# XIII: The Flip of a Coin explained — Ashenden

> Chapter companion for Ashenden by W. Somerset Maugham.

## What happens

Ashenden hurries to meet Herbartus, who has a plan to blow up Austrian munition factories, which would cause casualties among Galician Poles. Ashenden is torn by the moral weight of the decision. He recalls a past conversation with R. about the assassination of King B., where R. refused to countenance such methods despite their usefulness. Now, faced with a similar dilemma, Ashenden and Herbartus decide to flip a coin to determine whether to proceed with the sabotage.

## Themes in this chapter

### Moral Ambiguity of Espionage

Ashenden grapples with the ethical weight of ordering a sabotage that will kill innocent workers, recalling R.'s refusal to sanction assassination despite its strategic benefit.

### Futility and Cynicism

Ashenden reflects on the triviality of human endeavors—love, intrigue, success—against the vastness of the stars and the grim reality of war, leading to a coin flip as a decision-making tool.

## Character check-ins

### Ashenden

Torn by the moral decision of whether to authorize a sabotage that will kill Galician Poles; recalls a past conversation with R. about assassination; ultimately resorts to a coin flip.

### R.

Recalled in Ashenden's memory for his refusal to countenance the assassination of King B., despite its strategic value, citing gentlemanly conduct.

### Sir Herbert Witherspoon

Briefly mentioned in Ashenden's thoughts as he reflects on the triviality of life compared to the weighty decision at hand.

### Byring

Mentioned in Ashenden's reflection on the insignificance of personal intrigues and love affairs in the face of war's grim realities.

### Rose Auburn

Mentioned in Ashenden's reflection on the insignificance of personal intrigues and love affairs in the face of war's grim realities.

## Key lines

> He had at this interview to make a certain decision and the hesitation he felt about it had lurked throughout the evening at the back of his mind like a malaise that had only to become a little more definite to be felt as pain.

Ashenden was burdened by an impending decision, and his unease had been a nagging presence all evening, threatening to turn into outright distress.

_Illustrates Ashenden's internal conflict and the psychological weight of his moral dilemma._

> They were all like that. They desired the end, but hesitated at the means. They were willing to take advantage of an accomplished fact, but wanted to shift on to someone else the responsibility of bringing it about.

Ashenden cynically observes that his superiors want the benefits of ruthless actions but refuse to take direct responsibility for them.

_Highlights the theme of moral hypocrisy and the bureaucratic evasion of accountability in espionage._

> Man, with so short a time between the cradle and the grave, spent his life in foolishness. A trivial creature!

Ashenden reflects on the brevity of human life and the pettiness of human concerns, feeling a sense of futility.

_Captures Ashenden's existential cynicism and the theme of futility._

> Then let's toss for it, shall we?

Ashenden proposes to decide the fate of the sabotage plan by flipping a coin.

_The climax of the chapter, showing Ashenden's abdication of moral responsibility to chance._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ashenden_se/chapters/xiii-the-flip-of-a-coin
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ashenden_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/ashenden_se/chapters