The Secret Agent, Agent Provocator.

             The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad is a second popular to Heart of Darkness, but perhaps in its historical context tugs at us more definitely than most. While done in myriads over, two things rather stuck to me with the story, as it is most probable that they relate well to me, one of which being: Stevie, the character.  Stevie is perhaps a bit odd out for his time, but rather with so many like him that I know, as well as experiences being like him in some respect myself, I suppose I felt a subtle connection to him that perhaps not everyone has, but is certainly nice to those who do. He tickle the sense of who we are to each other, especially when in a position to ensue judgement from and to, and who we are to ourselves (and perhaps how different that is).
          
           Stevie took on for me, specifically, a cousin of mine I met a long while ago during a party of some kind. He was incapable of coherently expressing himself with words, which only added to difficulty and fears he expressively had with the world. While not I am not entirely sure he was the pleaser Stevie apparently was, some action I observed indicated to me, my cousin might resort to this aspect when in normal settings with people of interest/power, hence his parent(s). However this does not mean he does not deviate from such a way to explore things, as he did with me once in the house's basement where we observed the many things there, one of which was a lion blanket held to block the outside entrance in a dark stairway, showing its otherwise vacant eyes as pulsating and observant. Much like Stevie versus the cab driver, we were reluctant to engage a strange incident that seeming absorbing, but regaled later about (well I did, he unfortunately is unable to). When my cousin left, to me it felt like Stevie's trip to the Observatory, seeming to be right and timed, but feeling and turning out deadened. While I do not mean this literally (as far as I know my cousin is alive, unlike Stevie), I mean to convey that my lack of seeing him again sort of sapped my positive feelings towards the event that transpired between us. But I still hold hope in the face of that uncertainty, even with a fate such as Stevie's being a gruesome possiblity.

        In hindsight, Stevie makes me wonder about the family support to one of his personal type, and how that affects such a person. Ignoring the tragic outcome, it appears to me that such people often have a protector/guardian of who they are attached (not necessarily in a positive way). This often does lead them to an appropriate response to this caretaker in accordance with themself, which is seen with him versus Winnie, but begs to me him and Verloc. Perhaps it is a transigence that one beloved of that personal attachment is given, but also perhaps it is misplaced to assume one is equal to another, or greater. When assumptions are made, one can only be lead to disappointment and tragic mishaps abound. Plan is routed in permanence, which is something only people really percieve and crave, while ultimately sacrificing the mortality given to explore that pressured mystery.