Samantha

 Samantha Mauer June 6, 2010 Professor Gruesser Essay 3- Hard boiled fiction versus classic detection

Detective fiction is one of the most thought provoking literary forms when it comes to reading about mysteries. Not only does it make the reader think but captivates the readers interest immediately and often encompasses them within the story plot. Hard boiled detection and classic detection are two of the most common forms of mystery. Some commonalities that both types of stories share include: crimes, detectives, strategies used to solve the crime and time. Although, both forms of detection share similarities they also contain differences. Such as: which gender solves the crime, clues left behind and the point of view from which the story is told from. Most crimes are committed out of lust, greed or hatred. For instance, in the novel ‘The Big Sleep’ by Raymond Chandler, the detective lusts after Phyllis for her attention. She, in turn, uses her femininity as a device to get what she wants; which is to collect on her husband’s life insurance policy due to her jealousy of his previous marriage and his long term neglect during their marriage. Walter who is the detective kills Phyllis’ husband by hiding in the car and snapping his neck while she drives to the train station. Walter performs this action because he thinks that he is ingratiated with Phyllis and wants to be with her forever. It is important to note the differences that occur between both types of mysteries can include: gender differences in the crime solver, types of hints and tips which lead to the resolution and the perspective of the narrator. For instance, in hard boiled detection the detective is usually a male and considered to be very witty. While in classic detection the detective may be male or female. However, frequently it is the female who seems to outsmart their male counter parts and figure out the crimes more logically. Looking at all of the details, thinking outside of the box and using prior knowledge or experience to aid in her discovery of the perpetrator. In addition, the perspective of the narrator changes from mystery to mystery. When reading hard boiled detection the narrator, who is usually the major character, tells the actual story and the story is written in first person point of view. As opposed to classic detection where the narrator tells the story and the story is written in third person point of view. Finally, hard boiled detection and classic detection both contain similarities and differences within each mystery. Each detection story is different, however, all follow similar story lines.

Samantha Mauer June 2, 2010 Essay 2 – Differences between Male and Female Counterparts Professor Gruesser

Males and females think differently on the same ideas and issues. There are significant differences about how each sex interprets and analyzes the same information. For example, when women say “We need to talk” to a man the male may interpret that statement as: “We’re breaking up or that the female may be pregnant”. Whereas, the female means that she really wants to talk. The vice-versa is also true, about that same statement when a male counterpart says the same thing. The female may interprets it as: “We’re breaking up or that they bottle their emotions up for later use. Because the male does not agree with what happened in a particular situation or something that the female did to anger him”. Women and men play various roles within society. Whether those roles are pre-established roles or not, each sex has a specific role or task to be performed. For instance, when looking at detective fiction men and women function and think differently when solving a mystery. Men use more logic based thinking methods and do not think outside of the box. They get to the point of the mystery and ask simple questions in order to solve the mystery at hand. As opposed to a women’s thought process where she will tend to involve not only her emotions but her relation to what has taken place. Women tend to be more melodramatic and sympathetic towards the particular situation. A second observation that can be made is that through all of the readings so far in class, the men have been the one’s to use weapons and violence to get the answers that they have wanted. Whereas, the women have used their knowledge of other women and look at the smaller details of the mystery to solve the crime that took place. For example, in //__“A Jury of her Peers”__// by Susan Glaspell the women are the ones to solve the mystery of Mr. Wright’s death by paying attention to the small signals. Such as the dead bird and patch of material that was not finished correctly. On pages, 10 - 11 of the internet print out the author writes: Mrs. Hale’s hand was on the sewing basket in which the box was concealed. She felt that she ought to take her hand off the basket. She did not seem able to. He picked up one of the quilt blocks which she had piled on to cover the box. Her eyes felt like fire. She has a feeling that if he took up the basket she would snatch it from him. But he did not take it up. With another little laugh, he turned away, saying: Well Henry, said the county attorney facetiously, “at least we found out that she was not going to quilt it. She was going to – what is it you call it, ladies?’ Mrs. Hale’s hand was against the pocket of her coat. “We call it – knot it, Mr. Henderson”. This example defines how men are therefore, outsmarted by the women. The men rule she Mrs. Wright went crazy and that she will be convicted anyway because of the plain fact that she is a woman. You can see that the men are playing the women’s role down as being feeble minded and weak. A third example is when the roles are reversed. In the last chapter of the //__“The Maltese Falcon”__//by Dashiell Hammett. Sam Spade who is the main detective on the case about the falcon becomes emotionally invested with Miss Brigid O’Shaughnessy. On page 207 the last paragraph an example of how Spade became so invested with Miss O’Shaughnessy is seen when he states: “That’s a lie,” Spade said. “You had Thursby hooked and you knew it. He was a sucker for women. His record shows that the only falls he took were over women. And once a chump, always a chump. Maybe you didn’t know his record, but you’d know you had him safe.” She blushed and looked timidly at him. He said: “you wanted to get him out of the way before Jacobi came with the look. What was your scheme?” (Continued to page 217). Spade states that he loves her and will wait for her to get out of jail. While Miss O’Shaughnessy tries to play her head games with Spade so he will take the fall. But Spade realizes what she has done and states: “I will not play the sap for you”. Meaning that since other men have died and taken the fall for her she thinks that she will be ale to get away with her plan. However, is unsuccessful because Spade even though he has an attraction towards her will not compromise his own standards or morals for her. Finally, men and women use different methods and criteria to solve a mystery case. The development of character depending on the sex of the detective is different and the though process in how each sex goes about solving the case is differently. Men and women interpret information differently and analyze different parts or clues about a case. In turn, leading to different evidence and outcomes of the final questions being posed by the detectives. Who has done it? Where did it take place? How was the crime committed and who solved the case?

