Phoebe the Spy

Sam Fraunces is a secondary, flat character loosely based on the real-life historical figure of the same name. He is depicted as a middle-aged man who is a father and business owner, running The Queen’s Head with the help of his daughter, Phoebe. Sam supports the independence of the American colonies, even though he feels their current society is flawed because of the enslavement and oppression of Black Americans.

Sam is portrayed as a principled and caring person who wants to contribute to the Patriot cause and help General Washington. For instance, he disparages the “scoundrel” soldiers who only care about making money and are not real supporters of independence. He also praises Washington as a capable leader who can unite the 13 colonies and lead them as one nation, telling Phoebe, “It is he who is keeping the colonies together […] if something were to happen to the general it would be a hard, hard job to find another such as he” (11). Sam’s loyalty to Washington and the Patriot cause motivates his heroic actions. By listening in on his customers and asking Phoebe to spy at Mortier House, Sam works behind the scenes to ensure that the threat to Washington’s life is stopped. His strategic plan reveals his intelligent and thoughtful nature and contributes to the theme of The Overlooked Heroism of Ordinary People.

George Washington is a secondary, flat character in the story. Based on the real George Washington, he is portrayed as an intelligent and influential leader who plays an important role in the colonies’ fight for independence from Britain. Sam praises Washington’s skilled leadership, claiming that he has a special ability to unite people from different colonies together and rally them to the Patriot cause. When Phoebe meets Washington, she feels he is a serious and reserved man. The author writes, “General Washington never said very much. He was tall with a quiet voice. He looked like the kind of man who could win a war” (22). Washington’s reaction to Hickey’s attempted assassination similarly depicts him as a stoic man, as he simply thanks Sam and Phoebe for their help. The understated nature of Washington’s bravery reflects the work’s broader depiction of heroism; although Washington is a larger-than-life figure simply by virtue of his historical prominence, Griffin’s portrayal of him stresses that his reserve and composure are what make him a capable leader.

Mr. Thomas Hickey is a flat, secondary character and the work’s principal antagonist. He is a soldier and bodyguard for Washington, but he is portrayed as younger than the other soldiers, and he does not seem to have many friends. At the beginning of the story, Phoebe considers Hickey “especially nice” because he smiles and jokes with her and often brings her little gifts. Hickey appears to be a passionate Patriot, as he often makes comments about stealing from the King’s supporters when he gives Phoebe presents: “Sometimes there would be a stick of candy inside—always, he said, stolen from those loyal to the King of England” (30). Mr. Hickey’s violent actions at the end of the story reveal his duplicitous, cunning nature, showing that he used gifts and compliments to win Phoebe’s friendship but had been planning Washington’s murder all along. The covert nature of his villainy mirrors Phoebe’s hidden heroism, and his targeting of Phoebe for flattery implies that he recognizes her as a potential threat to his plans. By poisoning Washington’s peas and then running away, Hickey is portrayed as a liar and coward who deserves punishment.

Mr. Green is a flat, secondary character. He is another soldier and bodyguard of General Washington’s who stays at Mortier House. Phoebe notices that Green is often rude and grumpy, keeping to himself and even ignoring her: “He never spoke to Phoebe at all, even when he saw her in the yard […] he never so much as looked at her” (29). Green is portrayed as equally quiet with his companions, as Phoebe notices that he “didn’t say much to anyone, even at dinnertime” (29). Mr. Green’s reserved and mysterious demeanor makes Phoebe suspicious of him, and he becomes her main suspect in the mystery since “there was something about him she didn’t like” (29). In the end, it turns out that Phoebe’s first impression was incorrect and Mr. Green was not involved in the plot against Washington. His presence and demeanor are thus a red herring, which ultimately underscores the novel’s message about hidden character.