the near-accident that he
Liz's efforts to climb over it. The phrase "the wall, and the black originally described in Chapter 12, in which he narrowly avoided
ruins rising behind it" embodies how deeply the Cold War a car crash that would likely have killed four children in a
represented by the Berlin Wall has had a destructive effect on nearby car. As he dies, Leamas imagines a car containing

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Quotes 40
innocent children, being crushed by two huge lorries, or trucks. — Alec Leamas, Chapter 4
Leamas and Liz in a final sense resemble these children: In the
Cold War, the brutal, inhumane conflict between two
When Leamas realizes that Liz is a Communist, he is surprised
superpowers crushes the innocent in their rush to destroy
and amused by its irony because his expectations about the
each other.
situation contrast with its reality. He spends his life working in
the Cold War against communists. So the fact that he is falling
in love with a Communist is totally unexpected. However, by
g Quotes showing this, le Carré emphasizes that in a personal
relationship, ideologies don't matter much. Liz may be a
Communist, but she is also a loving, caring woman. Liz's and
"Intelligence work has one moral Leamas's love for each other is what matters, not their political
beliefs.
law—it is justified by results."
— Narrator, Chapter 2
"She talked to him as if he were a
Although Leamas can be willful and contemptuous, the Circus child."
values him because he has gotten results. In the end, this is all
that matters to the Circus. By the same measure, Leamas's — Narrator, Chapter 5
recent failures cause him to believe that the Circus will
deactivate him as an agent. The Circus's emphasis on getting
Liz shows her love for Leamas by nurturing him back to health
results reflects its adherence to the principle that the end
and treating him with affection. She sees Leamas as an
justifies the means. This principle is one of the main rationales
individual, not as part of an ideology or class of people. Even
the Circus uses to justify its political manipulation of individuals.
though he disagrees with communism, she sees this difference
as unimportant. For his part, Leamas responds to her love,
knowing he has found someone of value. As Control says, a
"One can't be out in the cold all the spy can live without sympathy for only so long.
time."
— Control, Chapter 2
"I just want her left alone. ... I just
don't want her to be messed
Control points out how the life of a spy in the Cold War runs about."
contrary to human nature. People need warmth in the form of
sympathy, affection, and love. However, because of the
— Alec Leamas, Chapter 6
deception and manipulation involved in spy work, agents stay
"out in the cold" by denying this side of themselves. Control
knows that no individual can stand this kind of life for too long. Leamas tries to protect the person he values most in life,
An agent can't be in the cold in this way all the time, so his life namely Liz, from the deception and manipulation of the Circus.
may be limited. However, Leamas knows he works with a limited knowledge of
his operations. He is like a cog in a machine. Because of this,
he realizes that operations can take unexpected turns and get
"He ... laughed. 'Oh, Liz ... oh, no. people involved who don't want to be. Leamas wants to make
sure nothing like this happens to Liz.
You're not a bloody Communist?'"

"He saw ... four children in the back my word as a German."

... and the frightened face of their
— Fiedler, Chapter 13
father."
Fiedler promises to be a friend to Leamas, who is stunned by
— Narrator, Chapter 12 this. Leamas views Fiedler as an enemy and so does not
expect him to be honorable. Although Fiedler is fully aware of
Leamas remembers a near accident, in which he almost killed a the deception that happens in spy work, he believes in being
father and his four children on a highway. Le Carré uses this true to his word. Leamas respects Fiedler's honesty. He
incident as a symbol to signify the harm that can be done by realizes Fiedler actually means what he says.
living a life based on the rationale of the Circus: the end
The same cannot be said of Control or Mundt, the man the
justifies the means, and the individual should be sacrificed for
Circus is protecting. Control promises to keep Liz out of
the good of the whole. Leamas almost had the accident
Leamas's operation, while all the time planning to use her for
because he was driving recklessly to make an important
its own ends. Mundt is under the protection of the Circus,
appointment with a fellow agent. The agent was going to
although he is a deceptive, sadistic former Nazi. Even though
provide Leamas with valuable information that could protect
Fiedler belongs to the "evil" Communist Party, he is basically an
British citizens, so all that mattered to Leamas was making the
honest, decent person. This demonstrates that individuals do
meeting. As a result, he almost killed the four children and their
not always fit neatly into the Cold War categories of good or
father. If the accident had occurred, the Circus would probably
evil.
have justified it by saying that individuals should to be
sacrificed for the good of the whole.
"Even when alone, he compelled

