Student Essay on Faber's Character in Eye of the Needle

Faber's Character in Eye of the Needle

Summary:   A character analysis of the German spy Faber in Ken Follett's novel Eye of the Needle. In the book, Faber is an intelligent cheat, a master of disguise, and a cold-blooded killer. However, he also feels desperately lonely, as in his line of work, he can trust no one.

Faber's Character

"Eye of the Needle" Essay

In the book "Eye of the Needle", Faber is a very intelligent man and is one of the best spies in the world-------he is a cheater, disguiser and a cold-blooded killer; but indeed, he actually feels desperate lonely.

Faber is intelligent and cold-blooded. He is obviously very smart and thoughtful. He won't let go of any small details from and "signs", or "people's chat." He could "(monitors) the movement of troops around British railway network"------ for example, "a batch of forms he (has) rubber-stamped" can tell him that "it (will) have a complement of about 100,000 men, and that (is) for Finland."------- He really is a very good analyzing skill. He always very carefully plans before action takes place. He always "(keeps) at least two identities." After he killed Mrs. Garden, he "(sits) down to think how he (has) gone wrong."------He always summarizes the mistakes to make his undercover. And no matter how tiny those "wrongs" or "mistakes" are, he will learn and change from any of them. After all, he is very smart. In those battles of brains, Faber hasn't lost even once yet; otherwise, he wouldn't be standing here and walking freely on the street anymore. I'd say in my opinion, he is the smartest guy in the story. But these are all not enough. The most important reason that leads him to success is his cruelty and cold-bloodedness. No matter how worse the situation is, he always has a cool brain for determination. He never leaves any real trails for the police to find him, like when he is killing Mrs. Garden, "the details (of how to escape) (have) come to him even when he was killing her." He fells no mercy for beings. In fact, he'd rather hesitated about "not killed her on the bed"------better for covering up------instead of mercy or guilty of destroy an innocent life. He's really the man with no heart, but that's why he is always smarter than others------he does everything with a cool detachment.

Without a doubt, Faber is a very good spy. He is very good at disguising himself. "Handsome salesman in the striped suit...permanently (inflames) with lust...(does) not have to kill women to get them to show him their breast." "Tall chap, dark hair, well-spoken, quiet, rather shabby clothes...(won't) have minded getting to know him better." He is surely knowledgeable ------- he can do all kinds of jobs and finish them like he has been doing it for his whole life. He is also a very good actor. For example, when he goes to check whether the shop develops films, he pretended that he really needs the photos in hurry for his brother and kept talking about his situation and begging the salesclerk. He really sounded like a man who needs the photos desperately for his brother. This is always happened so no one will suspect. After he has made sure store does develop photos, he waits aside and breaks into the shop in midnight. That all he really needs------to break into a place and develop the films; after all, he can't really let the store develop the films for him-------these photos are top secret, and besides, if anyone see these photos, they will call the police. Faber doesn't always follow rules or orders. When he has received the order of "going to the airfield IN Farnborough, Kent", he replies, "There is no airfield in Farnborough, Kent. There is one at Farnborough, Hampshire. Fortunately the Luftwaffe's geography is better than yours, you cunt." He "(will) not tell them (the German) where he (lives)... (refuses) to communicate with their other agents in Britain... (varies) the frequency he (uses) for transmission without caring whether he (steps) all over someone else's signal." If he has "always obeyed his masters, he would not have survived so long." He "(hates) to place his faith on others." He does not trust anybody, even Hamburg, because he knows that as a spy in a foreign country, the only one you can truly trust is yourself.

Despite whatever he has done, Faber is actually a little pitiful because he is a very lonely man. Being a spy, in enemy country, filled with fear and suspicion makes him very independently strong------or maybe too strong. He can trust nobody. Under his perfect cover and cruelty, he has a quiet lonely heart which is searching for a way out. So Faber is longing for excitement. ."..against all logic, he (wants) to make the rendezvous. It (is) a foolish risk... (but) he (is) unspeakably bored...(makes) him jumpy because (he wants) the invisible threats. He is happy ...if he (can) identify a threat and neutralize it." He is a normal man who wants a woman. But it seems can't find a woman he really likes, and, of course, "he is a profession", he can't have a girl with him. The most important-----he is terribly scared inside. Face, nobody shall see his face. Nobody shall know he is a spy... The dream on the train about checking his identity cards and the "Nazi socks" is the best example to show his fear. He is a human after all and he has things to be afraid, too. And the truth is, the things that he's afraid of can actually kill him. If he is discovered, he can turn to nobody for help. Nobody is there for him. He is the outsider.

Although Faber died at the end, I still think he is the most intelligent one in the book. He lost his coolness made a mistake at last------his love for Lucy------and lost his battle. But he begins to have love like everyone else; although eventually he is not the winner, I'd rather like him as a common, natured man.