DefinePK

Abstract

This study aims to expose the experiences of the central figure, Mata Hari, in becoming an independent woman. The Spy by Paulo Coelho is a biography of Mata Hari, the famous erotic dancer and courtesan who was executed for espionage during World War I. Mata Hari was accused of selling military secrets to the Germans. The novel is written as a letter from Mata Hari to her lawyer while in prison. Mata Hari, whose real name was Margaretha Zelle, was born in Leeuwarden. She was from a Dutch family. Due to domestic issues, her parents sent her away to school in another city, Leiden. She married a Dutch army officer named Rudolf Macleod and moved to Java, where she suffered abuse by her husband and eventually returned to Europe. She transformed into Mata Hari in Paris, representing herself as a Javanese princess trained in sacred dance. Her performances and mysterious persona made her a sensation among Europe’s elite, granting her access to powerful men in political and military circles. Her frequent journeys and relationships with men from different countries attracted suspicion during World War I. Both the French and the Germans approached her for espionage, and she became embroiled in a dangerous game. Despite weak evidence, the French arrested her in 1917, accusing her of being a German double agent. Her trial was more of a political theatre than a fair judicial process, and she was ultimately convicted and executed by a firing squad.