Compare And Contrast Dragonfish And Motherless Brooklyn

In Vu Tran’s Dragonfish, Chandler’s The Big Sleep, and Lethem’s Motherless Brooklyn are novels with three drastically different narratives. However, apart from letters written by Suzy in Dragonfish, all three are written from the perspective of a male character. The reader rarely hears the voice of a woman, and they only learn about them through the thoughts and depictions of the male narrator. After reading all three novels and comparing them, it is evident women within these stories are treated similarly. Many experience abuse, or are relevant because of their sexual relationships with the male character. Thus, through sexualized relationships and abusive situations, women in Dragonfish, The Big Sleep, and Motherless Brooklyn are used to

For instance, Marlowe repeatedly faces and denies the seductive and sexually motivated Sternwood sisters. The first time he meets Carmen, he has no reaction to her flirting, stating “That was supposed to make me roll over on my back with all four paws in the air” in response to her fluttering eyelashes. (Chandler 5) Right away the reader learns Marlowe is aware of how Carmen uses her sexuality and its intended affect. This resistance he displays here continues for the rest of the novel with Vivian and Carmen, proving his dedication to finding the truth and the control he has. Furthermore, in Motherless Brooklyn, Lionel views Julia, a highly sexualized character with relationships with all the Minna Men, as the desirable wife of his boss. At one point Julia taunts Lionel sexually, to then tell him, “You’re too

In Dragonfish, Suzy is the catalyst for all of Robert’s thoughts and actions. While Suzy is a strong character who pushes against societal expectations of motherhood and the “good” wife, her relationship with Robert serves more to develop his character, not her own. In fact, Robert is an insignificant part of Suzy’s larger story. Moreover, Robert slaps Suzy, and on her real name Hong, states “it sounded a bit piggish the way Americans pronounced it, so I suggested the name of my first girlfriend in high school, and this she did give me” (Vu Tran 24). He speaks as if she owes him the right to change her name. Therefore, it’s easier to see the type of man he is based off the way Robert treats Suzy. Through the physical abuse, repeated microaggressions, and the entitlement he exhibits, the reader gets a better understanding of his character not as easily gathered from his other relationships in the novel. Additionally, Marlowe similarly slaps a drugged Carmen, exclaiming, “I slapped her around a little more. She didn’t mind the slaps” (Chandler 37). Carmen’s reaction only reinforces her weak and sexually driven behavior, doing little to further her character. For Marlowe, it contributes to his hard-boiled nature and establishes his “tough”, or violent, behavior that continues throughout the novel. Later, Vivian