007 shaken ánd stirred: A female touch in the
characterization of James Bond.
Lisa de Gelder – 10419640
Supervisor: dhr. dr. F.A.M. (Erik) Laeven
Second reader: mw. dr. M.C. (Maryn) Wilkinson Master Film studies
Faculty of Humanities University of Amsterdam
Abstract
James Bond is a well-known character in Hollywood cinema. His character
symbolizes a hero to look up to and in this way Bond functions as an example of a ‘perfect’ man. An important aspect of the James Bond films is the character of the ‘Bond girl’. Although the Bond girl is mostly seen as an object of desire and a toy for Bond, this research shows the importance of this character. This research investigates how the female characters in the Bond films influence the characterization of James Bond. Four types of female characters playing a role in the Bond films are analyzed with respect to their interaction with James Bond. These characters are M,
Moneypenny, the Bond girl and the Villain girl. Each role is analyzed individually through film analysis. It will become clear which role these women play in the constellation of Bond’s character. This research investigates how the character of Bond has changed through the relationship with different female characters. This research also investigates how these relationships changed over time and what impact time has on the development of the different characters. This research demonstrates the connection between the female characters in the film and how together they contribute to the characterization of James Bond. It becomes clear that these female characters are not just objects of desire or toys for Bond to play with, but that these female characters actually are essential characters in the Bond films. This research proves that actually Bond can only become a hero due to his interaction with the female characters in the James Bond films.
Table of content Page Preface 2 Introduction 3-5 Theoretical framework 6-12 Chapter 1: M 13-19 Chapter 2: Moneypenny 20-26
Chapter 3: Bond Girl 27-35
Chapter 4: Villain Girl 36-44
Chapter 5: James Bond 45-50
Conclusion 51-53
Bibliography 54-55
Preface
Throughout my bachelor Media and Culture and my master Film studies at the University of Amsterdam I was always interested in the difference between male and female character representation in cinema. Men are mostly seen as the hero, while women are just there to be looked at. I thought about to what kind of films this applies and the James Bond films were the first that crossed my mind. The way Bond is always the hero of the story and the Bond girl is mostly an object of desire was something that interested me. I wanted to research more about how these women were represented next to James Bond and what their characters meant for the story. That is why the initial plan was to focus on Bond films from different decades and to analyze how the Bond girls were represented in those films. At the end I was hoping to see the Bond girl developing from a woman that is shown ‘just to be desired’ to a more independent and ‘real’ woman. While working on this topic I came across another thesis on the Bond girl written at the University of Amsterdam. This research showed three different stages of the Bond girl developing her from a repressive woman into a powerful woman who can make her own decisions. While the focus of my research was already covered, I had to think about how I could elaborate from here. I still wanted to do research on women in the James Bond films, but I changed the focus to the character of James Bond himself. I placed Bond in the middle of my research and start to analyze how the women interact with him and how this interaction contributes to the characterization of James Bond. This turned out to be the main focus of my master thesis.
Introduction
It can be said that the character of James Bond has been ‘shaken ánd stirred’ over the past seven decades. The Bond franchise has never been so popular and there are speculations going on about who is going to be ‘the new’ James Bond. Over the years the character of Bond has developed into a hero who is loved by the public and recognized by his manners. But the Bond franchise has not remained the same. James Bond has been shaken and stirred into different characters played by different actors and trying to fit into the different zeitgeist of each decade. Although the stories remained practically the same, the character of Bond adapted into something that fits the time and causes the ongoing success of the franchise.
In 1953 Ian Fleming introduced the Bond character. In the beginning Fleming wanted Bond to be an “extremely dull, uninteresting man to whom things happened” (Caplen 21). Fleming never intended Bond to become so big and successful. He created a character that looked a lot like himself and he never intended to make Bond so big and successful. People described Fleming as: “the sort of man to feel that a too-restricted life was not worth living” (29). This can also be said about the life of James Bond, which is also never ordinary. The way Fleming interacted with women is also comparable to James Bond; “One particular facet of Fleming’s lifestyle was a notorious reputation for playboy tendencies and an accompanying attitude toward women that allegedly verged upon abuse” (28). Women were a big part of Fleming’s life and the same applies to James Bond. When Fleming died in 1964, thirty million copies of his books had been sold and two years later this doubled to 60 million (Jenkins 309). Fleming wrote twelve novels about the Bond character and in 1962 the first film Dr. No was released and this was also a big success. The Bond films have been the longest running successful franchise in Hollywood. In 50 years 26 films were made about the adventures of Bond. Over the years six different actors played the character of Bond and although these different actors play Bond, his character will always be the same and he is someone that the viewer will recognize immediately, regardless of his appearance. Bond has something that makes him Bond. Not only does he have a ‘License to kill’ but he can also get every woman he wants. Among men, Bond can be seen as a hero because he has everything, a gun, a car and a pretty lady. Among women, Bond can be seen as an attractive man who will take care of his lady. In both these cases Bond is a character that every viewer can love and that is probably what makes the Bond films so popular.
While watching these films you notice that the viewer is watching a Bond film. Bond has his typical ways of dealing with M, defeating the enemy and of course rescuing the girl. Umberto Eco wrote a chapter about the narrative structure of Fleming’s novels and stated: “The reader’s pleasure consists of finding himself immersed in a game of which he knows the pieces and the rules – and perhaps the outcome – drawing pleasure simply from the minimal variations by which the victor realizes his objective” (Eco quoted by Chapman 5). He noticed that the Bond stories always have the same ‘prearranged scheme’, which he defines as follows (Eco 161): A M moves and gives a task to Bond.
B Villain moves and appears to Bond.
C Bond moves and gives a first check to Villain or Villain gives first check to Bond. D Woman moves and shows herself to Bond.
E Bond takes Woman. F Villain captures Bond. G Villain tortures Bond. H Bond beats Villain.
I Bond, convalescing, enjoys Woman, whom he then loses.
In this scheme it can be noticed that an important part of the James Bond stories is his interaction with different women. Bond’s character is known as the ‘womanizer’, and this is something that makes him recognizable for his audience. Tony Garland describes this as follows: “By enabling Bond’s mission, the seduction of women performs a narrative function that not only drives the plot but also reinforces the expected conventions of a Bond film and asserts Bond’s role as an action hero” (Garland 180). The question arises in which extent women play a role in Bond’s life and what this means for the development of his character.
The fact that, according to Eco’s scheme, women are so important for the James Bond stories shows that it is not only Bond who makes the story. The way Bond interacts with women can tell a lot about the way Bond’s character is built. This thesis will show how Bond’s character is built around his interaction with different women throughout the films. That is why four different women will be introduced and analyzed according to the relationship they have with James Bond. These four
a different relationship with Bond. As a consequence they all contribute to a different piece of Bond’s character. Bond is the center point of this research. This research will show how the four women contribute to the characterization of Bond. They are all in a way connected to different pieces of Bond’s character through their way of interacting with him. Analyzing these different relationships will give a clear insight in Bond’s character and also in the way this character has developed throughout the years.
