The Secret Agent: Chapter 3 Summary & Analysis

Michaelis, a pale, fat man on parole from prison, is in Verloc’s parlor. He argues that ideals are worthless and that economic conditions are what really move history. Karl Yundt, an elderly, decrepit, self-described terrorist, also sits with Michaelis and Verloc. He says that he has always dreamed of a band of pitiless destroyers who’d be willing to cause death for humanity’s sake, but he has never been able to find them. Mr. Verloc, seated in another corner, gives assenting grunts. Michaelis says that he’s more optimistic than Yundt: he believes that the property-owning class is beginning to self-destruct, which will lead inevitably to the collapse of private ownership.

Comrade Ossipon, the primary author of the F.P. pamphlets, sits in front of the fire. He has curly yellow hair and high cheekbones and smokes a cigarette. Michaelis, used to talking to himself without any feedback or response in prison, keeps monologuing about the economic forces inexorably shaping history; he’s interrupted only by a harsh laugh from Ossipon. Verloc takes this opportunity to open the kitchen door for some air, revealing Stevie sitting at the table, drawing circle after circle. Ossipon admires the “degenerate’s” drawings.

Ossipon is a medical school dropout who has since worked as a wandering lecturer on various socialist topics. Citing a writer named Lombroso, he confidently tells Verloc that the shape of Stevie’s ears is a clear marker of “degeneracy.” Verloc blushes faintly at the mention of science; it reminds him of Mr. Vladimir. Meanwhile, Yundt picks a fight with Ossipon, arguing about the status of criminals in society and the nature of so-called crime.

As Stevie heads off to bed, he overhears Yundt talking about the branding of criminals, and he freezes in horror. Even the thought of physical pain fills Stevie with distress and indignation.

Michaelis continues to argue that because history operates according to unchangeable economic laws, propaganda—the education of the masses—must be carefully carried out. In response, Ossipon argues that the laws aren’t written in stone, and that the emotional manipulation of the masses matters greatly. Yundt describes current economic conditions as “cannibalistic,” causing Stevie, out of sight, to gulp and sink to the floor. Soon after, Verloc’s guests say goodnight.

As Verloc locks the door behind his friends, he feels dissatisfied. Compared to Mr. Vladimir, they all seem hopelessly useless and lazy, like himself. He knows that Yundt is cared for by an elderly woman, and Michaelis, too, is supported by a wealthy old lady in the countryside. Ossipon, for his part, depends on naïve young women with savings accounts. Verloc, more inclined to conventional respectability, is offended by his friends’ morality, yet he shares in their dislike of discipline and effort. Verloc thinks again of Mr. Vladimir, who seems so much more dangerous than his friends. Unlike the others, Verloc has to work to support a woman, and he can’t afford to indulge in ideas and talk.

As Verloc gets ready for bed, he looks over his shop. He chose his line of work because he has always been drawn to “shady transactions” that make money easily; and because of his associations with spies and anarchists, he was already used to being watched by the police. Before heading upstairs, Verloc is surprised to see that Stevie is still up. Watching his brother-in-law pacing and talking to himself in the kitchen, he reflects that he must provide for Stevie, too, as well as for his wife and mother-in-law. Feeling burdened, Verloc goes upstairs.

Verloc wakes up Winnie to deal with Stevie. Then, while undressing, Verloc looks out the window at the “inhospitable” city, a dark and muddy mass of brick and stone. The view matches his foreboding. For a moment, he thinks he sees Mr. Vladimir’s face reflected there. Winnie returns and urges him to come to bed. Dreading insomnia, Verloc gets her talking about Stevie’s stubbornness. Winnie always rises to Stevie’s defense, and she encourages Verloc to think of Stevie as a useful member of the household. Overhearing the guests just gets him too worked up, she says, because he doesn’t understand them. The other day, Stevie even read an F.P. tract about a brutal military officer, and the cruelty in the story made him cry and stomp around with a knife. Verloc doesn’t respond, but, resigned to a sleepless night, he lets Winnie put out the light.