"Half a million liquidated is a himself to live with the personality
statistic ... a traffic accident is a he had assumed."
national tragedy."
— Fiedler, Chapter 13
As a spy, Leamas lives a life of constant deception. Unlike an
actor who plays an imaginary role for a short period of time
Fiedler states a quote of Stalin's. Stalin was the dictator of the
and then resumes his normal life, a spy must always keep up
Soviet Union from the 1920s to the early 1950s. Here, he
his deception, even when alone, for fear of letting something
mocks democratic capitalists by saying they find a single
slip. However, because of this ever-present deception, the line
traffic accident tragic, but do not see the exploitation of the
between the truth and falsehood becomes blurred for Leamas.
masses as equally tragic. For Stalin, the individual may mean
For instance, when Leamas pretends to become a down-and-
nothing; the good of the masses means everything. In other
out alcoholic as part of the Circus's plan, he really does drink
words, individuals should be sacrificed for the good of the
excessive amounts of liquor until he may border on being an
whole. Being a communist organization, the Abteilung of
alcoholic himself.
course follows this principle. However, even though the Circus
defends democracy, and thus stands in opposition to
communism, it also adheres to this same principle.
"We're all the same, you know,
that's the joke."
"That friend will be me. I give you

— Fiedler, Chapter 18 that what she says is being "measure[d] ... against some secret
standard" of the Tribunal. For all she knows, her statements
could condemn Leamas to death. Limiting a person's
Fiedler points out that the methods used by the Circus and the
knowledge is a common ploy used by the Abteilung and the
Abteilung are really the same, despite the differences in their
Circus to control them. For example, by limiting Leamas's
ideologies that define the Cold War. Communism believes in
knowledge of the operation, the Circus manipulates him in
sacrificing individuals for the good of the whole and so does
order to protect Mundt.
the Abteilung. Democracy favors freedom and individual rights,
but the Circus contradicts this by using the same approach as
the Abteilung: both organizations believe that killing innocent
people is justifiable if the need is great enough. "Leamas understood the whole
ghastly trick."
"A dog scratches where it itches. — Narrator, Chapter 23
Different dogs itch in different
places." Leamas realizes he has been deceived by the Circus. What he
thought was true is false and vice versa. Leamas thought the
Circus wanted to use Fiedler to frame Mundt. But in reality, the
Circus wants to protect Mundt and kill Fiedler because Mundt
is a double agent working for the Circus, and Fiedler has
Leamas implies that people believe in ideologies like become suspicious of him. Leamas, therefore, has been
communism or democracy because they have a need to manipulated into protecting a man he hates and will be
believe in something, not because of any intrinsic worth in the responsible for the death of a man he respects.
ideology itself. For Leamas, there are no absolute truths that
an ideology can encompass. Instead, he seems to value
individual relationships, such as the love between a man and a "They need him for the safety of
woman. He does not see such a relationship as part of an
ideology, but rather as two people just living life. Although Liz ordinary crummy people like you
also values individual relationships, she deludes herself by
and me."
believing the Communist Party supports her view.
"Like a blind child among the

Leamas tries to justify the Circus's protection of Mundt by
seeing she was cut off from ... saying this organization needs Mundt to keep ordinary people
those around her." safe. The fact that Mundt murders people doesn't matter. He
provides valuable information that helps the United Kingdom
protect its citizens by stemming the tide of communist
aggression. Leamas, though, hates this approach and wants
out of the Circus.
Liz's experience at the Tribunal shows how an individual can
be manipulated to do or say things against their will. Liz has no
idea who is on trial or how Leamas is involved in the whole "He stood glaring round him like a
situation. As a result, she doesn't know what to say to protect
Leamas, which is all she cares about. In fact, she is not even blinded bull in the arena."
allowed to look at Leamas in order to read his expression. So
the Tribunal has isolated Liz to manipulate her. Liz only knows — Narrator, Chapter 26