Theoretical framework
The James Bond films are all great successes and already cover 50 years of Hollywood cinema. This means that a lot of people have seen a Bond film and know his character. Male viewers can see Bond as a hero and as the ultimate example of what manhood is. For this research it is important to get to know the character of James Bond. A lot of research has already been conducted on James Bond himself. These researches can help to get a clearer insight into his character and the way he is received by the public.
Tony Bennett and Janes Woollacott wrote their book Bond and Beyond: The Political Career of a Popular Hero about Bond and how his character developed and changed over the years. They state that Bond is “a mythic figure who transcends his own variable incarnations. Bond is always identified with himself but is never quite the same – an ever mobile signifier” (Bennett and Woollacott 274). In this book Bennett and Woollacott analyze the character of James Bond and ask the question why this character has become so popular in the last fifty years. They state that Bond has not always been exactly the same character but he changed over time. Because the films and novels are so popular it doesn’t matter that Bond himself changes because he still stays the hero that people already knew. For this research it is also important to look at the way Bond developed throughout the years. Since the films are made in different decades, with a different zeitgeist, it is important to find out to what extent it affected the characterization of Bond. Bennett and Woollacott use the term popular hero, because that is a term that fits James Bond. It doesn’t matter if his character changed over time, one thing will always stay the same; the fact that he is a hero.
John Cork and Bruce Scivally wrote a book called James Bond: the legacy. They also state that the fact that Bond can be seen as a hero was really important for the time when he was introduced. At the end of the 1960s people needed a character like Bond after fighting the Cold War. The people needed a hero to start the new generation and Bond was the perfect example. Fleming’s novel showed a new way of the spy genre, which was different than people had seen before (Cork and Scivally 27). It showed a man who was able to do anything. He had gadgets and fast cars and above all he was a real womanizer. The character of James Bond showed an undefeatable English hero, who helped people start believing in the country again. In this way the Bond films were an important means to help people regain their trust in
politics and in the government. Cork and Scivally showed that the Bond franchise not only changed Hollywood, it also changed cultural and political thinking.
Christoph Lindner wrote a book about Bond called The James Bond phenomenon: a critical reader. Lindner describes the Bond formula as follows: “It is a formula of excess that blends together consumerism, tourism, and elitism with chauvinism, sexism, and voyeurism” (Lindner 3). All these different elements create a new kind of genre. Lindner wants to show that the Bond films are more than cheap thrills, fast cars and beautiful women. The Bond films made an impact on Hollywood cinema because they combine all those elements that Lindner describes. In this way the films show a way of life that fits the zeitgeist and helps people to understand the world.
In this research the main focus will be on James Bond, but also the female characters are important. This research focuses on female characters in the James Bond films through the lens of Bond’s character and the development of his personality. In this way it is also important to see what research is conducted about these female characters. One of the most known female character in the Bond films is the Bond girl. Various research is conducted on how the Bond girl acts next to James Bond and what this says about the way people look at women.
Robert Caplen wrote a book named Shaken & stirred: The feminism of James Bond. In this book Caplen talks about the Bond girls in the 60s and 70s. He states that these girls serve a feminine ideal. They show perfect flawless women who are ‘conquered’ by Bond. The Bond girl plays a subordinate role and the films mainly serve a male’s ultimate fantasy. But Caplen also sees a development in the female character. He states that the Bond girl transforms from a Bond girl to a Bond woman. This development was, according to Caplen, related to the changes through Women’s Liberation Movements (Caplen 25). In this way it proves that the female characters in the Bond films also develop according to the zeitgeist of the time the film is made. While women were fighting for equal rights also the Bond girls change into more independent women. The fact that these women change also has an impact on their relationship with Bond. This research investigates how these changes affect Bond’s character and in what aspects his character changes.
Kimberly Neuendorf wrote an article about women’s portrayals in James Bond films. She states that the female characters are also important in the Bond films. The film is not only about Bond: “Every Bond film has multiple female characters
who variously tempt, distract, and assist James in his latest mission” (Neuendorf 748). But besides that, Neuendorf states that the women are often depicted as strong powerful roles, but in reality “they are often identified as an adjunct to Bond (the male protagonist) or in terms of their relationship to other male characters” (750). They don’t have their own independent role in the film. They are always seen next to James Bond or in association with Bond. This shows, according to Neuendorf, a “stereotypical, sex-typed male attitude” that reflects on Western society (759). Neuendorfs argument about the importance of female characters in the Bond films is also an important argument for this research. Indeed it is often the case that the female characters are only seen in their relationship with the other male characters, especially James Bond. But this research emphasizes the importance of these female characters. This research points out that the relationship between Bond and the female characters is necessary and important for the characterization of James Bond. His character will not be James Bond without his interaction with these women. This demonstrates that the female characters are indeed important for the story and are not only subordinate. The fact that Neuendorf mentioned that there is a sex-typed male attitude that reflects on Western society shows that the way society thinks is also an important part of the James Bond stories. This shows that if society changes its view on woman rights and equality, the female characters will also change because their characters are based on the reflection of society’s view on women.
