11:15A-12:30P   MW   BH 011

This course examines post- 19th century literary based, loosely or
closely, on real espionage cases and real spies. The works raise problems
in literary criticism, historical analysis, politics, and ethics. We ask
whether it is justifiable to modify history for literary ends, and we ask
what these changes imply about the author's own political and ethical
biases.

Some possible foci for class discussions are 1) The morality of spying: Is
it ever justified, and if so, under what circumstances? Should there be
"ground rules" for spying? What activities should be off limits? Is the
idea of spying more acceptable if the spy acts out of ideological and/or
ethical conviction? Is the idea of spying more acceptable if the spy acts
out of ideological and/or ethical conviction? 2) The psychology of spying:
What sort of people become spies? Judging from our literary models, and
from our reading in biographies, do spies share certain personality
traits? 3) Society's view of spying: Why do we feel we need intelligence
agencies? Is our view of spying related to our view of authority in
general?

Among works we read are Joseph Conrad's The Secret Agent, E. L. Doctorow's
The Book of Daniel, D. H. Hwang's M. Butterfly, and John LeCarre's A
Perfect Spy. There are film versions of many of these works, and we shall
view as many as time permits.

Students will write several short essays on individual works, and one long
paper that compares the literary treatment of one of our spies with a
biographical portrait.