Essay Questions

How does the book bring out the distinction between Marxism and capitalist economic models?

Marxism is an economic model in which the government controls industries and businesses to ensure equitable distribution of wealth to all the working-class people. Marxism is practiced in Russia till today. On the other hand, capitalism is an economic model in which industries and firms are only required to follow the government regulations but conduct business based on their decisions. In a capitalistic model, big enterprises can take part in government decisions regarding business operations. The book shows that America and Russia have conflicted for decades due to their different economic approaches. Chambers is a Russian spy living in America to trap critical information to monitor what the United States of America is doing. The cold war between U.S.A and Russia is due to their clashing economic models.

How allegoric is Chambers’ life as an infiltrator?

When Chambers is given the job of spying on American soil, he is excited because he thinks that his call has been answered. After espionage for years, Chambers realizes that his life is empty because he is not satisfied with what he does. Chambers realizes that the underground network of communism is making him live a fake life. Later, Chambers confesses his involvement in spying because his expectations are not met. Therefore, Chambers wants redemption and reclaims his true-self, and the best way to achieve that is to quit the conspiracy job.

Was there a need for Chambers to provide evidence to convict Alger Hiss?

The decision by Chambers to pull down his spy mate is uncalled for. When Chambers realizes that he is no longer interested in spying, he should have left silently without bringing down others. His intention to record all the activities of Alger Hiss shows that Chambers is not a genuine man because he intended to destroy the life of Hiss from the beginning. Chambers hid a camera on the pumpkin leaves he used to record the evidence used to convict Hiss. The reader learns that not all friends are genuine because others look down on the evidence to bring you down someday.