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 doesn’t know if she’s disappointed or relieved. Yesterday (Sunday, November 7th) she spent all day trying to get out of France. But she’s back in the barn, writing, thanks to a Benzedrine (an amphetamine pill) Paul gave her. Maddie is thrilled to be back with her notes. She’s not going to leave them behind next time.
Having left her account behind once, Maddie now realizes how important it is to her. It’s how she’s processing this difficult experience, and moreover, she’s shared classified information in this document that she doesn’t want the enemy to find.
Themes
Maddie writes that she had to ride in the trunk of a Citroën Rosalie, which belongs to one of Papa Thibaut’s friends. It’s running on a mix of coal tar and sugar-beet ethanol, and the engine doesn’t like it. They drove through six checkpoints, and at most of them, the Nazis opened the trunk and discovered several clucking chickens (who have their own papers) and didn’t notice Maddie. In addition to the driver and Papa, Amélie and Mitraillette came along (to make it look like they were on a picnic), as did Paul (who was in charge of the plan).
Maddie knows how to fix engines, so she’d probably be able to figure out what’s wrong with the Rosalie. That the chickens have their own papers highlights just how controlling the Nazi regime is—every farm animal must be accounted for. And again, Amélie and Mitraillette use their youth and femininity to provide cover for this operation. With two young women along, nobody will think that this is anything but a fun outing.
Themes
They finally reached the field, and the local guards set up a radio. It was amazing to hear the BBC announce, in clear French, that the rescue plane was on its way. In addition to Maddie, there was a wireless operator who was supposed to leave (half of the Paris Gestapo was after her). After introducing Maddie to everyone else, Paul pointed out the other pilot who got stuck in the mud a while ago. To Maddie’s surprise, it was Jamie. They leapt into each other’s arms, and to cover up the fact that he started to say Maddie’s name, Jamie shouted “Ma chérie” and kissed her. Paul watched, his arm around the wireless operator’s waist.
The other Resistance agents in France are supportive and make Maddie feel welcome—but they don’t compare to someone like Jamie, who can empathize with Maddie perhaps better than anyone else. Seeing Jamie makes Maddie feel suddenly less alone and, possibly, more connected to Julie. The way Paul behaves suggests that he expects women to appreciate his advances—and it annoys him that Maddie clearly likes some men, just not him.
Themes
Maddie and Jamie had a few hours before they needed to help light the runway, so they discussed Verity. Maddie shared with him that Paul has asked an American woman in Paris named Georgia Penn to interview the Ormaie Gestapo. Jamie thought she was a Nazi, but Maddie said she’s actually a double agent. She’ll try to find Verity.
Georgia Penn seems to have done a good job of hiding her true loyalties. She’s another person who puts herself in danger to do what’s right—all while looking like she’s supporting the Nazis every step of the way.
Themes
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Finally, the Lysander arrived, but the wind was so strong it couldn’t land. Maddie doesn’t blame the pilot; she wouldn’t have tried to land for as long as he did. Maddie couldn’t help herself—she sobbed. Finally, it was time to head back to the farm. Maddie sobbed to Jamie again that when she does get back to England, she’ll get in huge trouble. Jamie assured her they’re desperate for pilots, but Maddie said that because she’s a woman, they’d say she never should’ve been flying on such a mission. Then, pettily, Maddie spat that Jamie even got to keep his boots. Jamie laughed that he got to keep them because he doesn’t have toes, not because he’s male.
When it becomes clear that Maddie isn’t going home tonight, the injustice of her situation seems to hit her. Maddie wants to go home—but she also realizes that when she gets there, she’ll face sexism in a way that could be way worse for her than Paul’s unwanted advances are. Because she’s female, she believes she’ll be severely punished for going on this mission at all. Additionally, losing her boots likely makes her feel worse in this regard, since they signaled that she was just as competent and professional a pilot as her male colleagues.
Themes
Jamie softly told Maddie to keep looking for Julie, and then he called out to Paul. He told Paul this field is too hard to land in; Paul should take Maddie to look for new fields, since she’s a good pilot and a good mechanic. At this, Paul asked if Maddie had ever worked with explosives. Maddie said she’d like to try. Then, acting as if Maddie was deaf, Paul said he thought Maddie didn’t like men—but she sure likes Jamie.
Jamie is not only a trusted friend; he’s also one of Maddie’s colleagues and knows she’s extremely good at her job. So, suggesting that Paul make use of Maddie’s skills is doing Maddie a favor and making her time in France easier. Paul’s statement about Maddie not liking men is a way to make himself seem powerful—he’s not trying to impress Maddie anymore, just make her feel bad.
Themes
Jamie threatened Paul, but before either man could move, a plane with search lamps flew overhead. Everyone hid, but the plane passed. When it was gone, they drove everyone who could fit in the car to their safe houses. Maddie and the wireless operator clung to the back of the car. It was exhilarating to be alive in the midst of so much danger, but that could’ve just been the Benzedrine. The operator told Maddie she was lucky to be with Damask and said that Paul is gross, but safe—it’s best to just accept it.
Jamie is loyal to Maddie, but he also seems to find Paul’s behavior inappropriate regardless of who he’s targeting. The wireless operator implies that Paul is awful to be around, but he’s the least of the women’s worries. Women, she suggests, don’t have many options to make this kind of harassment stop. This highlights the idea that the war has given some women new opportunities—but it hasn’t eradicated sexism by any means.
Themes
