Research Paper the Maltese Falcon: Existentialism Essay

Dashiell Hammett, father of the American hard-boiled genre, is widely known for producing a suffocating world of realism in his give outs (Hard-boiled allegory). accord to Paul Abrahams On re-reading The Maltese Falcon, the realistic halo of Hammetts third novel is reactionary to the post-war turmoil in which the work was born (97). This provides the ideal foundation for subtle philosophical concepts of experientialism such as, interests for rectitude, self identification, and the importee of existence to build through with(predicate) with(predicate)out the novel.Richard Layman, in his slender review of Hammetts novel (to a fault titled The Maltese Falcon), proposes that the philosophies of Hammetts times can be found within the text of his novel (71). Hammett conveys an existential theme in his work The Maltese Falcon through his utilise of themes of inquiry and self absorbed characters as well as his Flitcraft parable. existentialist philosophy, in a simple form, is a philosophy concerning existence and its significance.Layman asserts that existentialism had its grow in the mid-nineteenth century and flourished in the United States from the 1930s until the 1960s (71). According to the web- crafticle World War I from the New World Encyclopedia, subsequent to the considerable War, the optimism for world peace of the 1900s was entirely g single. Therefore, without the blinders of social optimism, American society could challenge ideas such as, the occurrence of mass destruction in a practiced world and the significance of existence in such a world.Hammetts first offhand generate with the existential crisiscaused by what the historical context from the website The Maltese Falcon presents as global wars, the Great Depression, and other struggles of the 1930sleads Hammett to require different techniques throughout his work, providing subtle allusions to existentialism. One method through which Hammett conveys existentialistic ruling is thr ough his themes of inquiry in The Maltese Falcon. The plot is centered on the continuous quest for an idolized iconthe Maltese hunt, a curious bejeweled bird.Hammett incorporates an ecclesiastical theme through this pursuit of an icon. The quest for their icon eventually leads to the demise of the characters involved in its reckon. It steals the identity and climatically the life of the mob-boss Gutman. Brigid, the femme fatale, also loses in this pursuit, for she is left to the mercy of the law in the final pages. Whether demise or imprisonment plagues the characters involved, the quest for an icon consumes their lives. Hammett illuminates the detrimental consequences of such quests through the aforementioned loss of identity, life, and freedom.This message is countered by the existentialistic denouncement of all icons. Existentialism provides a simple solution for such futile quests lives are not wasted in the search of an icon. In pursuit of a odd icon, all characters lose themselvesa root of the existentialist crisis loss of self, oppugn of existence (Existentialism). Another theme of inquiry in Hammetts novel deals with the constant search for the truth. Spade, the protagonist, is tormented by the ambiguity of truth throughout the novel.Spade is strained to discern lies from the truth within the first pages of the novel, where he meets Brigid, or rather Miss Wonderly as she is dubbed upon primary introduction. Brigid, ill-famed for her deceitful ways, confesses to Spade, once an invested relationship is established between the two I am a liar. I have always been a liar (353). Layman observes that the challenge for Spade in the book is to make up the rules as he goes along to decide for himself, without outside guidance, what he believes and what he believes in (71). These decisions shape Spades actions and patron to define his character.Spade, concerning himself with the quest for relevance and authenticity, as David Pickus writes in his expose on existentialism, is not the nevertheless character involved in the search for truth (17). Brigid, Gutman, Cairo, and Wilmer are forced to come to terms with the quest for truth and authenticity when it is discovered their falcon is a mere fabrication of the true Maltese falcon. After paring the black enamel from the base of the falcon Gutman exclaims its a fake. Gutman reacts with his soupcon hissing between his teeth and his face becoming turgid with hot blood (430).This is example of the anger Gutman possesses upon the realization of this on-going search for authenticity. Another method in which Hammett