Characters

Charlie Stowe and Charlie’s father are the main characters in the short story “I Spy” by Graham Greene. 

The relationship between Charlie and his father is distant, and Charlie is unaware of the feelings he has for his father until his father is taken away. By the end of the story, readers realize that, in fact, Charlie and his father are quite similar. 

The other characters in the story are the strangers who escort his father. They seem to be policemen who are there to arrest him. They stop by the shop to allow him to take care of business, but they insist on keeping an eye on him. Charlie’s mother is only mentioned, since she is asleep when Charlie sneaks down to steal cigarettes. However, we are told that Charlie loves his mother and thinks highly of her (p. 41, ll. 1-5).

You can read a full characterization of Charlie Stowe and Charlie’s father in the following sections.