Reading Notes W9: The Maltese Falcon, PART A

Citation: From "The Maltese Falcon" -Dashiell Hammett p.429-436

Setting: Downtown San Francisco

Characters:

-Sam "Spade": private investigator for Cairo? and also paid by Bridgid for protection

-Joel Cairo: Wealthy Performer. Hired Spade for investigation of some sort?

-Brigid O'Shaughnessy: *unknown background* hiding from someone. Paying Spade to protect her?

-Iva Archer: Possible lover of Spade. Spade called her "precious" however, because of his situation, made her leave. I'm not sure if it was to protect her, to avoid the stalker and protect Brigid because that's what he is paid to do, or if he is starting to fall for Brigid and is cutting the relationship off with Iva.

Theme(s):

-Corruption: Spade was offered $5,000 and he almost turned in Brigid even though he swore to protect her

-Secrecy: There is a lot that Spade is avoiding to tell. He hasn't told Brigid of being followed and didn't tell Iva the situation. Ironically enough though, he keeps Joel Cairo posted on the situation, which seems sexist. Does he think the women can't handle it? Does he think that they wouldn't understand if he explained it? Are the women viewed by him as not trustable?

What stood out to me:

-Imagery: Imagery is used throughout the entirety of the work. The third-person narrator is very descriptive and I believe its to intensify the secretive nature and mystery of the situation. Being that Spade is a private investigator, it seems only natural that the details of the setting be descriptive as possible.

-P.O.V: The point of view is told from a third person objective standpoint. I think this was chosen as it can be descriptive, however, by keeping the thoughts of the detective unknown, when problems are solved, the solutions come as a shock. It adds to the heightened mystery as the reader is forced to either figure it out on their own, or wait until the case is solved.

-"I've given you all the money I have........."Can I buy you with my body?" Said by Brigid. Spades response was that he'll consider it. It just goes to show that money talks and so does sexual favors.