The Big Sleep is set in the 1930’s, in America at the time of the Great Depression. Many of the characters get into trouble because of the turmoil they are in. The author mentions money throughout the novel, and it is a vital theme throughout the story. People were depressed and cynical about the future because of the state the economy was at. Because of lack of money, and depression, many people turned to corruption. Corruption is another theme throughout the story.
Even the judicial system is turned to corruption. This corruption is reflected in many ways throughout the novel. The oilfields are symbolic throughout the story as well. The oilfields are the reason why General Sternwood acquired his riches, yet the oilfields are described as
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Marlowe is depicted as a “modern day” knight. Marlowe does not take advantage of Carmen Sternwood. He tries to find the truth, even when he is not getting paid. He is dedicated to his job and is not corrupt. The greenhouse is also a symbol in the novel. The greenhouse is the location at which Marlowe receives his commission from General Sternwood. The greenhouse is described as a humid, damp, jungle like location, with a smell. The greenhouse symbolizes the city, with its damp, complicated and intertwined vines. Although the city might look appealing with the luxury, but the inside is dirty, smelly and complex. Marlowe is a private investigator. He is very good at his job, and is true to life to his character. I think thats what makes us like him, that he is human. He doesn't try to become what he is not, he sees himself as a “knight” and not more than that. He is not depicted as a superhero, rather a true human who is true to himself, and that is admirable to me. The Big Sleep, is packed with corrupt policemen, conniving women, blackmailers, and killers, but the story gives us a different take on the …show more content…
This brought the creation of a film noir, a new style of film. Film noir is known for its dark lighting, grim stories, tough guys and femme fatales that became so popular during the time the film was made. Marlowe is depicted as a tough guy with a hard shell who has a soft heart. Even though he sees so much corruption and bad things, he always still holds on to his morals. At a time in society when almost all people have turned corrupt, the author shows that there are still some good people left. As we see in Marlowe, although he is not the typical superhero, at the time, him just being honest and true to his craft is moral enough for that era. He is willing to risk hie life to serve his client, and that is courageous and shows dedication. Marlowe is always dedicated to find justice, at a time when even the judicial system was flawed. Marlowe's strong sense of right and wrong despite all his challenges, shows us how to live and keep our own
The factory in which Memo finds himself in is no ordinary place, it is known as a ‘Sleep Dealer’. Both the name and title of the film refer to these factories where a type of ‘virtual labor’ is performed by Mexican workers and then transmitted virtually across the militarized Mexican border to the United States. The ‘sleep’ in the title references the sleep inducing effect which the long shifts have on the factories workers as they perform various forms of virtual labor in countries they are not
Another example of Marlowe's endorsement of a moral system lies in his recollection of finding the Russian's marked copy of An Inquiry into some Points of Seamanship. Marlowe is surprised to find that someone in the darkness of the jungle still displays "an honest concern for the right way of going to work (39)." The very mention of the term "right way" makes an argument for Marlowe's preoccupation with morality. This passage illustrates Marlowe's unquestionable disposition to find what is moral or "right," hence leading the reader to believe that he is a moral character.
In response to Raymond Chandler's The Big Sleep, I have just one question. Why all the similes? There isn't a single page in the novel that doesn't display this annoying literary device. Everything is "like this" or "like that." It never ends! Similar to decoding a secret message that isn't difficult to understand, but nevertheless tiring due to the overwhelming amount of messages, the novel is frustrating to read. The following analysis acknowledges Chandler's creativity in developing his main character, Philip Marlowe, with his usage of simile. However, the excessive style of the novel creates a dominating force that ultimately leaves the reader unfulfilled at the end.
In Raymond Chandler’s novel The Big Sleep, a private detective is trying to unravel a blackmailing case for a dying millionaire, General Sternwood. Philip Marlowe, the detective, finds that the case not only involves blackmail, but also homicide. Set and written in 1930’s America, the economic devastation of the Great Depression has a significant influence on the book’s plot, and showcases character’s struggle to retain honor and virtue in a world that revolves around profit-seeking delinquency and organized corruption. Marlowe’s work as a private detective brings him face to face with criminals of every variety, and each corresponds to a piece on the chessboard that appears repeatedly in the story. Marlowe’s symbolic identity is the well-intentioned knight, who represents the shred of chivalry that remains in a society of pawns and crooked kings, and the chess game is his combat against crime in a period of national despondency.
