Re: RARA-AVIS: Ross Macdonald's influence

From: Richard Moore ( moorich2@aol.com)
Date: 30 Nov 2004


--- In rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com, David White <dpwhite237@y...> wrote:
> I think Archer is intentionally two-dimensional. MacDonald wanted
the reader to view the surrounding characters through Archer, Archer as passageway into the novel. He wanted the reader to be able to make other judgements about the characters, while Archer acted as the conscience of the novel. Therefore, Archer can't really have a past or any real characterizations (especially in the later novels, save perhaps The Blue Hammer), that would impede on the impact of the surrounding characters in the novel.
>
> -Dave
>

Hmmm...interesting. So was the two-dimensional detective hero one of Ross Macdonald's major contributions to the form? Intentionally two- dimensional, I mean. Obviously the pulps and the $2 lending library novels often featured two-dimensional detectives.

Richard Moore

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