Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism - Essay Example

Masculinity as a Prerequisite of Traditional American Heroism Early documentations have predicted a particular trend of heroism among characters and actors. Up to the modern times, the concept of linking heroism to masculinity has been rampant despite some quarters giving equal role to male and female characters. However, much needs to be done to fully embrace equality in the role-play. The underlying psychological, behavioural and self-presentation attitudes have painted a masculinity ideology that continue dominate the mindsets of many people across the world. Considering the traditional American view of heroism, as brought forth by the novel ‘The Big Sleep’ by Raymond Chandler and the film ‘The Maltese Falcon’ directed by John Huston, masculinity is a prerequisite. In the early way of thinking, male characters were seen to intervene on the behalf of the feminine ones (Cohen 1). This view has been portrayed in several early documented resources. Looking at Raymond Chandler’s novel, ‘The Big Sleep’, General Sternwood makes an intervention for her two daughters, Carmen and Vivian. Sternwood seeks the help of a private investigator, Philip Marlowe to intervene in an attempted blackmail against Carmen by Arthur Geiger, a bookseller (Chandler 10). He is further tasked with the responsibility of establishing about the whereabouts of Rusty Regan, Vivian’s husband who has since disappeared. The heroic characters in the entire incidence are masculine individuals. The case presents a situation whereby the feminine are not considered heroic. This presents a situation whereby the chances of having an ultimate masculine hero to be too high while their counterparts with very slim chances. The main role in the traditional setting of movies has shown a predictable pattern of masculine heroes. ‘The Maltese Falcon’, is a movie that reveals an iconic private investigator, Sam Spade dealing with three complicated individuals, all these people are working to obtain the Maltese falcon. The man is expressed as witty and capable of finding solutions. Despite losing his co-investigator, Spade gets to the length of conducting his independent investigations. Spade is systematic in his conduct and ends up unearthing several truths about the incidences surrounding the deaths of Arthur and Thursby. He successfully confronts law enforcers. The police question him concerning the murder of Archer and Thursby. These murders occur on the day when Miss Ruth Wonderly was meant to meet Thursby, while Archer had accepted to follow her in an effort to get her sister who had gone missing. The Falcon is a highly coveted treasure and attracts interests from different persons. Spade finds himself at the centre stage of all this despite the incidences surrounded by murder and suspicion. Spade was suspected by Archer’s wife to have killed him in order to inherit her, but he got out of the loop. Joel Cairo enticed him with $5,000 fee to find the falcon, he further pointed spade his gun as a threat so that he could look for it in the office. Spade was not cowed, he knocked Cairo down and when he was in his right mind he considered hiring Spade. His masculine power is shown when the movie shows him bringing Cairo down, this sends a message that the ultimate hero is a person with unmatched muscle power. Throughout the film, Spade appears bold, unshaken and cunning. He is a man whose heroism has been expressed by the treatment he gives to other characters and the prowess he depicts in handling every incidence. Masculine characters in the Chandler’s novel depict some higher level of accomplishment. Marlowe is a man capable of engaging in investigations reliably. He is able to track the behind the scenes pornographic activities in Geiger’s bookshop. In this scene, it appears the source of the blackmail is the involvement of Carmen in pornographic activities. This incidence shows a situation where feminine characters are used for the benefit of the masculine ones. In the bookstore, the role of a clerk given to Agnes pronounces masculine dominance. Agnes ignorantly mentions to the investigator that the bookstore was involved in pornographic lending. Marlowe is able to confront Brody and Agnes for alleged blackmail against Carmen. Despite the threat Carmen brings in the room demanding the photos at gunpoint, Marlowe keeps her calm and forces her out. This portrays the ultimate heroism in the masculine characters. The ability to confront an individual in possession of a gun is a real test of heroism. Male dominance has been portrayed throughout the film. In one occasion, Spade counters Wilmer’s threats and is able to meet his boss, Kasper Gutman, the third man to offer him the opportunity to look for the Falcon. This time round, Gutman offers Spade $ 25,000 plus a quarter of the sale. Spade ended up implicating Wilmer by plotting with Gutman and Cairo to lie that Wilmer was involved in the deaths of Thursby and Archer, in addition to $ 10,000 for the