That is why Isodoor Jonker wrote a thesis about James Bond and Feminism. She conducted research about how the Bond girls developed over time and how the way of looking at these Bond girls changed. Jonker uses Laura Mulvey’s concept of ‘to be looked at ness’ to look at the Bond films and states that the women are mostly functioning as object for desire of the male gaze. Jonker discovers that throughout the years this way of looking at the Bond girls changes. In the newer Bond films there can also be a female gaze. Throughout the years Jonker shows that the female characters change from totally dependent into strong and confident women. In the last film that is analyzed, Casino Royale (2012) there is actually a shift towards seeing Bond as an object of desire. This research also shows that there is a link between the development of the Bond girls and the change of character of Bond. Because of the interaction between Bond and the female characters, it is necessary for Bond to also develop when the Bond girls do. That is why the focus point of this research is the relationship
researches contribute to this research because they show how the women developed over time and how this changes the representation of women throughout the years. The fact that these women changed and developed into more independent and powerful women also impacts Bond himself. Bond might be changed into a different character and his personality might also be changed due to the change of the Bond girls. This research wants to show the importance of the different women in Bond’s life and what this means for his character and also for the development of his character. As already seen in the scheme of Eco mentioned in the introduction, a Bond story is not complete without having at least one woman in it. This makes it really important to see what the interaction between Bond and these women means and how these women contribute to the development of James Bond’s character. To get a better insight into James Bond’s character and the role the interaction with women play in the development of his character, it is important to research theories on character interpretation and characterization in film. A couple of authors are known for their research on character analysis. Murray Smith wrote in his article Altered States: Character and Emotional Response in the Cinema’ about how viewers get attracted to the film through identification with a character. He created a model that he called the Structure of Sympathy (Smith 36). The relationship between the viewer and the character is divided into three levels: recognition, alignment and allegiance (39). For Uri Margolin characters are at first and foremost elements of the constructed narrative world. Character, he claims, is “a general semiotic element, independent of any particular verbal expression and ontologically different from it. If, in a similar vein, we consider characters to be elements of fictional worlds, which exist either as subjective mental entities or as inter-subjective communicative constructs, the question is what differentiates them from the other elements of the text” (Margolin quoted by Eder, Jannidis and Schneider 9). Margolin states that a character is a construction in a narrative world, which makes it a fictional object. The question arises what makes a character in a film different from a regular object and what makes it important to analyze. Jens Eder states that what makes a character different from these other objects, is the fact that a character has an “intentional inner life; that is by having perceptions, thoughts, motives, or emotions” (Eder 17). That is why Eder thinks characters are very important for the understanding of the film. He describes characters as “Identifiable fictional beings with an inner life that exist as
communicatively constructed artifacts” (Eder 18). Eder developed a model to analyze characters. This model he called “The clock of character”. This model will be used for this research because it combines different theories about character analysis and it helps to systematically analyze characters. Most of the other theories focus on selected aspects of characters, like Murray Smith focuses on how the viewer will get connected with the character. Eder’s model tries to grasp it all at once. It will help to create a clear insight into the different relationships between James Bond and the female characters in the Bond films. Further it will help to answer the question in what way these women contribute to the characterization of Bond’s persona. Eder’s clock of character suggest that a character has four aspects:
(Eder, Figure 4: The Clock of Character, 21)
When looking at the character of Bond and his interaction with women it is relevant to focus on the four aspects of Eder’s model. Eder states that relations between different characters can help to understand the protagonist: “Characters are usually perceived through comparisons with other characters, which emphasizes their proper features and developments” (31). In case of James Bond it can be noticed that there are a couple of women in his life who are important, and their relationship with Bond can say something about his character. These female characters and their relationship with Bond will be researched based on the four aspects of Eder’s model.
The first aspect is the character as artefact. By looking at the character as artefact it is important to research why this character is represented and what his or her role is in the story. This aspect will see where the different female characters that will be analyzed are shown in the film and what this means for their character and
research what the function of the character is and how the character contributes to the story. An important concern is the mode of representation (26). This shows how the character is represented in the story, but also shows why a certain actor or actress is chosen to play the role. This shows that also the casting of the actor is important. What kind of person is the character and why is this actor chosen to play this role. (26). Eder ascribes artefact properties to characters, like “realism, typification, complexity, consistency, transparency, dimensionality and dynamics (28). Looking at the different female characters as artefact gives a clearer insight into the position of these women in the story and into the importance of their interaction with James Bond.
The second aspect is the character as fictional being. Eder describes this aspect as follows: “What features and relations does the character possess as an inhabitant of a fictional world, and how does the character act and behave in this world?” (21). While looking at the different female characters as fictional being their relationship with Bond will be analyzed. Different fragments of Bond films will give examples of how these relationships are constructed and what they mean for the characterization of James Bond. Eder distinguishes three domains that will help to understand who the characters are and what their relationship is with Bond. The domains are corporeality, mind, and sociality (24). For this research the domain of sociality is important
because the relationship between the female characters and James Bond is the central focus point. While analyzing these relationships it is shown what the position of each female character is in relation to James Bond. Positions of power and status will be important, but also sexual attraction between the female and Bond. These elements affect the character of James Bond and contribute to his characterization.
The third aspect is the character as symbol. Eder describes this as follows: “The term “symbol” is to be understood here in a broad sense to comprise all forms of higher-level meanings, in which characters may function as signs of something else” (22). While looking at the different female characters as symbol it is shown how their character can be seen as a symbol for a ‘higher-level meaning’. The female character shows a kind of behavior in the interaction with James Bond, which symbolizes the character as something that is not directly mentioned in the film. It will show a deeper level in the film, which helps to understand the relationship between the female characters and Bond even better. It can give a clearer insight into what the makers of
the film intended by placing the female characters in the story and how they will help to make the story better and to get a better understanding of James Bond character.
The last aspect is the character as symptom. When characters are analyzed as symptoms, “the question concerns the causes in the production process that lead to their specific properties, and the effects of them on the viewers during and after reception” (32). With this last aspect is shown how the female characters contribute to the way viewers think about women in society. As mentioned earlier the Bond girls and also James Bond are developing over the years because of a changing zeitgeist. The female characters as symptom will show how these changes in society contribute to the changes in their characters and also to the change in the interaction and
relationship with James Bond.
Eder’s model gives a clear overview of the positions of the different female characters next to James Bond. It helps to understand the relation and
interaction between Bond and these women. It shows how a character is constructed and what role these women play in the construction of this character. Eder states that the constellation of characters is important in a film. The relations between the different characters tells a lot about each individual character, which in this case will be the character of James Bond (30). In the James Bond films there are a couple of important female characters that is analyzed in this research. These characters function as a constellation around James Bond and this research shows how these characters together make James Bond the way he is. To do this all the 26 Bond films are analyzed and a couple of films are selected because they clearly demonstrate the way the female characters and James Bond relate to each other. This research does not describe all Bond films but only the ones that contribute to this research by giving a clear view on the relationships between the female characters and James Bond. This is also because the main character of the films, James Bond, is always the same and also the story, as shown in Eco’s scheme, is similar in every film. That is why it is
important to focus on the characters and to analyze how they interact and how they change, especially because the story of each film is similar. The focus of this research is mainly on the female characters but it is important to mention that they are always analyzed in relation to James Bond’s character. This research shows that the
interaction of the female characters with James Bond contributes to the characterization of James Bond.
Chapter one: M
“M: I suppose... It's too late to make a run for it? Bond: Well, I'm game if you are.
M: I did get one thing right.”
