"Double Indemnity" was first published in 1935 and affirmed James M. Cain’s status as a novelist. By reading it, one can learn why, but that is not the only observation that can be made. It is noticeable that Phyllis, the Femme Fatale of the story, constantly oversteps the boundaries of her gender, thus posing a threat to men. The question that started this Term Paper was: How much of a threat to patriarchal masculinity is Phyllis and is this threat contained? The thesis is that Phyllis subverts patriarchal masculinity in two spheres, the business sphere and the domestic sphere and by doing this, threatens it. The goal is to look at several instances where she does it and deduct if the threat she poses is contained or not.
In order to prove this thesis, a very short overview of the concept of sex and gender will be given which is a basic concept in cultural studies and needed when moving on to discuss masculinity during the 1930s. This will be followed by a look at the term hard-boiled fiction as it was perceived back then and the main character and the femme fatale of said genre. The literary analysis consists of a look at the world itself by using Huff’s casino metaphor, a closer look at Phyllis’s and Mr. Nirdlinger’s relationship, concluded with Phyllis’s motivation. Based on the theory and the analysis, it will be discussed if the female threat is contained or not and an outlook will be given.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Interdepending Dualities: Males and Females
2.1 Rubin’s Definition of Sex and Gender
2.2 Masculinity in the 1930s
2.3 Overstepping her boundaries: The Femme Fatale in hard-boiled Fiction
3 Hard-boiled evidence against Phyllis
3.1 Outwitting the System: Phyllis’ and Huff’s wits vs. Keyes’ Wits
3.2 Desperate Housewife: Phyllis’s subversion of Mr. Nirdlinger’s masculinity
3.3 Phyllis as the Embodiment of Death
4 Conclusion
5 Works cited
Research Objectives and Key Topics
This paper examines how Phyllis, the femme fatale in James M. Cain’s "Double Indemnity," subverts patriarchal masculinity within both the business and domestic spheres, and investigates whether the threat she poses to men is successfully contained by the end of the narrative.
- Analysis of masculinity in the 1930s social and cultural context.
- Examination of the hard-boiled fiction genre and its gender dynamics.
- Deconstruction of the protagonist Huff’s casino metaphor and its relation to power.
- Evaluation of Phyllis’s subversion of Mr. Nirdlinger’s domestic authority.
- Exploration of Phyllis’s obsession with death as her primary motivation.
Excerpt from the Book
3.1 Outwitting the System: Phyllis’ and Huff’s wits vs. Keyes’ Wits
In hard-boile crime fiction, the world is a “violent world where traditional moral codes do not always have the significance they are supposed to have. Hence the characters learn to take it; they do what survival requires them to do” (Nyman 30) In DI, the entire story is told from Huff’s perspective written by him. He prepares it for Keyes and it is supposed to make sure that the reputation of their insurance company does not get damaged. His reason to confess is Lola because throughout the story, he falls in love with her (DI 80); he even says to Keyes that “if you let them beat her, I’ll–kill you.” (DI 102). Going by Genette’s terms, it would be autodiegetic internal fixed focalization, meaning that the reader gets Huff’s subjective view on the entire case. This becomes apparent when looking at the casino metaphor on page twenty-three. As it will be proven in this chapter, this passage speaks for the entire work itself because it gives the reader a concise summary of the story and Huff’s perspective.
Huff’s motivation to commit the crime is money, sex and getting out of the system; when Phyllis comes, he sees his chance to get all three. This becomes clear on page twenty-three when Huff compares his business with a casino. The first thing that become apparent in this section is compassion fatigue, a special kind of burnout people tend to have when they do the same work for a long time. Usually work, where people have to deal with other people’s serious problems. This is the case with Huff, “you spend fifteen years in the business I’m in, maybe you’ll go nuts yourself” (DI 23) which is the first indicator.
Chapter Summaries
1 Introduction: This chapter outlines the thesis regarding Phyllis's subversion of patriarchal masculinity and sets up the analytical framework using cultural studies and literary analysis.
2 Interdepending Dualities: Males and Females: This chapter provides the theoretical foundation, discussing sex and gender, the masculinity crisis of the 1930s, and the literary characteristics of hard-boiled fiction.
3 Hard-boiled evidence against Phyllis: This chapter provides the core literary analysis, focusing on the power dynamics within the insurance company, the subversion of domestic roles, and the symbolic role of death.
4 Conclusion: This chapter summarizes the findings, concluding that the female threat cannot be easily categorized as contained or uncontained and suggests areas for future study.
5 Works cited: This section lists the academic and reference sources used throughout the paper.
Keywords
Double Indemnity, James M. Cain, Masculinity, Femme Fatale, Hard-boiled fiction, Gender roles, 1930s America, Patriarchy, Casino metaphor, Death, Power dynamics, Subversion, Insurance, Domestic sphere, Literary analysis.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the primary focus of this academic paper?
The paper focuses on the character of Phyllis in "Double Indemnity" and how she challenges and subverts patriarchal masculinity in both business and home life.
Which central thematic fields are analyzed?
The study analyzes the cultural construction of gender in the 1930s, the conventions of the hard-boiled fiction genre, and the specific power struggles between the characters.
What is the main research question?
The research asks how significant the threat Phyllis poses to men is and whether this threat is ultimately contained by the end of the story.
What methodology is applied in this research?
The author uses a literary analysis approach, drawing on cultural studies theory, gender theory, and specific metaphors found within the text to interpret character motives.
What does the main body of the work cover?
It covers theoretical background regarding gender and masculinity, a detailed analysis of the "casino" metaphor, Phyllis’s relationship with Mr. Nirdlinger, and her thematic connection to death.
Which key concepts characterize the analysis?
Key concepts include the "femme fatale," the 1930s crisis of masculinity, the binary opposition between the "Company" and the "Body," and the symbolic use of imagery like the red shroud.
How does Huff’s casino metaphor serve as a summary for the narrative?
The metaphor illustrates Huff’s disillusionment with the insurance industry, frames his criminal actions as an attempt to "crook the wheel," and highlights the dangerous power dynamic he establishes with Phyllis.
Why is Phyllis associated with the "Embodiment of Death" in the analysis?
The author identifies death as Phyllis's primary motivation, supported by her past history of killing victims and her obsession with imagery that equates her with death to exert power.
Does the author conclude that the "female threat" is successfully contained?
The author concludes that there is no simple "yes" or "no" answer, as the threat is handled differently in the public/business sphere versus the domestic sphere.
- Quote paper
- Stephan Riedl (Author), 2016, Huffed Masculinity. The Female Threat in Cain's "Double Indemnity", Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/366502
