American hard-boiled school, “noir” fiction
Language is an important medium for writers and this work will exemplary survey the use of language as a violent medium in the novel The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler. Therefore the private eye Philip Marlowe, main character of the story, will be analysed. In the conclusion the question whether a private eye like Marlowe is more realistic than a traditional private eye like Sherlock Holmes will be considered.
Inhaltsverzeichnis (Table of Contents)
- Introduction
- The life of Raymond Chandler
- The long goodbye
- Summary
- Philip Marlowe
- Language as a violent medium
- Conclusion
Zielsetzung und Themenschwerpunkte (Objectives and Key Themes)
This paper aims to provide an analysis of the use of language as a violent medium in Raymond Chandler’s novel The Long Goodbye, focusing on the character of Philip Marlowe and how Chandler’s writing style contributes to the narrative.
- The evolution of the private detective genre
- The portrayal of Philip Marlowe as a complex and flawed character
- The use of language as a tool for violence and social commentary
- Chandler's unique writing style, including his use of dialogue, vivid descriptions, and colloquial speech
- The exploration of themes such as corruption, social inequalities, and moral ambiguity
Zusammenfassung der Kapitel (Chapter Summaries)
The novel opens with Marlowe recalling his initial encounter with Terry Lennox, a wealthy playboy entangled in a murder case. This plotline unfolds as Marlowe assists Lennox in escaping to Tijuana, leading to confrontations with the police and eventual imprisonment. The chapter concludes with Lennox's suicide in Mexico and a letter revealing details about the death of his wife, Sylvia.
The second plotline centers around Marlowe's assignment to care for the alcoholic novelist, Roger Wade. This involves tracking him down, reuniting him with his wife Eileen, and witnessing a possible suicide attempt. Gradually, the connection between these two plotlines becomes apparent, revealing a complex web of relationships, secrets, and ultimately, murder.
Schlüsselwörter (Keywords)
Key terms and concepts explored in this work include: American hard-boiled fiction, noir, private detective, Philip Marlowe, Raymond Chandler, language as a violent medium, social commentary, corruption, crime fiction, realistic mystery fiction, dialogue, colloquial speech, vivid descriptions, character development, themes of moral ambiguity, and the portrayal of a flawed protagonist.
- Arbeit zitieren
- Martina Hoffeins (Autor:in), 2004, The use of language in The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/81464
