The Spy Who Came In From The Cold Character Analysis

John Le Carré’s fictional spy-espionage novel “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold” written in 1963 is shaped by contextual values that reflect a true delineation of Cold War espionage through the exploration of intelligence work between the political ideologies of Eastern and Western Germany. Le Carré uses his own personal experiences of working in British Intelligence and which explains the deep sense of realism this novel portrays. Le Carré’s biographer Alex Sisman suggests the “plots, characters and perennial themes of abandonment and betrayal were real examples… but Mr Le Carre explained that he was bound ‘legally’ and ‘morally’ to stay silent about his SIS work ”. Le Carré constructs a realistic anti-heroic spy that contrasts from Ian Fleming’s glamourised James Bond and creates Alec Leamas, a middle-aged alcoholic and …show more content…
Cold blooded, as killing was seen as a way of achieving the ultimate goal of security and the deaths of human individuals isn’t accounted for it is merely seen a task for the spy in order to complete their mission. The disregard for human life in the Cold War period influenced ways of thinking, thus creating individuals within society to desensitise and not feel emotion towards the notion of death. The characterisation of Leamas can be seen as cold as he was seen as a tough-minded, emotionally detached and cynical man who can be denoted to having a cold heart before he met Liz Gold, she states “you’re like a man who’s sworn vengeance” to highlight how she has brought him in from the cold with her warm nature in character which juxtaposes Leamas’. Le Carre confronts the reader in a brutal and beautiful way creating the ending to strip the reader of their emotions of love, intelligence, hate and faith by killing both Liz and Leamas which left many readers feeling cold towards the