Skyfall (2012) In this chapter the relation between M and Bond will be analyzed. M is a returning character in all Bond films and therefore also an important role. M is the head of the Secret Intelligent Service, also known as MI6. Since GoldenEye was released in 1995 M was played by a female actor, Judi Dench. M is different from the other women that will be discussed and analyzed, because she is not a woman that Bond can fall in love with. Halberstam states that the term masculinity is mostly associated with males but the Bond films show that M contributes to a female masculinity. Halberstam describes this as follows: “In contrast to the type of heteronormative, youth-centered femininity embodied by the ‘Bond Girl’, M’s authority derives from the professional hierarchy as Bond’s superior as well as her female masculinity” (Halberstam 3). In this way, M’s authority and the fact that she has the lead over a masculine man like James Bond, shows a different kind of woman in the Bond films. Where the Bond girls contribute to a stereotypical, heteronormative type, M shows that she is a powerful and strong woman who leads MI6 and has authority over Bond and is not afraid of that, regardless of her sex. Her part in the story is not a woman who is there to be seduced by Bond. Her task is much more serious. She is the only woman in the film who is superior over Bond. This gives M a power to control Bond. The interaction between Bond and M is different from the interaction of Bond with the other three types of women that will be discussed later.
M as artefact
For this research it is important to look at M’s character from the film Goldeneye (1995), when the actress Judi Dench plays M for the first time. The fact that M’s character changed from a male character to a female character is an important shift in the film. At first it was a man who gives Bond the orders and has the control over Bond, but now Bond has to listen to a female boss. In this way the relationship between James Bond and M has changed because of the changing of gender. Bond
has a different connection with M, because she is a woman. They have the feeling that they have to take care of each other. In this way the shift from a male to a female character gives M a different position in the story of the Bond films. M’s character is strict and serious and she knows how to control her agents. M is not afraid to do what needs to be done and she is very professional to her staff. M is shown as a tough woman. She has a short haircut and wears pant suits. Her appearance shows that she is a serious woman who deserves respect. In all Bond films M is called M and it is never clear what actually her full name is. This also makes her a little bit mysterious. She keeps everybody at a distance by not telling who she really is. Throughout the movies M is not a character that the viewer will get to know. She is the boss of Bond and she doesn’t want to show more than she needs to show. In the story M is there at the beginning to give Bond his new task. Throughout the film she only appears when Bond gets himself in trouble and MI6 needs to fix it. This already shows that M overpowers Bond. She only appears at his weakest moments. At these moments M is not happy with Bond and the way he handles things. She always thinks he can do better. She feels like he always makes a mess of everything. In this way the relationship between Bond and M shows Bond in a very different spot than the relationship between Bond and the other three types of women. While interacting with M, Bond’s failures become clear and his weaknesses are shown. He needs help from M to get the job done. With the other women he always stays in control. He is always the one who takes care of everything.
M as fictional being
Bond and M have a business relationship. They are both people who take their job serious and are willing to do anything to succeed. In this way Bond and M can work together pretty well because they both have the same urge. On the other side they also have a hard time with trusting other people. They like to do things their way. In the film this often leads to a clash between the two of them. In this way the relationship between M and Bond can be seen as a battle about who is in control. A couple examples from Bond films show that M is willing to give everything to make the mission successful, even if that means that she has to give up Bond. All these times Bond survives but he and M end in a fight, because Bond is mad about the decision M has made. In Die Another Day (2002) M and Bond meet at an underground station
that is no longer used. Bond calls it “An abandoned station for an abandoned agent” after Bond was tortured in a North-Korean prison without M rescuing him:
Bond: You burn me. And now you want my help? M: What did you expect? An apology?
Bond: I know you’ll do whatever it takes to get the job done M: Just like you!
Bond: The difference is I won’t compromise
M: Well, I don’t have the luxury of seeing things as black and white
M makes it clear to Bond that she did what had to be done and that this was the only way. She is very professional because she shows that it is all about the job and not about Bond as a person. She is happy that he is okay and she wants to continue working together like nothing happened. Bond doesn’t like the way M handled it but he will always come back to her because he loves his job. Just like M he will do whatever it takes. This example shows how Bond and M are both willing to do whatever it takes, but they don’t like it when the other one is in control. Bond knows that M made the right decision, but he doesn’t want to admit that. This is because of his stubbornness and the fact that he wasn’t able to handle the situation.
A second example takes place in Skyfall (2012) where M gave the order to Moneypenny to “take the bloody shot”:
Bond: What was it you said? “Take the bloody shot” M: I made a judgment call
Bond: You should have trusted me to finish the job
M: It was the possibility of losing you or the certainty of losing all those other agents. I made the only decision I could and you know it.
Bond: I think you lost your nerve
M: What do you expect, a bloody apology? You know the rules of the game. You’ve been playing it long enough. We both have.
Bond: Maybe too long. M: Speak for yourself.
Again Bond is mad about the decision that M made. It is not about giving him up, but about the lack of trust M has in him. That makes him mad. This also shows that Bond and M both want to be in control. They expect from each other to trust one another, but in the end the only one they trust is themselves.
These two examples show that Bond can’t handle the fact that M is in control. She has the authority over him and she can decide whatever she thinks is best. Bond is stubborn and wants to do things his way. He doesn’t always trust M’s decisions. That is why the relationship between M and Bond is most of all a battle of power. Bond knows that M is the boss and that she is in control, but he always tries to do things a little different than M ordered him.
They don’t only show this behavior in their way of working together. They also show this behavior in their protectiveness towards each other. They act like they are battling about who can take care of who the best. M is often worried about Bond and wants to know where he is and if he is safe. Most of the time this is just because she doesn’t trust that he can get the job done. A couple of examples show how M is worried about Bond and his well-being. When Bond is appears at M’s place in Skyfall (2012, M says: “A shower might be in order”. In Quantum of Solace (2008) she again talks about Bond’s appearance: “You look like hell. When is the last time you slept?”. In these examples M shows that she is worried about Bond’s well-being. However she makes this clear in a way that looks like she only wants to point out his weaknesses.
Another example shows the opposite. In Quantum of Solace (2008) Bond mentions in a conversation with Bond girl Camille that M likes to think of herself as Bond’s mother:
Camille: So what’s your interest in Greene?
Bond: Amongst other things, he tried to kill a friend of mine. Camille: A Woman?
Bond: Yes. But it’s not what you think. Camille: Your mother?
Bond: She likes to think so.
Bond wants to show Camille that M is just like an overprotective mother who needs to be saved by him in order for Bond to get control. He wants to put her in that
All these examples show the battle between Bond and M about who is in the lead. They actually look a lot like each other because they are both too stubborn to admit that they need each other. They both want to convince each other that they know what needs to be done. The fact that M has the actual control and the authority over Bond, gets Bond in a weaker position than the position M is in. That is why most of the time Bond is doing his own thing and doesn’t listen to M. He can’t handle the fact that she has the power over him.
