At 09:41 AM 02/10/2007, Bludis wrote:
>The work of Cain defines Noir, all of his lead
characters
>are screwed.
>
>Hammett's leads are all tough, even in THE THIN
MAN.
I don't think it's quite so cut and dried, Jack.
Sam Spade has become a mythological figure, admired for his
cool, tough cynicism. He's the guy who has the right comeback
when it's needed, not ten or fifteen minutes later like the
rest of us. He's the guy who smacks down guys who only think
they're tough, sees through the phoniness of others and
sticks to his own business. Definitely a hard boiled egg, and
heroically so.
So much so that we want to forget that list of reasons he has
for throwing Brigid over. The list is a repudiation of all
the human qualities required for romantic and Christian love
to flourish, but Spade relies on logic and represses his
romantic inclinations. He has no faith that love and passion
can transcend the problems of the world as he experiences
them. Spade survives in a noir world, as long as he remains
tough. We know that is for a limited time, but Spade could
not be perceived as heroic in any other world. He's screwed
like the rest of us.
Best, Kerry
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evil men do lives after them http://www.murderoutthere.com
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