In a World of its Own
Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent is unlike any book you will ever read (or at least any book I have ever read). Its themes contrast the norm that seems to have overtaken Literature, that a book must end happily somehow or that it must have some overwhelmingly good and powerful message. Conrad's work does nothing of that sort. He brings you into a bleak world where the quality of human nature is used as a sinful tool. His character's display nasty and cruel traits that almost never let up. Even his solitary outliers are over taken by darkness. Winnie murders her husband in cold blood and Stevie dies through Verloc's use of him. To me though, Stevie had quite a lasting effect. His innocence was odd. He is like a child who doesn't know his way. Winnie is his guardian and wants Stevie and her husband to spend time together. When you spend time with a child you take their hand and show them the way. Instead of this, Verloc took advantage of Stevie's blindness and used him to try and complete his mission. I feel that Conrad used Stevie to even further highlight the gloom of his other characters. Stevie is the light in a dark, musty room filled with junk. And what does Conrad do with him? He blows him up and destroys the light and goodness. Once the light is out there is no place left to go for Conrad's other main characters. Verloc is killed by his own wife, even in the very moment he starts to believe Winnie really loves him. Then, Winnie thinks she has found something new to begin her life with but is only left alone with all her money stolen. Conrad's situations are not just unfortunate, but send out a vibe of despair and darkness that I found terrifying yet captivating at the same time......a lot like a horrible accident you just can't take your eyes off.
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