The character Philip Marlowe from the novel, The Big Sleep by Raymond Chandler, is without a doubt the popular representation of the 1930s private investigator/detective. This character delivers his inner cynical monologue describing to the audience what he is doing and feeling throughout the novel. Marlowe’s inner mood creates a portrait of an outcast protagonist who wishes only to deliver results to the clients who hired him. While it is obvious that Philip Marlowe is portrayed as an outsider within his field and community, his relationships and actions would prove otherwise. Marlowe is a private investigator in 1930s Los Angeles, who is hired for a job by a retired millionaire, General Sternwood. As the story begins here, it is eluded to, or rather outright answered as to how …show more content…
Instead of asking for help from the proper authorities, he finesses the situation to his advantage, and instead extracts what he needs. For instance, in chapter 20, when Marlowe visits Captain Gregory of the Missing Persons Bureau, it is to pry for information only. He performs the exact same task afterwards in the following chapter when he decides to speak with the racketeer, Eddie Mars about Geiger and the possible connections to the Sternwoods. However, each of these instances make the point that Marlowe’s actions and connections suggest that he is not truly an outsider. How is Philip Marlowe not an outsider when the novel provides the appearance and tendency of one? Again, had Marlowe never possessed or created any of these previously described relations with the other characters within the novel, only then would he be an actual outsider. It is implied clearly that he does not perform his duties any differently than the actual law enforcers. There are several implications that lead the reader to believe that the LAPD at this time is
In conclusion, the 1946 film adaptation of Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep is a successful adaptation of the novel and representation of the genre. True to the novel, Philip Marlowe is guided by his personal moral code throughout his investigations. The plot follows the basic formula of the detective novel. First the detective, residing in a large city, is introduced and he is presented with a case to
In this excerpt, Dr. Watson marvels over Holmes’ discovery of Stapleton’s disguised face in a Baskerville portrait. He was truly a Baskerville, which explained his motivation for everything that he did. Stapleton had lied about his ancestry, to turn questioning eyes away from him and unto other… more vulnerable… suspects such as Selden the convict. A few manuscripted or vocalized words and BAM! Someone can deceive a whole population, just as Stapleton did. Doyle also explores this concept when he writes “‘...in the character of his sister’” (225). Holmes talks in retrospection once more, this time about how Stapleton forced his wife to acquire the title of his sister, so that he could perhaps use her (just as he did) to gain trust with Sir Henry. Moreover, he once again lied and successfully deceived a population about (in this instance) his marital
Final Paper Assignment Sleep as a Symbol in Dogeaters Within Jessica Hagedorn’s novel Dogeaters, a number of characters are represented or described to be sleeping or dreaming at different points in the novel. Characters sleeping within this novel can be interpreted as having different meanings or symbolizing different things. One of the characters that are “asleep” is Joey Sands. Joey’s sleep represents the state in which the average person in the Philippines is sedated by American culture.
...grab glimpses of the character's true nature. In The Long Goodbye, these foreground strokes, intended to lay a foundation for audience sympathy with the lead character, are made as prominent as the climax, as well as the end. This is because Marlowe wanders through the action of the film meeting and reacquainting himself with unrelated characters, such as the gatekeeper-impressionist in Terry Lennox’s neighbourhood, and the grocery store clerk, who Marlowe meets again in prison.
Sherlock Holmes, one of the most famous fictional characters in literary history is a detective capable of solving the most complex mysteries. The author behind the character, Sir Arthur Conan Doyle is a very successful British writer. The majority of his literary success is due to his crime-fiction tales such as the Sherlock Holmes series. However, Mr. Doyle and Mr. Holmes himself must not take all the credit because there is another character that plays a major role in the stories success. He goes by the name of Dr. Watson, Holmes’ sidekick. The importance of Dr. Watson is evident in many of Doyle’s stories such as A Scandal in Bohemia and A Study in Scarlett.
Marlowe is successful in many ways. First, he is capable of obtaining the necessary information to incriminate suspects. For example, although Marlowe presumed Joe Brody did not kill Geiger, he still managed to convince Jody that he had
“The Tell-Tale Heart is one of Edgar Allan Poe’s greatest fictional short stories. It is known for its repulsive and insane homicide; a very wild and thrilling tale. Likewise, Nathaniel Hawthorne’s well-known novel, The Scarlet Letter, is famous for its directness on sexual conflict. Both writings possess similarities with regards to modified characters, connected symbolism, and significant midpoints. Due to these comparisons, it is quite certain that Hawthorne found inspiration in writing The Scarlet Letter after reading “The Tell Tale-Heart”.
