Importance of key

Kriegler’s key to his safety deposit box in Switzerland represents the gradual acceptance of ultimate loss on the part of the Nazis. Kriegler, always demonstrated to be an intelligent albeit brutal tactician, manages to hide a key to his safety deposit box in Switzerland despite being held for a war crimes tribunal. The key, which he ultimately gives to Eleanor in exchange for clemency in the courts, thus indicates his final play, which Eleanor calls “his final act of war” (331), intended to sow discord within the British government as their betrayal of their own agents comes to light.