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Symbols 43
Leamas is blinded by the searchlights at the Berlin Wall before create harsh, inhumane situations for people. On one side of
he is shot to death. This image represents how Leamas is this wall are the democratic capitalists and on the other side
enmeshed in the harsh glare of Cold War espionage, which are the communists. By creating such a firm distinction, the
sacrifices individuals for the good of the whole. Also, the quote wall increases the possibilities for conflict and destruction. In a
suggests that this espionage is a type of brutal, deadly game way, the wall acts as a form of segregation, by keeping groups
or contest, with Leamas as its victim. The phrase "bull in the of people rigidly apart. Such segregation causes each group to
arena" refers to bullfighting, a sport in which a bull is often see the other as the enemy, thereby creating an us-versus-
killed for the pleasure of spectators. them mentality. The repercussions of such a conflict are
devastating. The city of Berlin has been split in two, which does
not benefit either side. Descriptions of the Berlin Wall in the
novel are appropriately grim. It takes the life out of everything
l Symbols around it: "East and west of the Wall lay ... a half-world of ruin,
drawn in two-dimensions."
Such a division also causes havoc in the personal lives of

Cold individuals. For example, Leamas and Liz love each other even
though he is a capitalist and she is a communist. They may be
on different sides politically, but they just want to enjoy a
Le Carré uses the cold as a symbol in three ways. First, the normal life together. However, when confronted by the Berlin
cold represents the Cold War and Leamas's involvement in it. Wall, their relationship is destroyed. As they attempt to cross
For instance, Control tells Leamas, "one can't be out in the cold over this wall, Leamas and Liz are no longer seen as individuals
all the time." By this, Control means that Leamas and other who love each other but either as enemies by the Abteilung or
agents can't be involved in Cold War espionage all the time as supporters of democratic capitalism by the Circus. In
because it will exhaust them. Second, the author uses cold addition, Mundt sees Liz as an enemy because she is a Jew. So
temperatures to signify the harshness of working for the when the searchlights spot Leamas and Liz as they climb the
Circus. For example, while working for the Circus in London, wall, they are not two unique human beings, but two
the harshness of Leamas's work is often reflected by the cold adversaries who must be destroyed. Caught in this conflict,
temperatures he experiences, such as when he leaves the they are both killed.
library with Liz: "it was bitterly cold outside." Later, when Liz
finds Leamas sick in bed, "it was bitterly cold in the room."
Finally, le Carré uses the cold to represent the inhumanity of a Traffic Accident
person's personality or actions. The narrator describes Mundt
as follows: "There was a coldness about him ... which perfectly
equipped him for the business of murder." When Leamas is tied Le Carré uses Leamas's near traffic accident with a car
up in a torturous position, the narrator says, "The blood had left containing a father and his four children as a symbol to
[his feet], that was why they were cold." Le Carré's symbolic represent the consequences of living life based on the Cold
use of the cold always ties back to the Cold War. After all, the War rationales of the Circus. According to these rationales, the
harshness of Leamas's work for the Circus and the coldness of end justifies the means, and individuals should be sacrificed for
Mundt are the result of this war. the good of the whole. Leamas's absorption of this rationale
nearly causes the accident: he is so focused on meeting an
important agent that he doesn't care how he gets there. As a
result, he drives recklessly and nearly kills the family in the car.
Berlin Wall The Circus would find such an accident regrettable, but the
end result is all that matters, namely in this case contacting the
agent. Also, the Circus would see the death of this family as a
The Berlin Wall represents how two opposing ideologies can sacrifice for the good of the whole. By contacting the agent,

