Re: RARA-AVIS: Sam Spade's morals

From: DJ-Anonyme@webtv.net
Date: 05 Sep 2005


Jim wrote:

"But he's resisting temptation, determined to follow his code and do the right thing, whatever the emotional consequences. That's not pragmatism; that's strong moral fiber."

You seem to equate following a code and doing the right thing. While I'm not necessarily arguing with your application of that to Sam Spade's choice (his remarks about not believing his image does raise some doubt as to his level of corruption), but those two are far from synonymous in crime fiction. Parker, for instance, certainly has a code, but he is hardly interested in doing the right thing for anyone but himself. That may sometimes involve loyalty and other seemingly positive traits, but even then it is pragmatic -- you don't work if you are not a stand-up guy. It is hardly due to "strong moral fiber." For instance, morality is never even a factor the various times in the series when he does the cost analysis of killing someone.

At least this applies to the original Parker series. Many of the quibbles with the recent selections have revolved around whether or not Parker is the still as cold a professional, or whether various connections (and plot requirements) have led him to be sloppier than he once was.

Speaking of Parker, anyone know if there is going to be another in the series, or is he going to be left alone on that hill with no way back to those connections, nothing to do except wipe the slate clean and start over, or be caught?

Mark

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