M as symbol
In his book The life of Ian Fleming, Pearson states the following: “There is reason for thinking that a more telling lead to the real identity of M lies in the fact that as a boy Fleming often called his mother M. [...] While Fleming was young, his mother was certainly one of the few people he was frightened of, and her sternness toward him, her unexplained demands, and her remorseless insistence on success find a curious and constant echo in the way M handles that hard-ridden, hard-killing agent, 007” (Pearson 235). The way Bond interacts with M is inspired by the way Fleming interacted with his own mother. While analyzing the relationship between Bond and M it is noticed that the way they interact symbolizes a mother-son relationship. Krainitzki states that: “Associating M with a mother figure might derive from a need to heterosexualise a visibly masculine woman in a position of authority” (Krainitzki 11). The fact that M, as a female character, has the authority over Bond looks a lot like the way a mother has the authority over her son. As mentioned earlier the interaction between Bond and M often feels like a battle about power. They can’t stand each other ways of handling things and in itself they trust each other, but in the end they always trust their own methods more. But still they both love their job and they always return to each other. They know they can’t live without doing their jobs, so they also can’t live without each other. That’s why they don’t turn their back to each other when one of them is in serious danger. When Silva wants to kill M, Bond only trusts himself by performing the task to protect her. This shows a lot about how much he cares about M. Although he would never admit it, M is one of the most important persons in his life. She really knows him and she is always there for him, even when he doesn’t want her to be there. Until her death it is clear that they are in it together and that they will always be there for each other. This was also clear when M
thought that in the film Skyfall, Moneypenny killed Bond. M was the one that wrote his obituary, which shows that she is an important person in his life and that she knows him better than anyone else. When M is dying it is Bond who stands beside her until the end. In the last conversation between Bond and M she asks him if “It is too late to make a run for it” and he says, “I’m game if you are”. This shows that Bond will always go with her wherever she goes. Then she looks him into his eyes and she says: “At least I got one thing right”. She knows Bond will always help her. They understand and trust each other although they are very different and often have a different opinion about how to finish the job. She can rest in peace because she knows that Bond will be all right and will take care of everything that needs to be done. She trusts him to take control.
M as symptom
There is a clear difference between M as a female character compared to the other female characters that will be discussed. M is the only woman that does not have a “love” relation with Bond. This leads to a different interaction between male and female. M is a strong woman who knows what she wants. She is very professional and serious about her job. The fact that M, as a female character, has the role of a leader in the Bond films shows that although Bond, as a male, is always the hero, also women can have an important part in fighting crime. M is a woman who would never let anyone stand in the way of her career, especially no male.
It is also clear that there will never be a sexual intention in the relation between Bond and M. M has the authority over Bond and she will never be seduced by his charms. At first this shows that not every woman will fall for his charms and secondly, that Bond can’t control every woman in his life. In this way his relationship with M makes him look weaker compared to his relationships with the other female characters. M is the only woman in Bond’s life who has a position above him and who has the authority to make decisions for him. He acts like he doesn’t like this, but he knows he needs her. That is why at the end of her life he does everything to save her. When she dies he is very said. M’s character is a character with minimal emotions. She always looks strict and serious and does not get distracted from doing her job. M’s character shows that women can have a leading role. It shows that women can have a serious job where they have the authority over men, even over a
M’s character definitely affects the characterization of James Bond’s character. M is the first one who has contact with Bond in the films. In this way she functions as an entrance for the viewer to introduce James Bond. She is the one that puts him to work and she is the one that makes it able for him to be a hero. On the other side she puts Bond in a weaker position, because she, as a female character, has the authority over Bond. Although they battle about having the control, M always stays his boss. Throughout the missions she functions as a moral compass because she keeps Bond on track and shows him his mistakes and how he can do better. In this way she again is the one who makes Bond the hero, because without her guidance he is just as bad as the villain by killing a lot of people. M gives Bond boundaries, wherein he can still be himself, but with a little help of M. This is also why M symbolizes a mother figure. She criticizes his working methods, but at the end she is always there for him to clean up his mess. The relationship with M changes Bond into a better agent and perhaps the fact that he is able to handle female authority makes him even a bigger hero than he already is.
Chapter two: Moneypenny
“Bond: What do you know about gold, Moneypenny?
Moneypenny: The only gold I know about is the kind you wear on the third finger of your left hand.
Bond: One of these days we really must look in to that”
Goldfinger (1964)
In this chapter the relationship between Moneypenny and Bond is analyzed. Moneypenny is M’s secretary who also helps Bond in his missions. Moneypenny is, besides Bond himself, one of the characters that returns in every film. In this way Moneypenny plays an important role in looking at James Bond’s character. Moneypenny doesn’t play a big part in the film, but she and Bond always have a moment together. The moments between Bond and Moneypenny often show that they really like each other. It even feels like Moneypenny has a little crush on Bond. Looking at Bond’s character it is impossible to go for only one woman in his life. As Jenkins states: “Men had to sacrifice domestic relationships to be effective intelligence officers for their country, men like Bond not only earned a license to kill, but also a license to love whomever and whenever” (Jenkins 313). Although Bond’s ‘license to love whomever and whenever’, the way he interacts with Moneypenny shows that he really cares for here. This is different from the way he interacts with the Bond girls and Villain girls, which is more a game of seduction. In case of Moneypenny the interaction is more in a loving way. He often calls her darling and caresses her. It demonstrates that Bond has a different side, a caring side.
Moneypenny as artefact
Throughout the years four different actresses played the role of Moneypenny. Each actress played Moneypenny as a slightly different persona compared to the other actresses. The way each actress interprets the role also influences the way Moneypenny interacts with Bond. This makes it interesting to analyze these differences. Lois Maxwell was the first one to play the role of Moneypenny. She played the role of Moneypenny from the first film Dr. No (1962) until A View To A Kill (1985). Maxwell plays a very classy Moneypenny. She is a middle-aged woman,
always dresses properly. Often she wears a neat skirt and a turtleneck blouse. Her haircut is neat and she always wears pearl earrings and a pearl necklace. After Maxwell Caroline Bliss took over the role and played Moneypenny in The Living Daylights (1987) and License To Kill (1989). Bliss is a bit younger than Maxwell. She only played in two Bond films. Bliss dresses similar as Maxwell. Although still very neat, Bliss wears big glasses. This makes her nerdier and less attractive than Maxwell. Also Bliss is less flirty to Bond. She interacts with him in a formal way. From GoldenEye (1995) until Die Another Day (2002) Samantha Bond played Moneypenny. She plays Moneypenny as a more tough and independent woman than the two actresses played before her. Many times she criticizes Bond and gives him her opinion. She is still dressed formally but her haircut is short and bold. In the last two films Skyfall (2012) and Spectre (2015) Naomi Harris plays Moneypenny. When Naomi Harris started to play Moneypenny she was much more involved in Bond’s missions. Harris is a younger girl, helping Bond in the field. She even accidently shoots Bond on a mission, but of course Bond forgives her. Because of her work in the field there is more interaction between Bond and Moneypenny in these two films.
