Michael Sharp (msharp@binghamton.edu)
Tue, 26 Oct 1999 16:41:59 -0400
James wrote:
>By contrast, Chandler's women always seem to be
either Saint or
>Devil, which matches the common male adolescent mode
of perception.
This seems really off the mark to me. I don't see saint or
devil anywhere. I mean, there are manipulative, deceptive,
mean women in his novels, but in something like the Big
Sleep, I don't see either of the women there as devil or
saint. Carmen and ... unh, what's her name? Is it Vivian?
Anyway, the Sternwood girls/women, while hugely flawed, don't
seem demonic to me. Carmen's mental and Vivian is protective
of her. Right? Am I misremembering the book? That would be
bad (though not surprising).
And I don't see a single woman in his novels I would describe
as "wish fulfillment." I wouldn't wish these women on anyone
(except readers).
Disclaimer: I'm a huge huge huge fan of Chandler, I'm editing
a collection of essays on Chandler's impact on American
Culture, etc. So please know that what I say is biased as
allgetout.
Hammett bugs me, but not bec. of his depiction of
women.
Michael D. Sharp Department of English State University of
New York Binghamton, NY 13902-6000 Office Phone: (607)
777-2418
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