Perspectives

Literary perspective

The short story “I Spy” by Graham Greene has several elements belonging to the suspense or thriller genre.

The most important element is the atmosphere of anticipation or suspense created with the help of the setting and the characters’ reactions. The suspense created in the story gives the reader a feeling of anticipation and excitement that is typical of the thriller genre. 

Another element is the omission of important information or the ambiguity of the plot. This stirs the readers’ interest, and they are motivated to keep reading. In this story, some information is withheld entirely: we never learn what crime Charlie’s father is guilty of or its consequences. 

The illegal activities which are at the center of the story are another com...