Disease And Corruption In Raymond Chandler's The Big 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

In the Medieval Period, knights dedicated their lives to following the code of chivalry. In Sir Thomas Malory’s Le Morte d’Arthur, a number of characters performed chivalrous acts to achieve the status of an ideal knight. Their characteristics of respect for women and courtesy for all, helpfulness to the weak, honor, and skill in battle made the characters King Arthur, King Pellinore, and Sir Gryfflette examples of a what knights strove to be like in Medieval society. Because of the examples ofchivalry, Le Morte d’Arthur showed what a knight desired to be, so he could improve theworld in which he lived.

In “The Big Sleep” Raymond Chandler tells the story of an honest yet cynical detective, Philip Marlowe, hired by a wealthy old man, General Sternwood, to help him “take care of” a pornographer who has been

However, on the very next page of the novel, our view of Marlowe is undermined. As the

One night Margo shows up in Quentin's room, and asks him to help her with pranks which involve them getting revenge on all who have done wrong to her. After the night Quentin believes that his relationship is starting to form once again with Margo. But for the next three days Margo doesn't show up to school, Margo has disappeared. Quentin goes on a journey to find her and along the way uses the three traits determination, bravery and acceptance. Quentin shows his determination by skipping his high school graduation and prom to find Margo.

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.

Chivalry (An Analysis of Chivalric Actions in Sir Gawain and the Green Knight, Song of Roland, Perceval: The Story of the Grail, and Morte D’Arthur) In the childhood of many people all across the world, we grow up hearing grand tales about Medieval times. We fantasize about taking part in countless stories set in this type of world. There has, and always be an abundance stories providing more imaginative stories set in this iconic time in human history.

The impression the reader gathers about Carmen from the first conversation she has with Marlowe and the description is that she is immature and very childlike. Contrary to the description of Carmen, Marlowe's description of Mrs. Regan's is one which allows the reader to see she is a more sophisticated and intelligent woman

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.

Don Quixote is a character who read so many books on chivalry, he 'was so absorbed in these books that his nights were spent reading from dusk till dawn…until the lack of sleep and the excess of reading withered his brain, and he went mad'(Cervantes p.26). 'considering it desirable and necessary, both for the increase of his honour and for the common good [he becomes] a knight errant'

Throughout the humankind history, societies have been straining to find a leader, which embodies the genuine meaning of perfection, the one supposed to be the “gold” amongst all. However, being a leader and thus a role model can be a huge encumber. In the light of human nature, being perfect is, needless to say, an impossible task even for the noblest person on Earth. For instance, even Sir Gawain, a valiant knight, well-known for his courtesy, chastity and piety, betrays the knighthood in the fear of death. In a like manner, the characters in Chaucer’s “Canterbury tales” are lecherous, glib, and accordingly disloyal to their positions in society.

This metaphorically

This interesting turn of events shows the novels overall restatement of the standard paradigm of sexual relations, with men dominating the women. In her final attempt to make the calls, Vivian offers Marlowe the option of being set free in exchange for not prying any longer. Marlowe, however, exerts his own power and rejects her proposal completely. After kissing, he begins to exert complete dominance of Vivian, reinforcing male superiority. Yet even as this power shift takes place, Marlow shows full dependence on Vivian.

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

Allowing their feelings to cloud their judgment and control their actions, the men lose all sense of reason and decorum as they resort to antagonistic behavior and name-calling; contrary to the standards of the pledge they have avowed to honor. Rossignol asserts Chaucer’s characters “undercut the very ethos [of chivalry] . . . the knights themselves display ambivalence toward their own motives and behavior” (Rossignol). Palamon and Arcite, oblivious to any personal responsibility or wrongdoing in the dispute over Emily, expect the other to uphold the chivalric code without doing so himself. Most certainly, if one or both of the men heeded the high expectations of conduct, they would spare their brotherhood and avoid the perils of their battle, but neither man finds it within his conscience to do so.