Every Bond film has one or two scenes showing a moment between Moneypenny and Bond. These moments are recognizable and returning moments in the film. Although it looks like it is not important these moments have a couple of functions. At first the moment functions as an entrance to the ‘normal’ world. Each Bond film starts with a heavy action scene followed by the title sequence. After that there is a moment between Moneypenny and Bond. These moments lead the viewer to the office life where the situation normalizes. Secondly, the character of Moneypenny also makes a connection between Bond and M and functions as an entrance to their relationship. The moments also show that Moneypenny and Bond have built a relationship and they know each other very well. They are playful towards each other and flirt while they are working on a mission. Because Moneypenny is a returning character, she knows Bond and she knows how he acts. In this way the viewer will also get to know Bond a little bit better through his moments with Moneypenny. Moneypenny is not afraid to criticize Bond and she also makes jokes about him and about all the different women he has been with. It shows a different side of Bond than the side that is shown in the other parts of the film. In most parts Bond is the mysterious hero who rescues the girl and defeats the villain. Moneypenny makes Bond a more ‘normal’ man. Their moments together make the viewer step out of the
action story into the ‘normal’ life. In the relationship with Moneypenny, Bond shows a different side of himself. He cares about her and he wants to take care of her. He tries to be a gentleman instead of a womanizer. Through the interaction with Moneypenny the viewer will get to know another side of Bond’s character a little bit better.
Moneypenny as fictional being
A couple of things can be noticed in the way Bond and Moneypenny interact with each other. In all James Bond films, Bond is going after a Bond girl and they always fall in love with each other. In his relationship with Moneypenny it also looks like Bond has a romantic connection, but not in the same way as the connection with the Bond girl. Bond and Moneypenny really like to play the game of loving each other. They do this in an ironic way by imitating a ‘normal’ way of falling in love and being a couple. In this way Moneypenny also functions as an entrance to the ‘normal way of life’ in contrast with all the adventures Bond has. When Bond and Moneypenny are together they like to make jokes and fantasize about having a ‘normal’ life and how it feels to be married. One way of doing this is by referring to marriage through a diamond ring. Many times in conversations between Moneypenny and Bond they refer to a ring, especially when they talk about their relationship. The quote from Goldfinger (1964) mentioned at the beginning of the chapter is one of these examples. But this is not the only time. In Diamonds are Forever (1971) Moneypenny is undercover to help Bond cross the border at the border control. Bond compliments her appearance and he wants to bring something for her from Amsterdam:
Bond: What can I bring you back? Moneypenny: A Diamond? In a ring? Bond: Would you settle for a tulip? Moneypenny: Yes!
This example shows that they like to play games. They know each other well, so they know they can joke about this. In The World is not Enough (1999) Moneypenny makes another direct reference to a marriage:
Moneypenny: James! Have you brought me a souvenir from your trip? A box of chocolates? An engagement ring?
Bond: I thought you might enjoy one of these… (a cigar)
Moneypenny: How romantic… I know exactly where to put that (throws it in the trash)
Bond: Oh Moneypenny… The story of our relationship… Close. But no cigar. Again this shows that Moneypenny and Bond really like to act like they are in love and if they want to get married. But in real life this will never happen. They both know that. As mentioned before, quoted by Jenkins, a man like James Bond cannot have a relationship with one woman.
While the way Bond and Moneypenny are interacting is most of the time a game of irony, it also reveals some characteristics of Bond. It is well known that Bond is a womanizer and women are an important part of his life. That is also why Bond really wants to stay in control with all these women and he wants to be dominant. He wants every woman to be available for him. Although the relationship with Moneypenny is just a game, he still likes to have her close and ‘available’. In the games they play together, Bond shows that he is jealous when Moneypenny is meeting other guys. Although this is part of their game, it often feels like Bond really doesn’t like it when this happens. He doesn’t like it when things don’t go as he wants them to go and when he can’t control the situation. That is also why he secretly doesn’t like it when Moneypenny acts in a way Bond normally acts, flirting with others. In GoldenEye (1995) Bond and Moneypenny are in the office after office hours. Moneypenny is formerly dressed wearing a black long dress:
Bond: Good evening, Moneypenny
Moneypenny: Good evening, James. M will meet you in the situation room; I want to take you straight in.
Bond: Never seen you after hours Moneypenny, lovely Moneypenny: Thank you James!
Bond: Out on some kind of professional assignment, dressing to kill?
Moneypenny: You will find this crushing 007, but I don’t sit at home every night praying for an international incident, so I can run down here all dressed
up to impress James Bond. I was on a date if you must know, with a gentleman. We went to the theatre together.
Bond: Oh Moneypenny! I’m devastated. What would I ever do without you? Moneypenny: As far as I can remember, you never had me.
Bond makes it clear to Moneypenny that he doesn’t like it when she has a date with other men. Bond wants to have Moneypenny available when he needs her, but Moneypenny makes clear that Bond doesn’t own her. This example shows that Bond really cares for Moneypenny. He again gives her compliments about her appearance, which is of course also part of the game. But besides that he knows that she will always be there for him, even after office hours, which is not necessarily part of their game. The fact that she leaves a date shows that she cares for Bond and she wants to help him wherever she can. In this way it also feels like Moneypenny might feel more for Bond that she wants to admit. Another example; in Skyfall (2012) it becomes clear that Bond doesn’t like the fact that Moneypenny dates with other guys. When Bond calls Moneypenny in the middle of the night to help him on his mission, he hears her talking to someone in her apartment:
Bond: Who was that? Moneypenny: No one Bond: No it wasn’t
Moneypenny: It was just a friend Bond: At this time of night…?
Moneypenny: It is called life, James, you should try it sometimes.
These examples still show the game Bond and Moneypenny are playing, but the difference with the other examples is the fact that there is less irony here. Bond asks immediately who the guy is she is talking to and it is not in a funny joking way anymore. It seems more serious. He really doesn’t like it. Moneypenny also seems to be a little irritated by his comment, especially because usually it is Bond who is fooling around with different girls. Of course being jealous can be seen as a part of their game, but the fact that it feels less ironic now and the fact that it is after office hours, also shows that their game is not completely ironic. Maybe Bond is really
Moneypenny as symbol
The fact that Moneypenny and Bond often joke about being or getting married, or act like they are in love with each other, is a reaction to the fact that James Bond will never have that kind of life. As a special agent Bond is always travelling and fighting crime everywhere in the world. For Bond there is no way of having a ‘normal’ life or being married to someone. He likes his life as 007. Being with one woman would make his job impossible. But in his relationship with Moneypenny he also shows that he likes to take care of someone. He likes it that Moneypenny is always available and he can be with her whenever he wants. That is why the relationship between
Moneypenny and Bond symbolizes a marriage. They are both returning characters in the Bond series. That already makes their relationship different from the relationship between Bond and the Bond girls. Bond and Moneypenny know each other and trust each other. The scenes between Bond and Moneypenny are most of the time at the beginning and at the end of the film. When Bond walks into Moneypenny’s office he always throws his hat on the coatrack. It seems like when Bond is with Moneypenny it feels for him like coming home.They don’t really want that kind of life, but sometimes they just long for it. That is why they play ‘the game of marriage’ to fill that emptiness. The interaction with Moneypenny also shows that Bond is capable of caring for someone for a longer time. The fact that he is jealous when she is dating other men shows that Bond really cares for her and wants her to be safe.
