The meta-fiction novel "Spies" was set in the 1940s and written in 2002 by author Michael Frayn. It revolves around the events and behaviors related to the Second World War. Frayn's family's financial situation worsened after her mother's death; he experienced upper-class and lower-class lifestyles. As the book was set during a war, an obvious theme in 'Spies' was masculinity, men who were capable of fighting in war were considered masculine; the men who did not join the war felt weakened and were discriminated against. The narration in this novel was indistinct and unreliable as it constantly switches between a young and innocent 12-year-old Steven to an insecure and confused 70-year-old Stefan. The novel's main antagonist Mr Hayward is presented through Frayn's use of linguistic techniques, themes and dialogue. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Mr. Hayward's superiority is presented through Frayn's use of dialogue. Mr. Hayward often uses the phrase "old bean," although it is an affectionate phrase or term of endearment, it creates an unnecessarily scary and terrifying touch to the term. His sarcastic use of polite language like “old bean” is condescending and shows dominance. A further example of Mr. Hayward's supremacy is his threats to Keith, demonstrating their power struggle. Mr Hayward accuses Keith of “taking other people's things without permission - this is theft. You know it. To say you didn't do it when you did it is to lie. YES?" His use of declarative sentences gives off a menacing aura, no one dares to stand up to him or dispute his ridiculous accusations, indicating that they are all petrified of Mr. Hayward. The verb "steal" is a serious and punishable crime, Mr. Hayward hopes to intimidate Keith by threatening him. Frayn portrays the austere control Mr. Hayward has over Keith by accusing him of misconduct. Frayn's use of dialogue depicts Mr. Hayward's disciplinary nature shown through his manipulation of the imperative. Wash that stuff off your hands, dry them properly” addressed to Keith. The quote suggests that Mr. Hayward has rules in the house that Keith and Mrs. Hayward must follow. We can also infer that punishments are mandatory whenever mistakes are made. By using an imperative, Mr. Hayward expects compliance without objection and without failure. They must obey his orders so that he can sustain his authority over the family. Mr. Hayward communicates in short sentences. He gets straight to the point and rarely addresses the person he is talking to. This is due to the lack of respect he has for others; he sees himself as strong and in control, so others who are inferior to him do not deserve personal recognition. Even so, Mr. Hayward needs Keith and Mrs. Hayward because there would be no one to forcefully impose his rules on if they were no longer there. They are important to him: he wants to feel virile and the only approach is to oppress others and appear fearsome and off-putting. Keith also had to “ask his father's permission to walk on the lawn or lay railroad tracks on the paths.” This indicates that Keith is an obedient servant of Mr. Hayward, even something as infinitesimal as walking on the lawn requires his permission. Furthermore, this shows Mr. Hayward's obsession with control: everything must be under his strict control. The epitome of a bully and tyrant to others, Mr. Hayward implements his selfish desires on others and.
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