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Themes 44
Leamas is helping to keep British citizens safe from communist In addition, le Carré points out that by using such harsh
aggression. However, Leamas is a human being with feelings political manipulation, the Circus commits atrocities that
and so is terribly upset by the near accident. contradict its aim to protect the freedom and rights of British
citizens. For example, the Circus makes Liz an unknowing
At the end of the novel, Leamas and Liz resemble the family in accomplice in a plan she would definitely object to. Mundt is a
the car, with the important difference that while the family sadistic former Nazi, a person who Liz, as a Jew, would
escapes death, Leamas and Liz do not. Their deaths have not vehemently oppose protecting. In addition, Liz is placed in a
been planned by the Circus. Even so, the killing of Leamas and dangerous situation that she wants no part of and cannot
Liz can be seen as a sacrifice to protect the whole because control. The Circus, therefore, prevents Liz from having the
they have enabled Mundt to keep providing valuable freedom to make choices, denying her one of the very rights it
information that will protect British citizens. The fact that exists to defend. At least the political manipulation committed
Leamas and Liz are killed in the process is regrettable but by the Abteilung reflects its communist beliefs, namely the
really doesn't matter: the end justifies the means. So just need to sacrifice individuals for the good of the masses.
before Leamas dies he revisits the car accident he almost Fiedler realizes that the Circus, despite its defense of
caused earlier in the novel, flashing back to "a small car democracy, uses the same methods as the Abteilung. This
smashed between great lorries, and the children waving leads him to tell Leamas, "We're all the same, you know, that's
cheerfully through the window." the joke."
m Themes Love versus Inhumanity
Political Manipulation Le Carré presents the theme of love versus inhumanity mainly
by contrasting Liz Gold with the methods used by the Circus
and the Abteilung. The author depicts Liz as a loving person,
who expresses kindness toward individuals. For example, Liz
In The Spy Who Came in from the Cold, political manipulation is
loves Leamas, even though he doesn't share her ideological
the main method used by intelligence agencies, including the
beliefs. She is an idealistic communist, while Leamas is a
Circus (British) and the Abteilung (East German), to gather
disillusioned man, who really doesn't believe in much of
information and defeat the enemy. These agencies manipulate
anything anymore. However, Liz realizes that under his cynical
their own agents, the enemy's agents, and innocent people for
façade lies a hurt but caring person. Liz is somewhat troubled
their own purposes. The Circus in England and the Abteilung in
by Leamas's lack of belief in anything, but this aspect of his
East Germany present two central rationales for this
personality does not dampen her love for him. In this way, Liz
manipulation: the end justifies the means and individuals should
values the individual above ideology.
be sacrificed for the good of the whole. For example, the
Circus believes it needs to protect a valuable double agent Liz's communist beliefs also provide her with a framework to
named Mundt, who is the head of the Abteilung. Mundt express her love of individuals. She naively thinks that the
provides classified information to the Circus, which helps the Communist Party shares her view about caring for each
United Kingdom to protect its citizens from communist person. Indeed, according to Liz, people harm themselves
aggression. The Circus feels that the whole, namely protecting when they act against this humanitarian truth. When Liz
British citizens, is more important than saving any individual. realizes the Communist Party cares little for individuals except
Therefore, the Circus feels justified in manipulating a fellow for how they can be sacrificed for the good of the masses, she
agent, Alec Leamas, and an innocent citizen, Liz Gold, to immediately sees the cruelty of their attitude and rejects it. Liz
prevent Mundt's defection from being discovered. From the tells Leamas, "You all [the Circus and the Abteilung] treated
Circus's perspective, the end (the good of the whole) justifies me as if I was ... nothing ... just currency to pay with." She
the means (manipulating Leamas and Liz Gold). realizes that she is merely a means to an end, a position she

The Spy Who Came in From the Cold Study Guide Suggested Reading 45
finds inhumane and intolerable. the Abteilung. For its part, the Abteilung keeps Mundt's trial a
secret, which makes the judges accountable only to the
Unlike Liz, the Circus and the Abteilung both view people as Praesidium and not to the public or the press. As a result, the
objects or statistics, not as individuals. If Leamas and Liz are judges allow slanderous accusations, which are used to
sacrificed for the good of the whole, this means that two deceive them.
people may have been harmed in order to benefit millions. In a
statistical way, this makes perfect sense and seems justifiable.
However, le Carré emphasizes the cruel inhumanity of this
reasoning by showing its terrible consequences: Leamas and
e Suggested Reading
Liz have been exploited, deceived, and in the end, killed.
Fiedler, an honest, just man, will be executed, while Mundt, a
Boucher, Anthony. "Temptations Of a Man Isolated in Deceit."
sadistic former Nazi, is protected so he can continue his
New York Times, 12 Jan. 1964.
abusive methods. In fact, by protecting Mundt, the Circus
enables him to kill Liz and Leamas. So, le Carré's novel asks Boyd, William. "Rereading: The Spy Who Came in from the Cold
whether any ideology, no matter how noble, can justify the by John le Carré." Guardian, 23 July 2010.
abuse of individuals.
Denby, David. "Which Is the Best John le Carré Novel?" New
Yorker, 8 Aug. 2014.
Deception Plimpton, George. "John le Carré, The Art of Fiction No. 149."
Paris Review, 14 Apr. 2017.
TheoWolfTiger. "The Spy Who Came in from the Cold by John