The story “//__Murders in the Rue Morgue__//” by Edgar Allen Poe has both strong and weak points. A few strong points include Poe’s style of writing, use of description and detail and capturing the reader’s interests. Meanwhile, some weaker points include the character development of Dupin, the section on analysis, and the sequence of events. One strong point about Poe’s writing style is that he uses vivid and descriptive language when writing about a series of events. For instance, on page 7 of the internet print out Poe writes: "//Paul Dumas//, physician, deposes that he was called to view the bodies about day-break. They were both then lying on the sacking of the bedstead in the chamber where Mademoiselle L. was found. The corpse of the young lady was much bruised and excoriated. The fact that it had been thrust up the chimney would sufficiently account for these appearances. The throat was greatly chafed. There were several deep scratches just below the chin, together with a series of livid spots which were evidently the impression of fingers. The face was fearfully discolored, and the eye-balls protruded. The tongue had been partially bitten through. A large bruise was discovered upon the pit of the stomach, produced, apparently, by the pressure of a knee. In the opinion of M. Dumas, Mademoiselle L'Espanaye had been throttled to death by some person or persons unknown. The corpse of the mother was horribly mutilated. All the bones of the right leg and arm were more or less shattered. The left //tibia// much splintered, as well as all the ribs of the left side. Whole body dreadfully bruised and discolored. It was not possible to say how the injuries had been inflicted. A heavy club of wood, or a broad bar of iron—a chair—any large, heavy, and obtuse weapon would have produced such results, if wielded by the hands of a very powerful man. No woman could have inflicted the blows with any weapon. The head of the deceased, when seen by witness, was entirely separated from the body, and was also greatly shattered. The throat had evidently been cut with some very sharp instrument—probably with a razor.” The readability of today’s society and brings a new look upon death and murder as more of an entertainment factor rather than of morality or morbidity. Poe’s writing gives us the example of a more animated text full of narration and presents a series of events in a more detailed order. While at the same time holding the readers’ attention and interests. Poe also, does not go straight to the point of what he himself is writing but rather tells the reader in the opening pages exactly what happens. While the reader does not pick up or understand the clues given to them. In a few instances the story contained too much depth and gore for a reader who is not accustomed to Poe’s writings. In addition, the graphic nature of the overall story was good but had a considerable amount of description and detail. The way that the women die is not for the weak stomached or the easily upset able. The description of their death’s can paint a picture in the reader’s mind of what happened and what the scene looked like. Furthermore, in my opinion the essay fell short of explaining much background information. Such as, the proper development of the main character. One weak point about Poe’s writing would be that the development of Dupin’s character was not fully developed. There is still some mystery left to his character. All the reader knows is what the narrator says. Poe writes: “Residing in Paris during the spring and part of the summer of 18—, I there became acquainted with a Monsieur C. Auguste Dupin. This young gentleman was of an excellent—indeed of an illustrious family. Books, indeed, were his sole luxuries, and in Paris these are easily obtained. Our first meeting was at an obscure library in the Rue Montmartre, where the accident of our both being in search of the same very rare and very remarkable volume, brought us into closer communion. We saw each other again and again. I was astonished, too, at the vast extent of his reading; and, above all, I felt my soul enkindled within me by the wild fervor, and the vivid freshness of his imagination.” (Page 2 – 3 internet print out). The development of this character was not detailed nor does the reader actually get to know Dupin as a person. In addition, when reading this work the reader himself/herself can transform into the character of Dupin. For example, in the ending of the story the reader is left with an excess amount of possibilities of what happens next to the sailor, after he sells the Orangutan. The ending allows for the imagination to flow freely and makes its own conclusions much like Dupin’s character. Replacing the reader and putting them in Dupin’s shoes. A second weak point would be, in the discourse of analysis section before the reader gets to the actual story. This section was too lengthy and wordy. It threw the reader off with what was happening and made the reader confused and frustrated. The opening of his discourse when reading it further in-depth and after reading the story itself made more sense and cleared up a lot of confusion that the reader may have had previous to the reading. Reading this story reminded me of another story entitled “Paper Pills”. Paper Pills had a similar layout to that of Murder’s yet was not as gory or bloody. The structure was the same. However, with the length of this discourse it also, deterred the reader and made them not want to continue reading. Finally, this work of detective fiction I thought to be rather a combination of elusive detective fiction and illusive one. The elusive factor of the story takes place in the beginning during the discourse of analysis. The story was more illusive in the fact that it mixed reality with the imagination in a sense of how the women died. The way they died was in-fathomable. Individuals do not generally die in such a harsh and graphic manner. However, cases of such a nature can not be ruled out completely if you look at it from today’s societal point of views. In addition, throughout the reading one can observe that the reality of the narrator is misconstrued the entire time during the case of solving the women’s killer. While Dupin solves the murder case the narrator has conjuring in his mind of what happened to the women.

