Nicole

Response Paper #3 Classical Detective Fiction vs. Hard-boiled Detective Fiction When considering detective fiction as a whole, we understand four major elements that complete a successful detective fiction story. These four major elements consist of the commission of a crime, a detective who unwillingly or willingly attempts to solve the crime, a detailed description of steps taken to solve the case, and order is restored. Although these are the four major elements of detective fiction, we as readers must be aware of some of the major differences between classical detective fiction and hard-boiled detective fiction. When we analyze classical detective fiction we notice elements, such as making the case an intellectual puzzle and the detective is a detached observer. In contrast, hard-boiled detective fiction we get the sense of a moral dilemma and the detective being actively involved throughout the story. When we look at detective fiction stories, such as // Murders in Rue Morgue // and // The Maltese Falcon // we can notice these key elements that differentiate the two different types of detective fiction.

// Murders in Rue Morgue // gives readers a perfect example of a classical detective fiction story. Poe creates the “thinking machine” in his detective Dupin. Dupin solves the case as an intellectual puzzle, looking and analyzing every bit of evidence he can find. He analyzes the windows, the screaming, and the ribbon found outside in order to solve the case. Dupin analyzes everything analytically putting great thought in his process to solve a case. We also get the idea of the intellectual puzzle right from the beginning of the story through the idea of a shrewd game. Poe sets up the story as an intellectual puzzle by comparing the solving of a mystery to a game. Poe’s narrator states, “ But it is in matters beyond the limits of mere rule that the skill of the analyst is evinced. He makes, in silence, a host of observations and inferences” (3). Poe sets up the story in this way in order to give the readers the idea of Dupin’s highly intelligent thinking in order to solve intellectual puzzles. Another key element of classical detective fiction is that the detective is a detached observer, which falls true in // Murders in Rue Morgue //. Dupin solves this case not for the women, but for mere amusement. He did it as a way of proving all higher authority wrong. He is not attached to the mystery in any way, but willingly chooses to solve the intellectual puzzle.

// The Maltese Falcon // situates readers with a good idea of what hard-boiled fiction consists of. We see a very important moral dilemma with Sam Spade, especially at the end of the story. Sam Spade’s moral dilemma exists because of Brigid O’ Shaughnessy. Spade states, “I’m not Thursby. I’m not Jacobi. I won’t play the sap for you” (212). Spade is in a conflict with himself at the end of the story. Does he stay loyal to his job? Does he turn O’ Shaughnessy in regardless of there romantic past? Spade chooses to stay loyal to his job knowing he might never see her again. The other important factor is the detective being actively involved throughout the story. Spade plays an active role throughout the play. He solves the case himself and is involved and comes face to face with all the suspects of the mystery. There are multiple parts where characters go to Spade’s apartment in order for him to try and retrieve valuable answers. In all, there are various differences between classical detective fiction and hard-boiled detective fiction.Two major elements in classical detective fiction consist of the intellectual puzzle and detached detective. Hard-boiled detective fiction deals with and actively involved detective and moral dilemmas. Readers can say that both types of detective fiction have there own strengths and weaknesses. It is solely based off the reader’s preference. Response Essay #2 After reading detective fiction from authors such as Poe and Glaspell, we as readers become aware of the many differences between male detectives and female sleuths. When reading “A Jury of Her Peers” we get the idea of a female sleuth. Glaspell creates observant women that secretly solve the Mr. Wright murder case. While the females focus on “trifles” located in the kitchen, the men focus on the bigger ideas of the Wright household. “Murders in Rue Morgue” gives us the idea of the male detective. Poe creates the very intelligent Dupin, who is Poe’s male detective. Dupin’s “game playing” techniques and logical thinking are what help him as a successful detective. From a “A Jury of Her Peers” we analyze the emotional, sympathetic, and intuitive female sleuth. From “Murders in Rue Morgue” we investigate the thinking machine, shrewd game player, and the stoic who is not swayed by softer emotions as the male detective.
 * Different Techniques to Discovery**

Glaspell portrays the emotional, sympathetic, and intuitive female sleuths in the characters Mrs. Hale and Mrs. Peters. These two female characters examine the “trifles,” such as the cracked jars, the quilt, and the bird by using their knowledge of a women’s life. Unlike the men, the women try to find a motive for why Mrs. Wright has murdered her husband. They analyze the symbols being very observant of their communities. The quilt is one of the main symbols that lead the women to believe that Mrs. Wright has murdered her husband. Mrs. Hale states, “I wonder if she is going to quilt or just knot it.” If we recall Mr. Wright is killed by a rope that is tied around Mr. Wright’s neck, which technically is a knot. The men mock the women for focusing on such a small detail, but through intuition the women are starting to be positive Mrs. Wright is the murderer. We see the women sympathize with Mrs. Wright when they consider her past. Mrs. Hale states, “I heard she used to wear pretty clothes and be lively, when she was Minnie Foster, one of the town girls singing in the choir.” The women look beyond the men and try to place themselves in Mrs. Wright’s shoes. They have observed that who Mrs. Wright used to be before marriage is not who she is now. They believe that Mr. Wright is involved in this change. The women choose to keep their solution from the men with the motive being Mrs. Wright has killed her husband in order to be free.