Moneypenny as symptom
Compared to the Bond girl Moneypenny is a really different character. Both characters are women in Bond’s life but they interact different with him. Moneypenny and Bond have a relationship that holds in every film. Bond respects Moneypenny and he takes her seriously. She is, just like M, a woman who has a serious job and she wants to be treated that way. Brabazon describes her character as follows: “Moneypenny is an active, intelligent, and demanding woman, claiming her right and reminding Bond that he is accountable for his actions” (Brabazon 493). Moneypenny is an attractive woman. In that she is not different from the Bond girls. What makes her different is that she doesn’t allow men to only see her as an object of desire. She likes to play with Bond, to make jokes and flirt with him. As soon as he says that he doesn’t like what she is doing, she tells him that he doesn’t own her and she can make her own decisions. Moneypenny is put down as an independent woman, who doesn’t
necessarily needs a man in her life. She is able to take care of herself. The characters of Moneypenny and M show that not every woman in the Bond films is put down as an object of desire. Not every girl turns into a Bond girl as soon as Bond lays his hands on her.
The game that Bond and Moneypenny are playing shows that Bond can be a real gentleman and is able to be a good husband. It shows that he is capable to show affection to women. However in real life he just chooses not to show that, or show his affection in a different way to multiple women instead of one. The relationship between Moneypenny and Bond shows a side of Bond that is different than the relationships between Bond and the Bond girl or the Villain girl. It shows that he does care for other people and that he feels comfortable with Moneypenny. Moneypenny’s character also contributes to the characterization of James Bond by giving the viewer access to another part of Bond’s character. Moneypenny shows another part of Bond’s character by being honest to him. She doesn’t eulogize him, but is critical about Bond’s way of dealing with women. The viewer needs this honesty of Moneypenny to see Bond as a more credible person. Moneypenny shows the viewer that even a character like James Bond is not perfect, which makes him a more real and genuine person.
Chapter three: Bond girl
Honey Ryder: Looking for shells? Bond: No. I’m just looking.
Dr. No (1962) In the first two chapters the two recurring female characters, M and Moneypenny have been discussed. This chapter is also focused on a recurring female character but in a different way than the previous two. While James Bond himself can be seen as the main character of the Bond films, it is not only him that is important for the story. As Umberto Eco showed in his essay: the story of James Bond is always centered on a meeting, a meeting with a girl. Throughout the years the concept of the ‘Bond girl’ came up and this character, besides the character of Bond himself, can be seen as one of the most important characters of the Bond films. Tony Garland states that: “The seduction of women performs a narrative function that not only drives the plot but also reinforces the expected conventions of a Bond film and it asserts Bond’s role as an action hero” (Garland 180). The Bond girl is important because the way Bond interacts with this woman demonstrates a lot about his character. The fact that Bond always gets the girl and she always falls desperately in love with him shows that Bond knows how to interact with women in order to get them where he wants them to be. The Bond girl as artefact
The concept of the Bond girl shows that there is a returning pattern in the Bond films, which causes that every time Bond meets a girl he likes, he will end up with her. In all the Bond films that are made there has been a different Bond girl. These Bond girls are all very different women, with different appearances, ethnicities and characters. It shows that it is not a type of women that can be called a Bond girl. The most
important thing that these women have in common is that they, being the girl of Bond, fall for his charms. This character is different than the two characters discussed in the previous chapters because it is not one female who has an established relationship with Bond. Every film this relationship has to originate again, which makes it a different relationship to analyze. For this chapter it is important to find out if there is a pattern in the way Bond interacts with these different women and also in what way this pattern has developed over the years. What is his strategy and what characteristics
do the females have that cause them to fall in love with Bond every time. Since the first film Dr. No was released in 1962 until Spectre in 2015, 25 women had the privilege to be the love of James Bond. Of course only for a little while, because everybody knows that James Bond is not a man who is ready to settle down. While analyzing the 25 different women who can be called a Bond girl a couple of
similarities can be recognized between these women. First of all is their age. All women are between 25 and 35 years old. This is definitely younger than James Bond himself. Another similarity is their beauty. The women are all very different but they have in common that they are all nice to look at for men. The fact that these young beautiful women are all falling for the charms of the older James Bond raises the question what it is that James Bond makes himself so admirable.
The Bond girl as fictional being
In the way Bond interacts with his Bond girls he uses a very direct approach. Most of the time he asks them on a date or arranges a meeting in a way that he already knows the outcome. This causes for the Bond girl that she can’t decline his offer. In the interaction Bond also shows some sort of arrogance. He always knows already that they want him. He is never insecure. This makes him attractive for the Bond girls. He is never reserved or cautious. If he wants to kiss the girl, he is going to kiss her and it doesn’t matter for him if she wants it or not. She has to. This arrogance of Bond is never a turn off for these women. This is who Bond is and to be wanted by Bond is something that every woman will dream about. A couple examples show Bond’s strategy while seducing his women. In the film Dr. No (1962), Bond meets Sylvia Trench in the casino:
Bond: Tell me, Miss Trench, do you play any other games? Besides Chemin de Fer?
Sylvia Trench: Hmm. Golf, amongst other things. Bond: Tomorrow afternoon, then.
Sylvia Trench: Tomorrow? Let me see…
Bond: And we could have dinner afterwards, perhaps?
Sylvia Trench: Sounds tempting. May I let you know in the morning? Bond: Splendid. My number is on the card.
If a woman impresses Bond, he acts like it right away. Bond is not afraid to ask someone out and with asking Trench if she likes to play other games, it is obvious where he is aiming for. In the way he asks her to go out with him, it is almost no question but rather an imposition. He wants her to come and he knows that she wants it too, even if she is not saying yes right away. In this example the arrogance of Bond is already notable through the fact that he is confident with women because he knows they want him. In the next example he is even taking it a step further when he meets Miss Taro, also in Dr. No (1962):
Miss Taro: No. I have the afternoon off.
