The significance of diminiutives in John Le Carre's work
by Lidia Z.
John le Carre shows in interesting way the
features of Bill Haydon, Bill Roach and Ricki Tarr. Both first names are
diminutives which suggest that the characters are immature and infantine. The
case is simple with Bill Roach who is a student of Thursgood’s school. He is
taught French by Jim Prideaux. When they met, Jim asked Roach a question
whether he has any friends. After a while Roach voluntarily informs Prideaux :
’My other name's Bill,' he said. 'I was christened
Bill but Mr Thursgood calls me William.' 'Bill, eh. The unpaid Bill. Anyone
ever call you that?' 'No, sir.
''Good name, anyway.'' Yes, sir.
''Known a lot of
Bills. They've all been good 'uns'
(Le Carre 8).
What the reader learns
about Prideaux helps to understand the relationship between Jim Prideaux and
Bill Haydon (a mole) which is mentioned several times in the book. It also
helps to understand why in the last chapters of the book, Prideaux murdered
Haydon who used to be his best friend and lover. Who also sacrificed Prideaux
during operation “Testify” and finally rescue him from Budapest. Bill Haydon
receiving the diminutive name from Le Carre shares Jim’s affection and
friendship with Bill Roach. Therefore he shares with him good features of
behavior. What is different between Roach and Haydon is that Gerald (Haydon’s
workname) was influenced by communism. Objectively wrong side, whether Roach
was influenced by Prideaux’s patriotism.
The third persona with
the first name in diminutive – Ricki Tarr, as the other ones is childish. He
cannot understand that there is no possibility to keep beside him a wife and
Irina – his lover at the same time. He is very naïve, thinking that he can
cross the borders using the same false passport many times. He is unable also
to think rational. He has to be governed by more mature characters like Smiley.
He wanted
also to recruit. Apart from the immorality of his feelings also lack of
professional approach to his job is shown. Instead of treating relationship
with Irina as an assignment he engaged his own feelings into spying. On the
other hand, this fact puts the identity of Ricki closer to human being than a
machine that only fulfills duties. His hurt is more important than his mind’s
duties, especially talking about his work. For sharing his feelings with Russian
girl who was too close to information about the mole, Ricki is punished and
neglected by his organization. The exile which he has to suffer deepens his
inconvenience. In consequence he jeopardize the life of his family.
Irina is a Slavic
feminine given name, meaning peace, very popular in Russia. Also a big number
of fictional characters connected with the KBG agent’s wives is called by this
name.[1]
Therefore Irina means the common girl. Strong affection of Ricki Tarr is
in this point of view weird and not understandable.
The long or full version
of the name Bill, is William. According to Oxford Dictionary of First Names it
is: “from the Old Norman form Williame, corresponding to the French spelling
Guillaume, and is a cognate from the German Wilhelm, and of Germanic origin:
wil = "will or desire"; helm; Old English helm "helmet,
protection" ( Hardcastle and Hodges 276). Ricki Tarr’s superior is Peter
Guillam. The surname Guillam is a French version of the name William. It
suggest that Guillam as well as Haydon and Roach are in constant need of
protection, and their actions are motivated by their desires.
The mole’s nickname
and the second name of Bill Haydon, is
‘Gerald’. This name comes from German given name and means "ruler of the
spear”.[2]
In symbolism a spear has many meanings, however it is usually associated with
power, kingdom or male fertility. It is also a weapon that means precision
during a fight.[3]
All of this qualities can be found in the character of Bill Haydon as a
double agent.
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