Spies and double agents in film and literature

[mary_j_59]

There's a fascinating challenge on Snapedom this month. We are to talk about spies and double agents and compare them to Severus Snape. Here's what I responded: I'm cross-posting here because I want to boost one of my favorite shows for those who may not know it. ) If anyone's interested in the original monthly challenge, you can find it here: Read more... )

Comments

[puckling]

This is a zany book with rather sad undertones - like Syme himself. It's really hard to describe, but, if you're interested, and like turn of the century lit like Conan Doyle, I'd recommend that you read it.

Ooooh. *makes a note*

[mary_j_59]

Puckling, if you do read it, I hope you'll like it! The plot is somewhat predictable, according to some reviewers on amazon, but I love the book for the scenes, ideas and characters. If you read the amazon reviews, you'll also note that there are readers who hate the book on principle because they see it as a Christian allegory. Weirdly, I never read it that way - at all. The so-called "heavy handed" message I got from this book (I suppose this might be a mild spoiler) is that suffering is an unavoidable part of life, and that we often cause our own suffering, and each others', by our ignorance and failure to see the truth about ourselves. Which - doesn't strike me as a particularly right-wing or reprehensible "message", if it's a message at all. This, to me, is a book that asks questions rather than giving answers. And that's why I love it more than other books by Chesterton I've read.

[snapes_witch]

It's been many years since I've watched DS9 but Garak is one of the characters who still stands out. Yes, I can see the comparison with Snape.

[mary_j_59]

Thanks! Glad you liked it. DS9 had the best characters, and Garak was near the top.

[missfloraposte]

Yay - DS9! You do give me the happies

[mary_j_59]

As for comparing him to Snape, I think its their loneliness that stands out most. There's also the fruitless grasping for the approval of a father figure - as you point out with Garak and Tain. Snape also wants a sign of some sort of recognition or care from Dumbledore, I think.

I agree! That's so astute of you. And I, too, love Garak's one-liners. I did read A Stitch in Time, and thought it well done. It offered a bit more hope, for Garak and his world, than the final episode did.

Like someone who commented on youtube, I would rather have seen a movie or serial dedicated to Cardassia and its rebuilding than a silly reboot that destroyed the "Star Trek" universe as I knew and loved it.