purchase of Falcon. While the Falcon was a fake one, Gutman and Cairo planned a return to Istanbul to continue looking for the treasure, but before they could leave, Spade was on their case. He called the police and told about their whereabouts. In addition, he reveals the secret O'Shaughnessy had shared with her concerning the murder with the police. His disregard in keeping a secret for the woman she had admired depicts his heroism. This trend has continued to appear in other movies filmed in the first half of the 20th Century (Gates 2). In both the film and the novel, it appears that the masculine characters are the ones that are fully exposed to the truth of the matter. The truth is revealed either by fellow male characters or by female ones. Marlowe interrogated Agnes and was able to unearth a lot of truth concerning about Geiger’s secret business (Chandler 32). In addition, he talked to Brody who exposed the full incidence surrounding the mysterious death of Geiger. While most of the characters remain in the dark concerning the occurrences, Marlowe kept in touch with the incidences. Therefore, he appears in the end as a heroic character. Examining the film ‘The Maltese Falcon’, Shade has a special way of getting out of tricky situations. He is quite informed. Miss Ruth Wonderly is a victim of the exposed truth as she is implicated with the murders of Archer and Thursby. In both cases, it is clear that the masculine characters appears victorious as the feminine ones have been revealed as the victims. This brings out the traditional American view that associated masculinity with heroism. Success has been associated with the main masculine character throughout the film. Sam Spade is the main character in the film advances from step to step of success to another. The success is his own contribution in his ability to outdo the rest. When confronted with a challenging situation, Spade is seen to be calm but at the end of it, he strongly appears victorious. Wilmer tried to confront him but he was too smart for him. He outdid his threats and got an opportunity to get a deal with Wilmer’s boss, Gutman. The film depicts the man as well built a tactful in dealing with possible threats. He also overpowers Cairo who threatens him with a gun. In addition, the mention of police and linking him with the murders did not seem to bother him. Masculinity is seen as the key player to the success in a challenging situation (Cohen 1). The masculine character, Marlowe in the novel is very instrumental in both minor and complex engagements. Despite experiencing threatening situations in an effort to accomplish his tasks, Marlowe was not moved. He outstood in all situations. After taking the gun from Carmen, he returned it to her but she requested him to teach her how to shoot. As a depiction of the general weakness that the novelist links with the feminine, Carmen plotted to kill him but unknowingly he had loaded the gun with blanks (Chandler 43). This incidence makes Marlowe to be even more investigative, he unearths that Eddie Mars in collaboration with Vivian plotted the disappearance of Rusty Regan. At the end of the novel, Marlowe successfully accomplishes his task. He is able to help his client get the whole truth of the matter. The expressions relating this masculine character with the success achieved affirms the trend that is seen across the early materials in the American film industry, works of art and the fictional works such as novels (Gates 2). The two pieces of work clearly show the common perception among the Americans. Americans have high regarded for muscle power and has been linked with the most successful person, who in most instances has appeared as the main character. The notion has continued to change where the strongest and most masculine character is not necessarily the one who emerges victorious. Raymond chandler in his novel ‘The Big Sleep’ depicts Marlowe as the heroic character for his capacity to outdo others hence emerging the most successful individual in discharging their mandate. On the other hand, the wonderful articulation of events in the film ‘The Maltese Falcon’ as directed by John Huston in 1941 reveals Sam Spade as a successful investigator with the strength and guts to outdo the rest. These materials affirm that in the traditional American setup, masculinity was the prerequisite of heroism. Works Cited Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep. (New York: Random, 1988), 96. 2 Dennis Porter, The pursuit of Crime (New Haven: Yale University Press, 1981) 39. Cohen, Jeffrey J. Mediveal Masculinities: Heroism, Sanctity and Gender. 1995. Web. 11 Nov, 2013. http://www8.georgetown.edu/departments/medieval/labyrinth/e-center/interscripta/mm.html Gates, Philippa. The Three Sam Spades, the Shifting Model of American Masculinity in the Three Films of the Maltese Falcon. Detroit, Michigan: Wayne State University Press, 48201-1309. 2008. Youtube, Maltase Falcon. March 28, 2011. Web. 11 Nov, 2013 www.youtube.com/watch?v=zph0VqeV4ls&list. Read More