English literature II-LM.

Response Papers: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

PAULA SANTOS NAVAJAS

Le Carré VS George Orwell

The following paper aims to analyse Le Carré's 1974 espionage novel and contrast it with
george orwell's 1984, one of the most famous works of the 20th century. Both novels share
the same main theme: espionage. In addition to this, they coincide in themes such as control,
resistance, manipulation and the search for truth.

In Orwell's novel, based on a dystopian future, espionage is the basis of the narrative thread.
The characters are subjected to the totalitarianism of Big Brother, a type of technology
through which the government monitors and controls its citizens. In other words, the
characters are spied on at all times. In Le Carre's novel, espionage also involves a significant
degree of manipulation as the main characters have to impersonate other people and lie.

Secondly, if we focus on the resistance, in 1984 Winston Smith begins to participate in The
Brotherhood, which is the resistance group to the strict rule presented to the reader in this
novel. In this organisation, a revolution is planned to overthrow the government. It is very
risky to be part of the resistance, as the powers that be persecute those who betray them and
face harsh reprisals to pay for their act of rebellion. Similarly, in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the
resistance is disguised, but in this case, there is no group as such, it is different forms of
resistance. On the one hand, George Smiley, who is very astute, combines his work in the
British intelligence service with the investigation of corruption in the service. In this scene,
we can see how Smiley interrogates Tarr, who provides him with the information that there is
an agent involved in the British intelligence service.

Finally, one point on which both novels coincide is the search for the truth. In the case of
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, it is clear that the protagonist wants to know the truth about the
corruption that is taking place in the organisation. In 1984, the search for the truth is just as
important as the characters, fed up with control, realise that the search for the truth is
essential to overthrow the Party. Winston realises this too, and so he despairs the search for
truth.

To sum up, both novels are similar in theme, as in both there is a need to know the characters.
In one, what happens inside the intelligence service, and in the other, the need to discover the
truth about the Party in order to put an end to it. It is true that a priori the novels may not be
 English literature II-LM. Response Papers: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
PAULA SANTOS NAVAJAS

similar, but once the main themes have been analysed, it is reasonable to think that they have
a lot in common.

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