As a British spy, Leamas's life is filled with various forms of Le Carré - review." Guardian, 30 Sept. 2013.
deception. In fact, this constant deception is probably one
reason that Leamas has become cynical. He has difficulty
trusting people and feels most are out to satisfy their own
selfish needs. However, Leamas has become so immersed in
deception that the line between reality and pretense begins to
blur for him. For example, Leamas acts as if he's falling apart
as part of the Circus's plan to convince the communists that he
wants to defect. However, in the process, Leamas comes to
resemble an alcoholic. As a spy, he feels he needs to keep up
the pretense even when he is alone to avoid detection. Also,
Leamas acts in a friendly way to Fiedler to gain his confidence.
By doing this, though, Leamas actually forms a friendship with
Fiedler.
Le Carré also emphasizes how the Circus creates levels of

deception to manipulate various people. For instance, Leamas
knows he is deceiving the communists by pretending to be a
defector. However, what Leamas doesn't realize is that the
Circus is deceiving him at the same time. The Circus wants
Leamas's deception to be discovered to protect Mundt, the
person Leamas wants to eliminate. In addition, the author
makes a strong connection between secrecy and deception.
Because the Circus has kept Mundt's defection a secret, the
organization is able to carry out its deception of Leamas and

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The Spy Who

l Symbols ..................................................................................................... 43 d In Context

e Suggested Reading .............................................................................. 45 The Cold War

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highly regarded as a literary thriller. The critic David Cranner

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his novels. For example, The Constant Gardener (2001) deals

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integrity: she says what she means and is uncomfortable with

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Other Major Character

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Full Character List Frau Ebert

The governor is in charge of the prison

Sam Kiever is a communist agent. He

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Maston is a top advisor for the Circus.

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Leamas denies this, saying that, having worked in Berlin,

Rolling Stone Maston had failed in an operation. Fiedler doesn't seem

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9. Leamas testifies and reveals the truth about his assignment.

1. Leamas sees an agent shot as he tries to enter West Berlin.

Rising Action 11. Fiedler and Leamas are arrested.

2. The Circus gives Leamas an assignment to get rid of Mundt.

3. Leamas quits the Circus, drinks heavily, and goes to seed.

8. Liz's testimony at Mundt's trial supports his innocence.

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Alec Leamas watches Mundt's men shoot Karl Riemeck

In London, Control gives Leamas the assignment of

Leamas quits the Circus, drinks heavily, and goes to

Leamas meets Liz Gold, and they become lovers.

Leamas leaves Liz, beats up a grocer, and goes to

After Leamas leaves prison, he meets Ashe; Leamas tells

Ashe's boss, Sam Keiver, offers Leamas an opportunity

Leamas goes to Holland, where he is interrogated by

Two days later

News leaks in Britain about Leamas's defecting, causing

In East Germany, Leamas gives Fiedler information to

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frame Mundt for defection.

About the same time

In London, Liz accepts an invitation to go to East

Leamas and Fiedler are arrested by Mundt's men.

The Praesidium arrests Mundt for treason; Fiedler and

About the same time

Liz arrives in Germany; without telling her the destination,

At Mundt's trial, Liz inadvertently gives evidence that

Leamas confesses the plan to frame Mundt; Mundt is

Mundt helps Leamas and Liz escape from prison; the

Leamas explains that Mundt is a double agent for the

Leamas and Liz are shot to death as they attempt to

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the scene at the checkpoint as a type of staged sporting event

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such as Karl, are sacrificed or killed doesn't matter as long as

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being. young woman named Liz Gold, who is an assistant at the

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