vandal scandals.

3 of 20.

so excited.

seriously. free macbook, please?

Nothing but a Pawn

A man is only human when he allows himself weakness. In the novel “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” by John Le Carré, it depicts the tale of a man turned to stone through the workings of espionage and how he grants himself that weakness. When finally presented with an opportunity to give into someone on an intimate level, this weakness is used against him and he becomes victim to the system in which he serves. Through out this book, you discover how a man can lose sight of what he is fighting for in a game where those in charge have nothing to lose but casualties.

This idea is significantly present in one of his many conversations with Fielder. When he finally subconsciously understands his fate in his workings and how he will be the one to take the fall, he doesn’t initially accept it. Through that, he begins to explore the details around him and sees the children riding in the back of the car innocently smiling with the worried adult driver in the front. By imagining these children’s death so instinctively and casually, he is channeling his personal concerns of his own downfall and doom. This also is foreshadowing his own ending as it is becoming obvious that the team he is playing for might not necessarily be doing the right thing.

All the parts came together when Leamas began to share the truth with Liz about Mundt being a British spy and how Leamas was going to be the sacrifice. After all this time, he realized that Fiedler had been waiting for the inevitable bond between Liz and Leamas to become the man’s downfall, that in admitting so, he had not only sealed his fate in knowing too much but had dragged down his only true accomplice in the process.

When Leamas and Liz attempt their escape over the Wall, shots are fired and Liz collapses and appears dead. As Leamas sits on the wall for a moment deciding where to go, this is when his character is at a crossing point. “Sacrificing an individual for the masses” is the reality that he has been aware of while working as a spy. However, he had never seen it when he is in fact the weakest link. Seeing the sweet and naïve Liz dead much like the children that he daydreamed about, he realized he was the driver. He became the force that ended the most important bond to him in a game where lives lost were nothing but a number. So in that moment, instead of hopping over that Wall and continuing the game until he would be caught again, he took responsibility and willingly accepted his defeat.

In the end, Leamas accepts that he is nothing more than a piece of a much larger machine and accepts his vulnerability and inferiority that can come with that title. Through out the last moments of his life, displaying the constant game of tug-of-war with morals and wants, we see him finally let go and give into something he has been trying to forget: that he is only human.

because my computer crashed and i don't trust the schools desktop and homework needs to get done. so much needs to get done. no sleep. no weep.

Meaghan Tardif-Bennett

102- Studies in Genre

March 29^th, 2011

Personal Responses

1. If the James Bond series or simply Casino Royale was maintained but without James Bond’s love interest, the novel and series would lack crucial balance. As the protagonist of the novel, you have this man carrying through his life seemingly living like a machine. Simply riding off of instructions and being used as a pawn, he is expected to function flawlessly and with no causalities. That amount pressure and importance is stressed and shown as he carries through his routine involving checking for break-ins by his windows and doors. Though he never completely lets his guard down with a particular individual – such as with Vesper – not only does that permit James Bond a break from his robotic duties, but it shows a side of Bond that a reader can relate to. Without that sense of vulnerability, those reading it would see nothing more than a series of action scenes and would feel no personal change or relation to the character of Bond.

2. The Berlin Wall’s creation was a perfect demonstration of people’s unwillingness evolve and would prefer to There is this constant attempt to keep a particular idea or view untouched or tamed by outer influences. I believe the Berlin Wall was a perfect demonstration of the pains related to stubbornness. I view this almost as if it were a child putting fingers in their ears and singing to keep out a voice of reason. Unwilling to listen to the voice of reason or of logic, they built a barrier to keep themselves in the dark from everyone else. It still painted a horrible picture of what people can do for fear of the unknown. Thinking back to when there was a dying man caught in wires, neither side took a stand for the individuals but rather kept quiet for the fear of what the other side would do. It shows how citizens of the community have become the middleman to a larger fight – all becoming casualties.

3. Two of the main reasons as to why spies are wiling to compromise everything for a mission is selfish and thus mainly being money and power. To be able to be in control and know so much of what is going on is something that many individuals seek. One of the examples shown to us was where a spy’s husband ended up being the agent spying on her and giving up all her information. The business is a domino effect of people wanting to be something more than average and will compromise and trust, morals, and bonds for personal gain. Whether that be the simple thrill of living a double life or because of the risks and the paycheck varies. However, all equally aren’t afraid to lose everything at the opportunity of what can be gained.

