The Secret Agent

The Secret Agent is a novel written by Joseph Conrad telling the story of the attempted bombing of Greenwich Observatory. Mr. Verloc is an agent provocateur that is posing as an anarchist. He lives a domestic life with his wife, Winnie Verloc and her family. In the beginning of the novel, Mr. Verloc is called to the Embassy to have a meeting with his superior Mr. Vladimir. During the meeting Vladimir severely reprimands Verloc and tells him to attack the Greenwich Observatory and to make it look like an act of sheer madness. Mr. Vladimir says, ““Madness alone is truly terrifying, inasmuch as you cannot placate it by threats, persuasion, or bribes.” Mr. Verloc feels this meeting is the beginning of the end for him. If he cannot complete this act of the madness then he will lose his way of life. This quote foreshadows how Mr. Verloc will actually lose his life. When Winnie discovers that Mr. Verloc was responsible for her brother Stevie’s death, she goes into a trance of madness. Her entire being is filled with the thought that Mr. Verloc killed Stevie and he must pay. In that state of madness Winnie stabs Verloc. The quote foreshadows this event because while Winnie is dealing with her grief and mourning Mr. Verloc is continuously talking about the future and their plans to live abroad. He assures her of his fondness for her and the security of their future together. These words do nothing to soothe Winnie, and actually cause her more suffering. In her mental state of madness Winnie is terrifying and powerful. She will not be soothed by any words but is simply a force of nature. Her madness will not be placated by Mr. Verloc’s words and there is only one course of action for her to take. Winnie takes the carving knife and plunges it into her husband’s chest. 

Oedipus Rex

Oedipus Rex is a tragedy written by Sophocles. It tells the story of Oedipus, the hero of Thebes as he tries to discover the truth behind the death of the former King Laius. Oedipus discovers dark secrets about his past, and the truth destroys him. A major theme of the play is the power of prophecy. Characters are constantly trying to avoid prophecy but in their efforts they fulfill the prophecies and cause their own doom. But when the truth becomes revealed, many of the characters choose to ignore the truth. A key quote is from Jocasta trying to comfort Oedipus. She says, “Fear? What should a man fear? It’s all chance, chance rules our lives. Not a man on earth can see a day ahead, groping through the dark. Better to live at random, best we can. And as for this marriage with your mother—have no fear. Many a man before you, in his dreams, has shared his mother’s bed. Take such things for shadows, nothing at all— Live, Oedipus, as if there’s no tomorrow!” At this point in the play the Messenger that eventually reveals that Oedipus is Jocasta and Laius’s son has appeared, and the pieces of the puzzle are coming together. Although she says that everything is random and the future cannot be predicted, all prophecies in the play come true. Her flippant treatment of the prophesized incest comes back to haunt her. Although Jocasta says to ignore all prophecies and to live life freely, she did not follow her own advice. When faced with a prophecy that said her son will kill her husband and bed her, she abandoned her baby and caused the events to happen. If Oedipus also did not react so strongly to his prophecy, then he would not have met Laius on the road and caused his own doom. This quote depicts the irony of the play and the forces of free will and prophecy that create Oedipus’s doom.