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
Maddie writes that she has to remember to call Julie Verity. Nobody can move forward with Julie gone, since she’s the only one who can move between the town hall and the Gestapo headquarters. So, the entire Damask Circuit is on edge; they fear that Julie will betray them. It’s very likely the Gestapo have her.
The Damask Circuit’s fears that Julie betrayed them seem to be based on the understanding that giving in under torture is a normal reaction. However, in Julie’s account, she made note of all the French captives who said nothing, like the French girl—so, the Circuit may be underestimating those who have been captured.
Themes
Maddie writes that for her, nothing has changed. It’s been two weeks. She’s had her picture taken by a trusted photographer. They’re going to give Maddie a new identity: that of Katharina Habicht, the family’s cousin from Alsace who’s come to help on the farm. It’s risky, especially since Julie may have compromised the name. But Maddie and Paul figure that Julie wouldn’t have mentioned Katharina, since she must know it’s the only identity Maddie can use (since Julie has Maddie’s identity documents).
Giving Maddie a fake identity will give her a bit more purpose, since she won’t just be hiding, waiting to be found. Maddie and Paul have to trust that Julie would’ve thought about Maddie’s prospects and protected her friend—and readers will recall that Julie didn’t mention Katharina’s name. The girls know each other well enough to be able to anticipate the other’s needs.
Themes
The photographer also works for the Nazis. He showed Maddie the enlargements he made of Maddie’s crashed plane. The pilot, who’s supposed to be Maddie, is unrecognizable, and the pictures of his body are horrific. But what really got to Maddie was a closeup of her badge and wings. The photographer explained that apparently the Gestapo have an English airman and want to ask him questions about the pictures. Maddie and Paul wonder if the airman is Verity, though she’s not English or technically an airman. But she does have Maddie’s pilot’s license, and since Maddie is a civilian, there are no photos on the ID for the Gestapo to look at.
This passage reveals that the photos Julie saw (that made her believe Maddie was dead) were faked. Maddie finds the picture of her wings so disturbing because, though she’s not dead, she is grounded and unable to fly at the moment—which makes her feel vulnerable and out of control. Finally, it’s worth noting that the photographer is putting his life on the line to help Maddie and show her these photos before they go to the Gestapo. This introduces the idea that there are, perhaps, lots of people helping resist the Nazis—but it might be hard to pick out the resisters at first.
Themes
Paul asked if Maddie or Verity would be able to tell if the pilot is Maddie. The body is so destroyed it barely looks like a human, but Maddie hates the thought of Julie having to look at the photos. She asked the photographer if he could stall before turning in the photos. He agreed to stall and pulled out some other photos to hand over immediately. Seeing them, Maddie laughed—the one of the rear cockpit, with the 11 wireless sets, was convincing and was the best thing Maddie had seen in weeks. Maddie knows Julie will make up code to go with each set. Those photos will save her. Then, the photographer took Maddie’s picture. He told her not to smile; she should be neutral, “Like the Swiss.”
Maddie knows full well that Julie will probably believe she’s dead when Julie sees the photos. She knows the photos will hurt her friend, but she also knows Julie has to get the photos at some point if Maddie expects to get out of the country alive. And because Maddie knows how clever Julie is, she realizes that the photo of the 11 wireless sets will buy Julie time. Indeed, recall that Julie bought her clothes back with “code” for those wireless sets. Maddie is, again, able to help Julie because of how well the women know each other.
Themes
Get the entire Code Name Verity LitChart as a printable PDF.
The photographer also brought Maddie a pair of lightly used climbing slacks. The gift made Maddie cry, and the photographer apologized (he believed Maddie wanted a dress, not pants). Maman comforted Maddie, while Paul joked to the photographer that Maddie won’t mind pants since she doesn’t use anything between her legs. Maddie pretended not to hear him, but she hates him. Paul continues to touch Maddie whenever they practice shooting. She’d like to shoot him.
The gifted slacks aren’t much—but they show Maddie that the photographer is invested in her life and her safety (especially when he acts like he really wants Maddie to have a garment she’ll appreciate). Paul, though, ruins this touching moment. His sexism makes Maddie trust him less, and it also discredits her with those Paul speaks to (since Paul essentially makes Maddie out to be a joke of a woman).
Themes
