Hard_Boiled_Detective_Fiction._Example_Essay

Hardboiled detective fiction is a dark and violent genre, one that explores corruption, decadency and temptation . The texts “The Big Sleep”, “Kiss Me Deadly” and “Sin City” all comment on reflect the world that is bound by a new foundation crime , and the breakdown of the institutional machine due to a growing concern of the increase of crime and despair in post modern day society Raymond Chandlers Novel The Big Sleep Set in the great depression Honesty and morality is a virtue for the single hero of the novel Phillip Marlowe, who is a private investigator . “I was everything the well dressed detective ought to be. I was calling on four million dollars. Marlowes hero like characteristics are connected to society itself. The world in which Marlowe lives in is fuelled by crime, corruption and desire. Greed sets the bar for this society, Marlowe’s actions reflect just how he is a hero during this time. ‘I charge 25 bucks an hour plus expenses” Marlowe is a man who makes fun of the rich “The entrance doors would have let in a troop of Indian elephants” Nationwide, America is facing prohibition, corruption at some of the highest levels and an overwhelming influctuation of crime in America. “Knights had no meaning in this game, it wasn’t a game for knights” The knight is a motif, used throughout the novel, Marlowe is the classic detective, however, knightly figures have no room in the modern day world, thus he has created a modern day hero, but not a knight for glory and the woman, Marlowe reflects what this world needs, Marlowe is the ideal hero for this world With every good detective novel, there always the Fem Fatale. Our lady of temptation is none other than Carmen Sternwood, and lesser her sister Vivian Regan. “Neither of them has any more moral sense then a cat” Coming from their own father, “Carmen is a child who likes to pull the wings off flies” ‘Vivian is spoiled, exacting, smart and quite ruthless” Carmen and Vivian are examples of the type of girls that would have been available to the criminal underworld, they represent lust and desire. Their target is Marlowe, he puts up a good defence against Vivian. “ What has Eddie Mars got on you.....I liked kissing you, but thats the way it is” “If I had a razor I’d cut your throat just to see what comes out” “Catapillar Blood” Carmen represents pure evil, she is the symbol for temptation, she even got to our hero Marlowe Carmen lies in Marlowes bed “ I looked at the chess board, there was a problem on the chess board... I couldn’t solve it, like a lot of my problems” Carmen reflects the typical view during these times, that women were the evil ones and that they caused bad things to happen. Marlowe fall to the underworld or to temptation comments to everyone in society that no matter what happens “I have warm blood like the next guy” Marlowe is human “I tore the bed to pieces” No matter who you are, you are Human and cannot avoid the natural desires The Big Sleep Reflects on society as a dark and dangerous world. However, Kiss Me Deadly does this but even better. Kiss Me Deadly is a classic apocalyptic hardboiled detective film. Kiss Me Deadly 1955 Kiss Me Deadly is a film all about temptation, ones decent into the underworld where darkness reigns. Moral values have little meaning in this world, instead violence takes the form of morality. This film noir explores the desires and temptations that plague mankind. Mike Hammers is a privater investigator ,the kind of man who loves to think of himself “ You only ever have one love..you your one of those males who only thinks about his clothes, car, himself” he sees others expecially women as objects, a motif that is used throughout the novel. “Will you be my friend..I want a close friend” Mike is driven by temptation, he uses violence to get what he wants and will do whatever it takes to get something done. Contrasted to the world of the 1950’s, its post war America. The second world war was the most violent war in history. People have been use to violence, some never been without it. This is justified by the boxing club seen, its a fight for survival, its survival of the fittest Mystical allusions rythem with temptation. The movies Fem Fatale Lilly Carver is warned by Soberin as she wants to know whats in the box. Not knowing its stolen radioactive material “if I told you whats in it, would you believe me'....medusas head...whoever looks at it will be turned to stone” Lilly curiosity soberin uses imagery to explain to us what would happen if she opened it “Ever heard of lots wife'...God told her not to look back, she disobeyed and was turned to a pillar of salt” The biggest clue to what will happen if Lilly had taken the box is explained by Soberin before she shoots him “Ever herd of Pandora' She had a box, when she opened it it released all the evil of the world” This metaphor refers to Nuclear Armageddon. The human desire for power has lead to the ability of controlling the fate of the world. The hand of God can be used in Nuclear Armageddon. The Cuban Missile Crisis which will happen in 6 years will be the testimonial to these fears. The world lived in constant fear of nuclear Armageddon during the cold war. The films meaning reflects and comments on the dark side of humanity, humanities ability to control the fate of the world and the temptation that will ultimately lead to it. The film uses techniques to express this, the use of shadows/darkness combined with the stairs tell us that Mike is going down, down into the underworld where the desire for power is key. Kiss Me Deadly expresses the temptation and the darkside of human existence. Very much on that frontier, Sin City explores these but in a post modernistic way, exploting the stereotypical boundaries and over exaggerating characters. Its specialty is that it reverses the role of women, they are the ones who control the fate of the men. Sin City is different to the other texts as it follows different plots within the story., reflecting that there are many stories and views on society. The world is still controlled by crime, institutions do nothing to really stop it, more then often corruption within the force making deals with the crims. Marv is is a stereotypical big tough guy , he is a very exaggerated tough guy, being able to beat up almost anyone with his bear hands and able to take all sorts of pain IE. The electric chairs first jolt ‘Is that the best you can do you pansies” Marv is a post modernistic type of character “I love hitmen...no matter what you do to them, you don’t feel bad” Marvs moral code is similar to Mike Hammers, but more extreme. In this world, violence is the only way to get things done. Marv is no exception, often driving people into the pavement just for the hell of it. Kevin, a cannibalistic mute from what viewers can disguise has very little moral boundaries, he eats the bodies of the prostitutes he kills, enjoying the game. Sin City is a world that temptation, deaire and decadence rains far and wide, Kevin is an example of decadence, Marv is also one but he has a goal as Kevin does not. Marv represents mans stuggle in this jungle, Kevin reflects the situation that many find themselves in, fighting for survival but without any purpose. The old town girls are an exaggerated role, just like many of the men in Hardboiled fiction. However, this time the roles are revered, the women are the ones who are dangerous but sexy. This lethal combination reflects the growing changes involved in post modernism. In todays society, we treat women as equals, Sin City reflects how views have changed from novels such as The Big Sleep and Kiss Me Deadly. Arguably, the girls probably would still define themselves as sexy objects, but there no longer tools to be used, they run their own system, fighting against anyone who says otherwise. The Exaggerated violence used in Sin City reflects the post Modernistic world. With ever growing gun problems in America, civilian violence is at all time highs. Thus, the film reflects this