Dashiell Hammetts The Maltese Falcon - Essay Example

assignment is due Dashiell Hammett’s celebrated novel The Maltese Falcon gives a wonderful exposition of the nature of human life. The novel is different from any other contemporary novel as it gives a literary depiction of existentialism. The novel is continued to be read and analyzed as it throws light into different aspects of human life. Human values, cultural characteristics, and moral characteristics of the society are some of the factors that are explored in the novel. The protagonists of the novel attempt to crack several intricate puzzles through which we analyze the context and characteristics of the society presented in the novel. The novel highlights the typical human characteristics that existed in the contemporary society. Numerous choices and consistent hard work can make an individual thrive in the world. In the novel we find different human efforts that helped them define themselves. In the story we find Spade explaining the story of Flitcraft to Brigid. Flitcraft’s case has been solved by the detective. Mrs Flitcraft approached Spade to trace her missing husband. The man was missing though he left enough resources for the family to be comfortable. Spade extended his search to Canada. Flitcraft was a successful business who changed his course after an incident. Flitcraft met with an accident that nearly killed him. This made him to reflect on his life. The near-death experience compelled him to see whether he has made enough of his life. Analyzing his life made him understand that he has not fully utilized his life. He decided to move away from San Francisco and start a new better life. He just ensured that his family lacks nothing; they are well provided for. Even though Flitcraft started a new life it was no way different from his previous life. He married again. However, his spouse was very much like his first wife. The job he got was also similar to his earlier job. Spade explains the story of Flitcraft to Brigid. He explains the story as he must make the point that human beings cannot easily change. When an individual has defined himself, he cannot change easily. It is not easy to be transformed as another personality. Spade explains this story to bring the readers to the conclusion of the story. Through the novel Hammett says that human life needs numerous tough choices and hard work. Changing from San Francisco to Canada did not give any difference in life. Spade has defined himself in the novel. His behavior is found to be meeting the standards of universal acceptability. Actions of human beings should have a universal adaptability. We find Spade acquiring the Maltese Falcon. He is later made to take a difficult choice. His romantic relationship with Brigid brought him to a dilemma. She had killed her partner. He should either accept Brigid’s offer or submit her to police. He says “Listen. This isn’t a damned bit of good. You’ll never understand me, but I’ll try once more and then we’ll give it up. Listen. When a man’s partner is killed he’s supposed to do something about it. It doesn’t make any difference what you thought of him. He was your partner and you’re supposed to do something about it. Then it happens we were in the detective business. Well, when one of your organization gets killed it’s bad business to let the killer get away – bad for that one organization and bad for every detective everywhere. Third, I’m a detective and expecting me to run criminals down and let them go free is like asking a dog to catch a rabbit and let it go (Falcon, 1989).” Through this very statement Sam Spade defined his role as a detective. His part is to uphold justice as a detective. His words represent his behavior as a detective which he cannot change. He is to preserve his identity as a detective. His role as a detective includes catching criminals and establishing justice. According to certain ethical theories the behavior of an individual should meet the standards of universal applicability. The actions of an individual should be applicable for all people. That is what ethics is all about. Spade has met these standards in his role as a detective. His definition of himself as a detective includes the universal characteristics of a detective. If detectives catch criminals and make them go for other reasons, law enforcement would fail completely. The self-definition of Spade includes the importance of implementing universal ethics. The words of Spade, is part of the code as a detective. If he violates this ethics code, he is no longer a true detective. If Spade violates the ethics code he does not conform to the self-definition that he created. The self-definition he formed as a detective will get demolished if he leaves criminals for personal reasons. In the novel we find that Flitcraft defined himself as a successful businessman and a committed husband. This very definition does not change even if he changes. He changes his place; he changes his wife. He is however the same person. Even though he sought a better life and changed few things, the definition of his life did not change. Sam Spade also remained in the same definition. Sam Spade’s secretary, Effie Perine accepts him for what he is. She is the only person with whom he has a genuine relationship. Archer’s wife Iva Archer as well as Brigid loved to have a relationship with Spade. He however understood that relationship with these women would collapse the role he has as a detective. These relationships would ruin his definition as a detective. Spade does not want to destroy his image as a detective. Effie only accepts the true individual in Spade. Individuals do have a definition. When a person has defined himself he cannot change easily. No matter he changes his place and circumstances he is the same person. Even if he changes his surroundings and the relationships he cannot be a person of new definition. Transformation as a different personality is impossible. Works Cited Hammett, Dashiell. The Maltese Falcon. Vintage, 1989. Read More