Themes
Key
LitCharts assigns a color and icon to each theme in Code Name Verity, which you can use to track the themes throughout the work.
Friendship
War, Women, and Gender Roles
The Horrors of War
Resistance and Courage
Storytelling
Summary
Analysis
Von Linden knows now. The narrator isn’t sure that giving up her identity as Eva Seiler will matter much; she’ll burn in hell, but letting von Linden know who she is probably won’t change her fate. It’s taken von Linden several days to catch up on reading the narrator’s account, but he came into her cell in the middle of the night last night. He was unusually animated and shocked when he learned that he captured Eva Seiler. The narrator had no idea that von Linden would even know who Eva was, but as usual, she didn’t miss a beat (this is what makes her good at her job; she’s good at faking it).
The narrator still seems resigned to her fate. She believes it doesn’t matter what she reveals at this point—since she’s going to die anyway—and this includes revealing her fake identity as Eva Seiler. Learning that von Linden knows who Eva Seiler is, though, suggests that the narrator is far better at her job than she realized—she’s clearly captured the Nazis’ attention.
Themes
The narrator pulled her hair back, clicked her heels, and then in a sneering voice, asked in German why she has any reason to be Eva Seiler. They argued about Eva’s papers, which are forgeries anyway. And then, the narrator slowly advanced and, in a vulnerable voice, looked up and asked von Linden what his daughter’s name is. He told her: Isolde. Laughing, the narrator cried that she doesn’t need papers, electrified needles, or ice water to do her job—all she has to do is ask a question, and he answers it.
In this exchange, the narrator demonstrates exactly how she uses her femininity to get information out of male Nazis. All she has to do is look innocent, unassuming, and as feminine as possible—and people are willing to talk. It is, of course, important to note that the narrator and von Linden have more of a relationship than the narrator probably had with her other targets, since he’s imprisoned her for about six weeks now. This likely influences how much of a hold she has over him.
Themes
Von Linden ordered the narrator to sit and then, with prodding, explained that Isolde doesn’t know what he does—she’s safe at school in Switzerland. The unfairness of everything hurts: Isolde is alive, Engel didn’t get any cognac, Jamie lost his toes, and Maddie… It was clear to the narrator that von Linden was pleased; Eva must be a huge catch.
Given what von Linden says about Isolde, it seems as though he’s ashamed of what he does. It’s difficult for the narrator to acknowledge that terrible things happen to good people, particularly her loved ones. Taking issue with Engel not getting cognac during the interview again implies that she’s becoming more sympathetic to Engel.
Themes
Resuming Maddie’s story, the pilots were preparing to take off. Maddie refused the gun they offered her, so the police sergeant gave her a pen instead (it was a new kind of pen with ink that dried instantly). Maddie was extremely pleased with the pen and agreed to pass it on to someone else later. Then, before Queenie got in the plane, she threw her arms around Maddie. They got in, Maddie practiced landing on the practice flare path, and then they headed for France.
Maddie’s refusal of the gun highlights how uncomfortable she is with violence in general. But it also makes her look naïve—if she’s going to France, there’s a possibility she might need a gun to defend herself.
Themes
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Queenie hummed as they crossed the Channel and insisted she was supposed to look happy; happy people don’t look suspicious. Maddie, though, was worried because she saw flickering light ahead—it could be weather, or it could be bombers. She veered south to avoid the light and for an hour, the flight was boring. Queenie fell asleep and then jerked awake when she was suddenly slammed against the wall. An antiaircraft gunner fired on the plane; Maddie had to dive to put out the fire on the plane’s tail. Maddie was fighting with the control column when Queenie put a hand on Maddie’s shoulder. Maddie explained that they were still on course, but the plane only wanted to climb. Queenie might have to parachute out.
At first, the flight to France is both exciting and so routine as to be boring. But Queenie and Maddie quickly have to confront the fact that they’re flying over enemy territory, and that what they’re doing is indeed dangerous. Maddie reads as extremely competent and knowledgeable as she puts out the fire and then struggles to keep the plane on course. And Queenie’s hand on Maddie’s shoulder signals that she trusts Maddie to get them to their destination safely.
Themes
Queenie agreed to look for the landing site; she was looking for a Q in Morse Code. Queenie disappeared into the back to tie down the radios back there; she didn’t want the stuff to fall on her if she did jump. Then, Maddie started to descend and saw the rivers she was supposed to land between. Queenie spotted the Morse signal, and Maddie instructed her to signal back with a Morse Code L on a flashlight.
Like Maddie, Queenie is practical and competent—this is why she makes sure to tie down the radios to protect herself in case she has to jump out. It’s unclear whether the narrator leaves this section on this cliffhanger because someone made her stop writing, or because she’s trying to manipulate her Gestapo readers into giving her more time to finish her story.
Themes