Gilbert Keith Chesterton was one of the greatest English authors ever to live. He wrote many essays and novels. He had much time to do this because he was a large man and could not move around easily. In Gilbert's essay, "In Lying in Bed" his deep understanding of humanity clearly evident. He speaks informally and rambles like the common speaker does. In my analysis I will describe and explain the central themes of Chesterton's essay.
Film and literature are two media forms that are so closely related, that we often forget there is a distinction between them. We often just view the movie as an extension of the book because most movies are based on novels or short stories. Because we are accustomed to this sequence of production, first the novel, then the motion picture, we often find ourselves making value judgments about a movie, based upon our feelings on the novel. It is this overlapping of the creative processes that prevents us from seeing movies as distinct and separate art forms from the novels they are based on.
For Sherlock Holmes, his partner in crime is Dr. John H. Watson. Not only is he a trusted friend, but also he is Holmes’ associate and the first person narrator of the Sherlock tales. The stories of Sherlock Holmes are a collection of short stories and fictional novels created by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. These stories are based on a famous and most notorious detective all throughout London, Sherlock Holmes. Along his side, Dr. Watson narrates his and Holmes’ detective cases and reveals Sherlock’s abilities and knowledge of solving cases and fighting deadly crimes. For the duration of the stories, Watson and Holmes share a particular relationship where Holmes verbally dominates Watson, “You see, but you do not observe. The distinction is very clear” (Doyle 241). When he isn’t insulting Dr. Watson he talks about how much he relies on his partner, “I am lost without my Boswell” (Doyle 243).
In the novel, Sherlock Holmes The Hound of the Baskervilles, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson are given a case that is paranormal. They decide to split up and Dr. Watson is given the task to stay by Sir Henry’s side while looking for clues. They cross paths against and Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson meet to discuss this case as a murder. They find major clues against Mr. Stapleton leading to his death. The novel explores the theme of not being ruled by fear through characters dealing with the apparent supernatural myth coming to life.
“The world is full of obvious things which nobody by any chance ever observes,” states Sherlock Holmes (Doyle, The Hound of the Baskervilles loc 1238). According to TV Tropes, mystery is a genre of fiction where the plot revolves a mysterious happening that acts as the driving question. With any given problem there is a solution; however, and the question is “how does one come about to that solution”? Extremely high intelligence level, keen observation, creative imagination and sensitivity to details are just some of the qualities that Holmes possesses. In the process of solving mysteries, there is always a borderline between mere guessing, a coincidence, and a scientific approach that Holmes calls deductive reasoning. In Sir Arthur Conan Doyle's 1902 novel, The Hound of the Baskervilles, Dr. Mortimer seeks advice from Holmes as he explains the curse that has been plaguing the Baskerville family. With the power of deduction, Holmes realizes that Mr. Stapleton is actually a Baskerville descendant and has been planning to get rid of the other members of the family to claim the family fortune. Conan Doyle tells the reader what their mind is capable of doing by incorporating Holmes through his novels as he uses observation, deduction and knowledge in solving his cases. One important key that makes him different from most people is that he sees everything that people often neglect to pay attention to. A remarkable proof which shows that Holmes holds an extraordinary analytical mind and is uniquely capable of solving a mystery through his great sensitivity to minute details and the ability to draw connections from it was shown as he observes and deduces information from the letter received by Sir Henry Baskerville the moment he arrived...
Marlow starts out as just as everyman, trying to put some bread on the table. His original plans were setting out to make money, but his journey turns into so much more. His expedition turns into a quest to find and save Kurtz, and to understand the people so many were prejudice against.
“Marlowe’s biographers often portray him as a dangerously over–ambitious individual. Explore ways this aspect of Marlowe’s personality is reflected in ‘Dr. Faustus.’ ”
Snow, Edward A. "Marlowe's Doctor Faustus and the Ends of Desire." Two Renaissance Mythmakers: Christopher Marlowe and Ben Jonson. Ed. Alvin Kernan. Baltimore, MD: The Johns Hopkins University Press, 1997. Print.