Bond: There’s a coincidence. So have I. Why don’t you show me round the island? Miss Taro: What should I say to an invitation from a strange gentleman?
Bond: You should say yes. Miss Taro: I should say maybe.
Bond: Three o’clock, my hotel, maybe? Miss Taro: Yes, maybe.
Bond: Good.
When Bond was asking Sylvia Trench to go out with him, he was decent to wait for her answer until the next morning, but with Miss Taro he is not taking no for an answer. He makes it pretty clear that the only right answer to give him is to say yes to this date. Where she had doubts at first, he takes this away by saying she should just say yes. Although she still ends with saying ‘yes, maybe’ it is clear that they will go on a date. This shows that Bond has some sort of control over these women and he can get them whenever and wherever he wants.
In this way it feels like the Bond girls are only part of the story to show Bond as a womanizer, as a man that is beloved and to show that he is in charge and he can take whomever he wants to take. This is actually not the case, Caplen mentions: “The Bond girls are essential components of the plot, aiding Bond throughout his various missions” (Caplen 53). It is not only for sex and love that Bond needs the Bond girls, they are actually part of the story and the mission he is on and they play their part in it. Christine Bold also noted this: “Bond frequently depends on women to guide him through the enemy territory of his exotic locations […] As often as Bond snatches women from the jaws of death, they repay the compliment” (Bold 313). Bond needs
the Bond girl in a way that she can help him gather information or distract the enemy with her beauty. It is never just about caressing his ego, by getting them to fall in love with him. But still the way Bond interacts with these women, even though sometimes it is not for love but to get information, is typical for Bond. The way he interacts with them will always be like a gentleman who wants to impress his lady. This becomes clear when Bond tries to get information out of Marie in Diamonds are Forever (1971):
Marie: Who are you?
Bond: My name is Bond. James Bond.
Marie: Is there something I can do for you? (seductively)
Bond: Yes, as a matter of fact, there is. There is something I’d like you to get off your chest (takes her bikini top off, but strangles her with it) Where is Ernst Stavro
Blofeld? (she is almost choking) Speak up darling, I can’t hear you.
In this example Bond starts the conversation with the lady in exactly the same way as he did in one of the previous examples with Sylvia Trench. He introduces himself in a charming way, something that is recognizable for him. After that he right away makes a move towards her. Marie flirts with him and she is not aware of Bond’s intentions. It is obvious here that Bond uses the way he normally acts when he interacts with women in a romantic way, also to get information. He knows this strategy will work, because he knows it always works on every woman. As they will be distracted by his charms he can easily use it to get the information he needs. The following example shows that Bonds even takes it a step further to get what he want.
In Spectre (2015) Bond saves the life of Lucia Sciarra when two men are trying to shoot her. Lucia was the wife of Marco Sciarra, who Bond had liquidated a couple days ago. Bond wants to find out where he can find the organization where Sciarra was part of and that is why he wants to meet Lucia to gather information. At first Lucia warns him that it is dangerous and she doesn’t want to say anything. Bond starts to seduce her by kissing her neck and pushing her against the mirror in a sensual way. Lucia gets distracted by Bonds charms and gives him the information he needs. She asks him what his name is and Bond uses his usual sentence to introduce himself ‘I’m Bond, James Bond’. Throughout the conversation he gives her a couple of
She tries to let him stay but he is determined and leaves. Again here it is obvious how Bond uses his charms to get the information he wants. At first he starts by saving her life, which will already impress the lady. After that he introduces himself in his famous way, starts to make compliments and touches her gently but sensual. She falls for it, tells him what he needs to know and he leaves. Garland also states “desire and duty are closely connected in the character of Bond [..]. Bond exemplifies a genuine enjoyment of sex that extends beyond mere manipulation and allows him to extract information from women” (Garland 180).
Another important aspect of Bonds way of interacting with the Bond girl is the fact that he never stays with them longer than he needs to. Bennett and Woollacott stated that “the Bond girl, reflected, freedom, sexual independence, and a release from ‘constraints of family, marriage and domesticity” (Caplen 13). It is obvious that Bond loves women and he needs women in his life, but there is something else that is more important for him and that is his freedom. Bond does not want a relationship with any of the Bond girls because he wants to be able to do whatever he wants to do. Not only in his love life but also for his career it is important that he is free to do whatever he wants. As mentioned earlier the Bond girls also have a narrative function in a way that they help Bond gather information for his missions. If Bond had someone back at home who was waiting for him, he could not do this job like he is doing it now. Bond needs his charms to get the job done and that is why Bond will never be in a serious relationship with someone. Bond loves his job and that is why he knows that it will never be anything serious with this girls. This does not mean that Bond is not capable to feel emotions for these women. This becomes clear in Casino Royale (2012) where Bond meets Bond girl Vesper Lynd. Throughout the film it is clear that Bond
develops feelings for her, which puts him in a position where he has to choose between work and love. In this example it becomes clear that for Bond it is not possible to have both the girl and his job.
Vesper Lynd: You’re not going to let me in there, are you? You’ve got your armor back on. That’s that.
Bond: I have no armor left. You’ve stripped it from me. Whatever is left of me.. Whatever I am… I’m yours.
[….]
Vesper Lynd: You love me?
Bond: Enough to quit and float the world with you until one of us has to find an honest job. But I think that’s gonna have to be you. I’ve no idea what an honest job is.
Vesper Lynd: You’re serious?
Bond: Like you said, you do what I do for too long and there won’t be any soul left to salvage. I’m leaving with what little I have left. Is that enough for you?
(Bond writes an email to M): I hereby tender my resignation with immediate effect.
Bond shows here that it is indeed not possible to have both the girl and the job. Because he falls desperately in love with Vesper Lynd he wants to quit his job to be with her. This is unusual behavior for Bond because normally he would never let the girl come before the job. But this also shows that Bond is capable of loving and that he is not only seducing those girls just for fun. Bond always treats women with respect. The example of Vesper Lynd is an exception of the normal pattern of James Bond interaction with the Bond girl and after Vesper dies and Bond learns that she was just playing with him, this will probably not happen again. The normal behavior of Bond and the Bond girl is that it will never be anything serious. While Bond looks like the perfect man in the eyes of the Bond girls this is something that will always be a breaking point: Bond wants and needs his freedom. A couple examples show how Bond makes it clear to his Bond girls that they should not expect anything serious to happen between them. In Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) Bond meets with Paris Carver, a woman that he has a history with:
Bond: I always wondered how I’d feel if I ever saw you again. Paris slaps him in the face.
Bond: Now I know. Was it something I said?
Paris Carver: How about the words “I’ll be right back”? Bond: Something came up.
