Question

Who are the main characters in The Spy?

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The main character of The Spy is Harvey Birch, the protagonist, who spies for the American Revolutionaries. Other important characters are Mr. Wharton, who sides with the British; his son Henry, a captain in the British army; and his daughters Sarah and Frances. Henry’s superior officer, Colonel Wellmere, is romantically interested in Sarah, while another British officer, Major Dunwoodie, is involved with Frances. A mysterious stranger, Mr. Harper, turns out to be George Washington in disguise.

Answer

The plot of James Fennimore Cooper’s novel The Spy, which takes place during the American Revolution, revolves around the identities and disguises of several men who might be loyal to their cause or secretly helping the other side.
The titular spy is the novel’s protagonist, Harvey Birch, who is a peddler. Much of the action takes place at the home of Birch’s neighbor Mr. Wharton, who is a British sympathizer. His two daughters, Sarah and Frances, live with their father and his sister. His son Henry, a captain in the British army, is mistakenly thought to be spying for the Americans.
Along with the secrets and deceptions regarding the spies, the daughters’ romances form another element of the plot. The British Colonel Wellmere’s attachment to Sarah corresponds to Major Dunwoodie’s being matched with Frances. The character of Mr. Harper proves very significant at the end. This mysterious stranger, who visits the house early in the novel, is later revealed to be the Revolutionary general George Washington.
The confusion about Henry Wharton’s allegiance occupies a fair share of the plot. Although he is loyal to the British, he is suspected of spying for the Revolutionaries. The charges against him are serious enough that he is tried for espionage. Connected to Henry’s case is the identity of the true spy, Birch. He actually is spying for the Americans, although many suspect him of working for the British. It is ultimately Harper/Washington who clears Henry.
Another important, though minor character, helps tie up the plot’s ends. Frances did marry Major Dunwoodie, and years later, their son Wharton meets Birch just before the old spy’s death.

The Spy

Who are the main characters in The Spy?

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