Nationalism
Nationalism is one of the central themes in the book. Gordon Gregg, the central character and protagonist of the story, dwells upon this motif repeatedly throughout the plot. Even when he is face to face with the villainous Baron Oberg on the latter’s own field of jurisdiction, he stands fearlessly as a British subject trusting to the greatness and justice of his own country for protection. In this manner, the value of Great Britain is depicted in the novel, not only for those who belong to it, but even to those who seek it as a refuge like the Russian Elma Heath and the Italian servant Olinto.
Truth and Justice
The quest of Gordon Gregg, the protagonist of the story, is one of truth and justice. He follows the mystery of one night’s burglary in Italy back to England and Scotland, and then through Russia and into the deepest recesses of Finland in order to clarify and throw light upon it. When his mission proves dangerous, Gordon neither flinches nor recoils. He perseveres in his task of helping the needy, and bringing the just punishment on the villains. In this manner, truth and justice are given a prominent position in the development of both plot and characters of The Czar’s Spy.
Good vs. Evil
The characters of the novel are divided into two main categories; one serving the forces of evil while the other is trying to make justice prevail. This conflict between what is good and what is bad is at the core of the plot as it identifies the motifs and drives behind the different acts of the different characters. Although justice and truth prevail at the end, Le Queux gives his characters and the sequence of events in his book a realistic touch by granting the evil characters the amount of power and influence which they enjoy in real life. Elma Heath, by way of illustration, suffers at the hands of her antagonists, and becomes both mute and dumb for a long portion of her life in spite of the fact that she is the heroine of the story.
Double Dealing and Identity
The concept of identity is strongly present in the book. Many important characters display more than one persona and identity. The most prominent illustration is maybe that of Philip Hornby, who is also known as Martin Woodroffe or Dick Archer. This exhibition of multiple identities is a clear allusion to double dealings and social corruption. The novel dwells upon the latter issue in connection with politics and power, but also in regard of social relations as well. In spite of the fact that the main antagonist of the novel is of Finnish origins, the most remarkable fraud in the story remains Hornby, who is a British subject. The conclusion that can be draw here in regard to corruption and double dealing is that it is the result of the individual’s own immorality and not of his country’s depravity.
