Phoebe the Spy
29 pages • 58-minute read
Judith Berry GriffinPhoebe the Spy
A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Symbols & Motifs
Content Warning: This section of the guide includes discussion of death and racism.
The Queen’s Head
In Phoebe the Spy, the Fraunces family tavern, The Queen’s Head, represents American society. The tavern is a microcosm of America, as it includes people of different social classes and political opinions. The Queen’s Head attracts many Patriots; powerful and influential men like George Washington and John Adams meet there to plan and strategize together as they resist the British occupation. Meanwhile, their enemies also meet at The Queen’s Head, plotting against them to advance the cause of King George III and prevent American independence. The tavern thus embodies the full range of attitudes toward the revolution.
Against this backdrop of momentous political drama, ordinary citizens like Sam Fraunces, a free Black man, continue to work to provide for themselves. The tavern is therefore also a symbol of everyday life and its relationship to the ongoing conflict: Just as Sam runs the tavern, profiting and benefiting not only his family but also the community at large, the 18th-century working class of America also labored to provide essentials to everyone around them. Notably, the social classes present at The Queen’s Head are perceived and treated differently. In the tavern, as in American society, people like Washington and Adams are more visible and respected than people like Sam and Phoebe, who are Black and from a less elite background. However, the revolution’s goals would never be fulfilled without Sam and Phoebe, who make their ambitions possible and even defend their lives. The tavern thus contributes to the work’s exploration of The Overlooked Heroism of Ordinary People.
Shadows
Shadows are a motif that develops the novel’s theme of overlooked heroism. The author compares both Sam and Phoebe to shadows to suggest that they are often invisible to others. As a tavern owner and housekeeper, Sam and Phoebe go all but unnoticed by the people they serve, who only see them as helpers and not intelligent individuals with their own intentions and agency. Phoebe, for instance, reflects on how her father often overhears his tavern guests talking frankly amongst themselves, as they do not consider what he might think about the information they share: “Phoebe closed her eyes, seeing her father moving like a shadow among his guests, gracious, smiling, pouring wine and exchanging greetings. It was so easy for him to hear secrets without seeming to listen!” (11). Phoebe’s presence also goes unnoticed by those she serves at Mortier House, and she uses this to her advantage as she spies on everyone. The author writes, “Phoebe slipped among them silent as a shadow, as her father had taught her” (24). People’s perception of Sam and Phoebe as “shadows” portrays them as undervalued by those around them, which is what allows them to keep their heroic actions a well-kept secret until the end of the story.
The Poisoned Peas
In Phoebe the Spy, the poisoned peas are a symbol for the deceit that threatens Phoebe’s mission, George Washington’s life, and the cause of American independence. Phoebe is deceived by Thomas Hickey, a young soldier and bodyguard of Washington, who manipulates her with little gifts and kind gestures. By giving her candies and ribbons, Hickey tricks Phoebe into thinking he is her friend, all while using this familiarity to further his planned murder of Washington. This leads to Hickey’s ultimate deceit: poisoning the peas he gave to Phoebe for Washington’s dinner. He presents the peas as a generous gift to the household, saying to Phoebe, “I’ve something to bring a smile back to that pretty face. Fresh June peas for the general’s dinner—first of the season! His favorite and mine—and enough for us both” (37). Hickey’s cheerful demeanor masks his true intentions, which become clearer as Hickey boldly enters the kitchen and begins to tamper with Washington’s plate. Nevertheless, as Phoebe carries the peas out to the dinner table, they look harmless and good, much like her first impression of Hickey.
Hickey’s hidden villainy is the inverse of Phoebe’s overlooked heroism, making her uniquely able to stop him. The method of attempted murder underscores this; as a housekeeper, Phoebe is intimately involved in the preparation and serving of meals. By recognizing that the peas have been poisoned, Phoebe understands Hickey’s lies and solves the mystery of the assassination attempt. The symbol of the peas thus reinforces the work’s message about the importance of everyday action to the cause of independence.
Unlock the meaning behind every key symbol & motif
See how recurring imagery, objects, and ideas shape the narrative.
- Explore how the author builds meaning through symbolism
- Understand what symbols & motifs represent in the text
- Connect recurring ideas to themes, characters, and events