Worksheet 7: Analysing Geoffrey Trease's Cue for Treason

What were the mistakes that Peter made? How are we to view them?

No hero is perfect, that is, everyone makes mistakes. Some mistakes are very serious even fatal, while others are understandable and more easily overlooked. In "Cue for Treason", one may well ask what mistakes did Peter Brownrigg make, for Trease's hero is not ever portrayed as making mistakes.

Peter's father made no mistake in sending his son far away from Sir Philip Morton's warrant. Peasants knew their place in Elizabethan society and it was wise to protect Peter by sending him away from home in Cumberland. Peter make no mistake in obeying his father. It was his salvation. Even when he spotted Sir Philip in the audience at The Globe, Peter was glad he was not recognised and so escaped capture and punishment.

Peter might be accused of making a mistake in not pressing Kit for more information about her identity. But it was decency that prevented him doing so; they were travellers on a common road and became strong companions in their travels and travails. It is understandable that Peter never challenged Kit about the address on the letters home that Mr. Desmond got them both to write. Keeping a secret about other people's business is not a mistake but practical wisdom.

Peter could not be accused of making a mistake for following the yellow gentlemen and repossessing the script. One could say he was prying into matters beyond his humble station as a part-time stand-in actor. But we forgive or overlook this youthful exuberance in our desire for adventure. Sensing a wrong, Peter naturally sought to make it right no matter what it cost. That is the sort of character he was: honest, loyal and even naive.

Can we fairly accuse Peter of a mistake in acting impetuously in interrupting an assassination on his Queen? Is this a mistake? Certainly not. Surely every loyal subject of a loyal monarch would so so. But with even greater reason, we could admire him for doing so under the aura of the Elizabethan realm. Only a traitor would let it happen! No less could be expected of one so wronged, loyal, forthright and able.

Considering Geoffrey Trease's themes and purpose in "Cue for Treason", it is not surprising that we never find fault with Peter Brownrigg. Even the dissembling Kit was portrayed as brave in her disguise and not cowardly for avoiding to perform as Juliet in the performance before Morton at The Globe. It seems that Trease, ever light on critique of Elizabethan society, cannot find fault fault with the central hero and his companion and compatriot either.

The only criticism of Peter could be his desire for adventure and his willingness to act on his suspicions. Peter's heroism, it seems, is a model for all readers who are loyal to England, proud of it history and brave under Nazi attack. Propaganda deals with faultless heroes; in this context, the lack of overt or implied criticism of Peter's behaviour indicates that "Cue for Treason" belongs to this genre of wartime propaganda. #

G. Smith 22/2/1999

Back to Cue for Treason page