Points of View

The novel is told in the third person limited omniscient. Only Alec Leamas and Liz Gold have their thoughts examined. The reader is invited to see how these two characters go through the events that challenge their personal belief as well as their emotions. By comparing and contrasting the thoughts of these two characters, the reader gains insight into the ways they trust their superiors and the difficulties they have in carrying on their relationship within the context of their professional lives.

The limited point of view keeps the reader from understanding all the elements of the plot until they are revealed. By keeping the thoughts of Fiedler, Control, Mundt, and others hidden, the novel keeps the reader from having all the information necessary to see the secret plot within the secret plot. By giving the reader only some of the tools for understanding, the novel...