Point of View

This story is told from two different first-person points of view. About three-fourths of the novel is told by Mata Hari to Clunet, her lawyer, in the form of a letter. The remaining quarter of the novel is told by Clunet, in a letter written to Mata Hari. Mata Hari tells her life story and explains the circumstances that have brought her to be on trial as a spy. Even though she is bitter because of the way she has been treated, she still has hope that she will be exonerated. In his letter, Clunet explains the reasons why he believes Mata Hari’s trial went so wrong. He is angry and in disbelief because she is being unjustly put to death.

Language and Meaning

Parts 1 and 2 are written as a letter from Mata Hari to Clunet but it is easy to forget that the...