George Smiley - a name of a spy
(Pic.: Gary Oldman as George Smiley in the movie "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy")
Several posts in this blog will be devoted to discussion of the characters’ names and sobriquets in John le Carre’s Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy. I am going to prove that the meaning of the names defines the characters’ identity. Firstly, the meaning of protagonist’s name and four male characters will be discussed. I will elaborate on nicknames, showing that given by other characters, they reflect true identity. My interpretation will be based on the events that involve the characters from the book. Due to the fact that the novel contains over thirty characters, only the most prominent will be discussed.
Names are a part of fictional character’s personal identity. Once the
author gives a name it is very likely that it is going to be a part of
description of a character. According to Roland Barthes the character’s
identity is a sequence of words used to describe him or her (Thomasson 130). Le
Carre plays with the names a lot. Characters in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy talk
about the names, change them, give them to each other. The significance of
names is beyond doubt. In the spy work characters need to hide their names and
revealing the name means either to give up some secrets or to be affected by
somebody. However, also those figures who are not involved in spying also play
with names.
In the book Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy the title contains two sobriquets
of the characters from the book. Moreover, the title refers to the nursery
chant used in the novel for easy memorizing sobriquets of the spies in
operation “Testify”. The fact that the author has given such a title suggests ,
in my opinion, that the reader should pay attention to the names and nicknames
in the book. What is more, the characters are talking a lot about names and
worknames. Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy is a book about secret agents. In the
spies work multiple names are indispensable because of security. Therefore, Le
Carre as an author of realistic espionage novel and former member of British
Intelligence, uses many names for a character. All those facts can lead to the
conclusion that the author has intentionally and carefully chosen his
character’s names. On the semantic level these names and sobriquets reflect the
character’s identity.
The author implies how to read the identity of his characters by giving
certain names to his personas. However, the name is only a part of the
character’s identity which is defined by its actions. When the characters are
choosing the nicknames to each other (which in practice is made by the author),
it implies that the new name is describing persona’s identity from certain
point of view. Let us look at the names that the author gave his characters in
the aspect of the names’ meanings.
Firstly, there is a need
to discuss the name of the protagonist. George Smiley was named by his boss
Control “Beggarman”. Le Carre does not provide the readers with any particular
reason for that covername. As for his first name, George brings immediate
association with a figure of Saint George who has killed a dragon (Alba 43).
The name derives from Greek ‘georgos’
meaning "earth-worker",
"farmer"[1] George Smiley
is both, he works hard and he fights the beast which can be associated with the
USSR. The fictional character of George Smiley fights against the KGB.
Moreover, as we learn from the book he is involved in a private war against
hellish Karla – the most powerful Soviet agent. In that context the protagonist
can be perceived as a reflection of Saint George. Additionally, Smiley is a
saintly figure. He faithful to his wife, even though she deceives him with many
of his colleagues and his best friend. When other characters of the book
suggests to George his wife’s affairs by asking him about the “cousins”.[2]
George never reveals that he knows about her betrayals. He keeps up appearances
and protects his wife’s good name. Although, being constantly betrayed by Ann,
maintaining her George has the right to hate her. He is calm and thinks that it
is his fault that he cannot attract her anymore. He endures the pain and
unfaithfulness without complaining as a saint person. The similar situation is
with his organization and country. Although, he was forced to retire because of
his co-workers’ prevarications, he is still faithful. He comes back to help
Circus to find a mole. He is loyal to England, although there are many things
that he hates about the country. Smiley’s surname seems to be the author’s
ironical joke. Neither George nor Ann Smiley are happy. Even though Le
Carre has given them the name, which in popular culture means ‘smiling face’[3]
. George has no reason to smile. In the book he never smiles, though his facial
expressions are always kind and peaceful.
Smiley talks about name
as such, during the meeting with his old co-worker Roddy Martindale. Martindale
makes a remark about Smiley’ superior – Control. Control, according to Smiley,
was a man of principle. George respected him, though his friends thought that
Control is insane, looking for a mole in Circus. Smiley seeing in Control a
soul mate, patriot and very wise person, stayed at the Control’s side till his
death.
Predictably, he started with the
last days of Control: 'Your old boss, George, bless him, the only one who ever
kept his name a secret. Not from you, of course, he never had any secrets from
you, George, did he? Close as thieves, Smiley and Control were, so they say,
right to the end' (Le Carre 24).
On the one hand, Martindale suggests that not revealing the real name in
the world of spies is a rare and praiseworthy. On the other, he implies that to
know the agent’s name, especially the boss’s name means being trustworthy and
respected. From the whole book the reader can see that there is nothing in
George’s behavior that can suggest his incompetence or unfaithfulness. The
characters like Olivier Lacon (politician who supervised the anti-mole party of
agents) rely on George Smiley, seek his opinion and advice. Therefore, Smiley
appears as very competent, reliable person.
[1] Liddell, Henry George,
and Robert Scott. “Geo̱rgós”. A
Greek-English Lexicon, on Perseus. 6 Dec.2012
<http://www.perseus.tufts.edu/hopper/resolveform?redirect=true>.
[2] The characters, talking about mutual friends, keep asking George „Is he your
cousin too?” which suggest that Ann’s betrayals are well known. Her lovers are
called “cousins” because she highlighted her acquaintances with the highest
class and Bill Haydon, calling him “cousin” just before her affair with him.
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