unveils existentialistic undertones is through his self-absorbed characters. Layman writes about Spade He is formation who he is. That is the simplest statement of the philosophy of existentialism (71). Spade relies solely on himself and oft stretches the hands of the law. He undermines the police in order to prevent hinderance within his investigations, denouncing their a uthority.For example, when Dundy, a police officer tells Spade, Youve gotten away with this and youve gotten away with that, entirely you cant keep it up forever. Spade nonchalantly replies lodge me when you can (341). The article from the Philosophy website, titled Existentialism states that an existentialist believes that a person should be forced to choose and be liable without the help of laws, ethnic rules, or traditions. Spade epitomizes this idea with his actions throughout the novel. Brigid is another character who does not function within the realm of laws and rules however, she is a less responsible character than Spade.Brigids efforts are invested into self-preservation. She continuously fights to stay one footprint ahead of everyone through creating a web of lies, which ultimately becomes a defining element of her character. Her deceitfulness and obsession with obtaining her desires without concern for consequence or study demonstrates her loss of self in pursuit of something worthless she becomes nothing more(prenominal) than a wanton woman with no true identity. In admittance to his characterization, Hammett also utilizes the Flitcraft parable as a means of conveying existentialistic thought.Martin Harris writes The Flitcraft parable has been examined closely by those who see the accounting providing an important key to Hammetts feelings about the meaning (or lack thereof) of human existence (241). The Flitcraft parable tells the story of a man who completely changed his life in consequence of one random event. Flitcraft, a satisfied family man, encountered a pricey death experience via a construction beam plummeting into his path. This event made him contemplate the sec of lifethere are no certainties. Spade tells Brigid Flitcraft felt manage somebody had taken the lid off life and let him search at the works (335).Flitcraft understood the uncertainty of life after this experience. With this epiphany Flitcraft began a new life he t ook the randomness of life and incorporated it into his existence. assured of mortality and the significance of ones identity, Flitcraft exposed himself to an alternate life. age Flitcraft ultimately ended up settling back into his prior lifestyle, the afterglow of his near death experience permitted him to revel in existentialism, for according to the web-article Existentialism the search of self-being is a fundamental element of the existential philosophy.Whether it is through various themes, characters, or a well placed anecdote, the undertones of existentialism exist within the pages of Hammetts novel. Hammett effectively incorporated themes from his era into his literature. In a time where the aspect of optimism in society was destroyed, Hammett acknowledged realism within the text of his art (Existentialism). While existentialism no longer has an intoxicating hold on modern society, it lives in the pages of influential authors. The Maltese Falcons subtle cues to such great philosophical ideas assist in the significance that Hammetts works hold to this day.Works Cited Abrahams, Paul P. On re-reading The Maltese Falcon. Journal of American Culture 18. 1 (1995) 97-107. Academic Search Premier. EBSCO. Web. 15 July 2010. Dooley, Dennis. Dashiell Hammett. New York F. Ungar Pub. , 1984. Print. Existentialism. Philosophy. AllAboutPhilosophy. org, 2010. Web. 01 Aug. 2010. . Hammett, Dashiell. The Novels of Dashiell Hammett. New York Alfred A. Knopf, 1965. Print. Hard-boiled Fiction. Encyclop? dia Britannica, 2010. Web. 30 July 2010. . Harris, Martin. Hammetts Flitcraft Parable, The Stepfather, and the Significance of dropping Beams. Literature Film Quarterly 34.3 (2006) 240-248. MLA International Bibliography. EBSCO. Web. 15 July 2010. Layman, Richard. The Maltese Falcon. Detroit Gale Group, 2000. Print. The Maltese Falcon. The Big Read. National Endowment for the Arts, 2010. Web. 16 July 2010. . Metress, Christopher, ed. The Critical answer to Dashiell Hammett. Westport, CT Greenwood, 1994. Print. Pickus, David. Paperback Authenticity Walter Kaufmann and Existentialism. Philosophy and Literature 34. 1 (2010) 17-31. Philosophers Index. EBSCO. Web. 31 July 2010. World War I. New World Encyclopedia. 09 May 2008. Web. 06 Aug. 2010.