Poe portrays the thinking machine, the shrewd game player, and the stoic who is not swayed by softer emotions in Dupin. In “Murders in Rue Morgue,” we are introduced to the idea of the shrewd game player right at the introduction of the story. Poe states, “But it is in matters beyond the limits of mere rule that the skill of the analyst is evinced. He makes, in silence, a host of observations and inferences” (3). Poe uses the example of a game player to give the readers an idea of how Dupin thinks and how he comes to successful solutions. The idea of a thinking machine is seen throughout the story. We see Dupin’s logical thinking in the mind reading episode because by the narrator’s expressions and reactions Dupin was able to tell what he was thinking. We especially see this thinking machine when Dupin investigates the crime scene and solves the case. The way he analyzes the windows and the sailors ribbon gives us a sense of this logical thinking and the techniques Dupin uses to come to a solution. The idea of the stoic who is not swayed by softer emotions is strongly seen in Dupin. Dupin is trying to solve this murder case for his own amusement and to prove the higher authorities wrong. He is not trying to solve the case for justice of the women, which is what a woman sleuth would have done.

In conclusion, there are distinct differences in detective fiction with male detectives and female sleuths. The idea of finding a motive and using their personal knowledge to solve cases is what makes the females so different from the men. They try to place themselves in the other woman’s shoes trying to figure out, why would she do this? They incorporate emotion, sympathy, and intuition in order to become successful in solving cases. The male detectives are somewhat more abstract. They do not get emotionally attached, as we can see in Dupin who solves the mystery for personal amusement instead of for the women. They are game players that use step-by-step techniques in order to solve mysteries. Both male detectives and female sleuths are significant in the different stories throughout detective fiction. It is truly up to the reader to choose which approach and characteristics they enjoy the most. Regardless of male or female each have their own approaches and techniques to reach a successful conclusion.

"The Murders in Rue Morgue"

When reading “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” readers can certainly agree with critics pertaining to the idea of the first modern detective fiction. When analyzing the four elements of detective fiction, we can see that these elements are seen throughout “The Murders in the Rue Morgue.” The idea of the commission of a crime is clear in the story as the incompetent police, Dupin, and the unnamed author try to solve this mystery case of who has killed the two women. In the story we have Dupin acting as detective, although only solving the case for his own amusement, he successfully solves the mystery and gains superiority over the police. Dupin gives us a detailed description of the steps he follows in order to solve the case, which continues to follow the elements of detection fiction. Lastly, order is restored at the end of the mystery because Dupin solves the mystery and the sailor provides confirmation. From the examples listed, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” correspond with my notion of what detective and mystery fiction should be because the story successfully follows the major elements of detective fiction.

Using one of Poe’s mysteries, which is the locked room mystery, we are introduced to the crime and the detective. Although Poe takes a while to give the readers the facts of the case, we as readers become aware of the crime. Two women have been murdered and the police are trying to find out the “Whodunit.” The description that Poe gives is also very violent and gory, which I think adds to the idea of detective fiction because as readers we can picture what is happening, making the situation more realistic. Dupin acts as detective for his own amusement and this is the character Poe creates to solve the mystery. Poe adds a somewhat lengthy introduction of Dupin, which is necessary because he is a major character in the story. The mind reading episode also provides the readers with examples of Dupin’s logical reasoning and imagination. This also adds to the idea of detection fiction because Poe gives the readers an idea of how Dupin will come to solve the mystery. Dupin also plays as a good detective and adds to the notion of detection fiction because of the strategies he uses to solve the murder mystery. The strategies of gathering facts, formulating a theory, taking steps to prove the theory, and explaining methods and solutions are all sufficient proof of a effective detective.

A detailed description and some sort of order being restored are essential to a detective fiction story. Dupin states, “I am now awaiting a person who, although perhaps not the perpetrator of these butcheries, must have been in some measure implicated in their perpetration”(16). Dupin basically reveals to the narrator as well as the readers that the mystery is solved and now the will await the person that will reveal the whole story. Using Dupin’s methods he gathers the facts such as the springs on the windows, the screaming voice had to be inhuman, and the tied ribbon to formulate a theory. All of this is proven true when the sailor arrives and reveals to both the narrator and readers the true story, which was an Ourang- Outang committed the murder. This becomes a major twist to the ending of the detection fiction story, but adds more astonishment to the narrator and reader.

In conclusion, Poe wrote a rather interesting and enjoyable detective fiction story. Although some parts were lengthy and somewhat dragged, each section led into each other to get closer and closer to solve the mystery. “The Murders in Rue Morgue” corresponds to my notion of a detective and mystery fiction because it follows the four major elements to detective fiction. It also adds a twist to the ending not following the classical “whodunit,” but Poe astonishes his reader by adding the conclusion of “whatdunit,” which Dupin successfully solves.