The Secret Agent

The Secret Agent examines the power structures in Britain in the late 19th century. At this time, the British Empire was reaching the peak of its power and influence around the globe. In Britain, however, the period was marked by great inequality between the wealthy ruling classes and the poor working classes. In London, these differences were particularly pronounced. The Secret Agent continues the Dickensian depiction of poor, run-down neighborhoods in the capital city. Verloc, for example, lives in an impoverished neighborhood. The poverty of Verloc’s Soho is contrasted with the lavish, decadent homes of the truly wealthy. The anarchists in the novel understand this juxtaposition between living conditions and, they claim, they wish to rebalance society in favor of the working classes. The anarchists examine the relationship between individuals and the state, criticizing the exploitative way in which British society exploits the working class—both home and abroad—to enrich the already wealthy and powerful people. The society itself, they suggest, is structured to alienate and disenfranchise the poor and maintain the status quo. The novel continues this critique: The power structures are never threatened, and they survive the medaling of foreign governments, the deaths of the characters, and the bomb attack at Greenwich.