In The Big Sleep, Chandler portrays Marlowe as the knight in shining armor. This establishes a motif of the stained glass window in General Stern wood’s home in the first chapter of the novel and is an appropriate motif in dictating Marlowe’s knightly role in the novel. The stained glass that is reflected in the novel places Marlowe in the position of the knight as it shows a knight who strives to reach a woman to set her free. The fact that he stares at the glass makes him develop the need to offer assistance. This motif is suitable because it sets the stage for what is to take place in the aftermath when Marlowe rescues Carmen. Secondly, Chandler tries to connect Marlowe with the knightly personality from the beginning of the novel that he intended to name his detective the modern knight and a brave man fighting for General Sternwood. He takes the role of the servant to Sternwood’s lord and therefore, in the knightly terms, it is sufficient to say that Marlowe is striving to find justice. Moreover, he is dedicated to rendering his services in the line of duty with much loyalty and honor despite the sexual and financial temptations that come his way. Like the ancient knights, Marlowe has deeply invested in his personal code of chivalry that contain among others, the need to overcome the sexual temptation of whatever magnitude that comes his way. Lastly, as a representation of the modern-day knight, Marlowe comes out in the novel as a tough detective and a brave individual
“The Sleep” by Caitlin Horrocks basically tell you about the people in the small town of Bounty. Protagonist Albert Rasmussen wife was killed by a drunk driver on an icy road. In this town the people looked up to Albert Rasmussen because he was smart and decided to stay in Bounty after graduation. Albert had gathered the whole town over in his family room to have a discussion. This discussion took place “…before the cameras, before the sleep, before the outsiders, and the plan sounded as strange to us as it would to anybody” (Horrocks 104). This literally means that they didn’t have anything much technology and before they actually decided to sleep. In this short story “The Sleep”
The last knightly characteristic that we will cover in this essay is courage. Both protagonists, Phillip Marlowe and Sir Gawain demonstrate a lot of courage throughout each book. Phillip Marlowe displays this trait in The Big Sleep on page 33 when he says
Macbeth Sleep is a time when our minds are at rest and the subconscious comes out to play. Sleep is oftentimes considered the place where we are able to see into our future and perhaps figure out how to solve our problems. Sleep is also what heals and cures our minds and bodies. Without sleep we slowly begin to disintegrate. Mind and body no longer cooperate without the healing force sleep brings with it. Shakespeare uses sleep both as a reward and as a consequence in his plays. If a character is innocent and pure, he is allowed restful, fulfilling sleep. If the character lacks these traits of goodness, he is condemned to a lifetime
The motif, sleep, creates a mood of confusion. When Macbeth was wailing in the middle of the night that the king is dead which woke the other men up. “O horror, horror, horror!/ tongue nor heart cannot conceive nor name thee/ confusion now hath made his masterpiece most sacrilegious murder hath broken ope (2.3.73-77).” Lennox and Macduff have seen king Duncan in his chambers dead and they are mortified, the men are perplexed on how the king was killed by guards around his chambers. When the other men tumble out of bed and see the king, the men are disgusted by their sight. “Shake off this downy sleep, death’s counterfeit,/ and look on
Phillip Marlowe (Humphrey Bogart), P.I, is hired by the rich General Sternwood to out a blackmailer, but quickly finds himself tangled in the Sternwood family’s dirty laundry — it’s the classic film noir narrative. At the center of it all seems to be Vivian Rutledge (Lauren Bacall), a Sternwood daughter, and the woman attempting to cover up the murder at the bottom of Marlowe’s case. I used Vivian’s tidy adherence to the femme fatale archetype to dig deeper into its true message about women’s nature, beyond the mysterious façade.
In William Shakespeare’s ‘Macbeth’ sleep is a very significant aspect of the play which is portrayed by many references to it and occurrences that result in sleep deprivation. To emphasize the importance of resting Shakespeare uses varied poetic language and sleep distortions. Sleep comes as a significant theme of the play when Macbeth, persuaded by Lady Macbeth kills King Duncan while he is asleep at their house. Consequently, Macbeth suffers from devastating nightmares and delusions which are the reasons for his constant paranoia and anxiety that lead to numerous murders.
Christopher Marlowe's The Jew of Malta is a violent, bloody, destructive play that literally jars the senses. Part of this is due to the modern reader's background: we see the characters through modern eyes, with distinct views of "low class" and "high class." It would be easy, as such, to discount The Jew of Malta as only appealing to the base interests of its time, and it would be only slightly less easy to protest that it has meaning beyond any crude first glance, and that the extreme acts presented are merely metaphors for deeper social commentary. Steane writes:
Through viewing scenes where Marlowe is beaten up and tied up by Mars' men, we come to realize the strength of Marlowe's integrity and will. Although he is put through much physical pain as well as the mental pain of witnessing horrific acts, he bites the bullet and commits himself completely to the tasks placed before him. Once again, he does not do his task for the small amounts of money, but he does it because he feels it is what he must do.
The Big Sleep is taken place in Los Angeles during the Great Depression, which was a time of corruption and economic turmoil. The novel’s themes are primarily the desperation during the Great Depression and the corruption of American Society. A majority of the characters in the book are criminals of some sort, committing crimes for money. Raymond Chandler, the novel’s author, uses allusions, comparisons, and symbolism to help understand the themes of society. Chandler is able to emphasize the corruption of society and the evils within it using motifs, symbols and figurative language.
In Oil on Water, Helon Habila, the author, uses his characters’ backgrounds and experiences to illustrate how corruption affects individuals and communities. The novel is set in the Niger delta. The two main characters are journalists who have personalities which strongly contrast with each other. Rufus is an idealist and Zaq is a jaded veteran reporter. Rufus, unlike Zaq, grew up in the delta and is personally connected to the communities. The story follows Rufus and Zaq on an assignment to find “the White Woman,” but ultimately, Habila uses his characters to tell a much more complex tale of environmental devastation and destruction of communities as a result of oil company corruption and greed.