4. When comparing the movie “The Spy Who Came in from the Cold” to the book, the relationship between Leamas and Liz was what I found was so drastically different. To specify, it would be in the final scenes and chapters of the story. In the book, you gather that Liz is more personally involved with Leamas as she reminisces of her intimate moments in Leamas’ arms in bed and so on. Though their relationship is always seen as isolated and very cold, in the movie, it is greatly exaggerated. When Leamas finally informs Liz of the truth with Fiedler in the film, it seems as though he was catapulted into trusting Liz and showing that vulnerability and then suffering the consequences by seeing her die and eventually being killed. However, in the novel, their bond felt more mutual when Leamas eventually confided in Liz of his troubles and impending doom. Instead of simply having Liz die for his actions and information, he decided to take the hit as well.

when letterman still isn't funny & i make things.

rocked the day today by getting so much done.

i fell in love with a guy at chapters starbucks.

turns out my criteria for boml (a.k.a: balms a.k.a: boos of my life) need a beard and a full sleeve/many tattoos (so manufactured versions of Justin Vernon.

i'm working on a music video for one of my final projects to the song "werewolf" by coco rosie. fingers are crossed. first i need all the footage (and here are some stills from day 2 of shooting).

in other news: i finally committed to an idea for the other final project that is being given to ash my mentor & favourite.

main inspiration is to focus on the light in my life.

(odd how that's what both of these pieces will be depicting) (not odd. i made sure it made sense).

music news:

ANGLES CAME OUT TODAY.

EVEN THOUGH I KNOW IT BY HEART ALREADY.

BECAUSE THEY POSTED THE ENTIRE ALBUM ON THEIR SITE TWO WEEKS AGO.

BUT THAT'S OKAY.

i will try and convince the editor of the school newspaper to let me do a review for the upcoming article.

more music updates:

CONCERTS.

SOON.

THIS IS GREAT NEWS.

queens of the stone age (with any luck scalping)

shad

cut copy

friendly fires

arctic monkeys

adele

yeasayer

surfer blood

and with anyluck with the music festival & concert goddesses (down, charlie.)

bon iver

red hot chili peppers

foo fighters

death cab for cutie

the motherfuckin' strokes

(not to be confused with the motherflippin' strokes)

coldplay (for wishful thinking and good measure)

my sacrifice?

my left wrist.

tattooed with ink.

already done?

huh.

another busy life & busy semester.

i need to make this one count.

whatever that means.

i want to make time to get skinny, though.

goodnight, good luck, buy angles & godspeed.

the roadrunner & paver,

mtb.

there's a chance that maybe we'll find better days.

my best friend and i circa 2006/maima inc days when we still thought that was cool.

she's going through some trivial times. but not only will coldplay, osheaga, surfer blood, and the love of her young life see her through it, but so will i.

just know that.

all i want is some family.

today, that's all i want.

that donald trump shit.

i've been running around the world of montreal getting things together and living more than i remember was possible.

i got my first tattoo at long last on the 3rd anniversary of when it all went down.

for some reason i never thought it was possible, and here i am.

i am writing for my school's newspaper article focusing mainly on bands & art.

it's given me the opportunity to even interview youtube celebrity BriBry (http://www.youtube.com/user/BriBryontour) about his music and Youtube channel & experience.

i've been seeing people that matter the most to be and i can't help but feel like i am on top of the world.

school is a handle but will be conquered, work is tolerable with the right attitude, time to take it slow and stress out less.

now that life has settled the way it should be, i realise:

FRANKIE KNEW WHAT HE WAS SAYING.

more good times to come, gang.

and i can't wait to be too busy to blog about it.

tunes of the times:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w0o8JCxjjpM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dx7sLNyIeQk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KSlA7x98Yfw

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L-5Tdlhmh0Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=74TFS8r_SMI

later bitches & bosses.

the royally acclaimed and claiming to be royal,

mtb.

p.s: love more.

they help me beat commonyte.