Samantha Mauer May 19, 2010 Professor Gruesser ** __Essay # 1__ ** My assessment of the story “//__The Murders in the Rue Morgue”__// by Poe is that it is an appealing new genre that speaks to individuals. It is relatable to today’s society and brings a new look upon death and murder as more of an entertainment factor rather than of morality or morbidity. Poe’s style of writing is vivid and descriptive where as most detective fiction writers go straight to the point. Poe captures not only the reader’s interest but also, keeps the reader’s attention throughout the entire reading. In addition, Poe’s writing of this particular story does have a few major down falls. For instance, in the discourse of analysis section before the reader gets to the actual story. This section was too lengthy and wordy. It threw the reader off with what was happening and made the reader confused and frustrated. The opening of his discourse when reading it further in-depth and after reading the story itself made more sense and cleared up a lot of confusion that the reader may have had previous to the reading. However, with the length of this discourse it also, deterred the reader and made them not want to continue reading. The story itself seems to fall short of what I define as detective fiction. I feel that detective fiction should have mystery and suspense. Whereas, this story was too wordy and dragged at certain points. A few instances the story contained too much depth and gory for a reader who is not accustomed to Poe’s writings. In addition, the graphic nature of the overall story was good but had a considerable amount of description and detail. This story with the detail about the women’s deaths is not for the weak stomached or the easily upset able.

Furthermore, in my opinion the essay fell short of explain much background information. Such as, a proper ending that the reader is accustomed too. Where the person wronged gets justice rather than the killer going free. I do like the ending though because it leaves the reader with an excess amount of possibilities of what happens next to the sailor after he sells the Orangutan. The ending allows for the imagination to flow freely and makes its own conclusions much like one of the character traits of Dupin himself. Replacing the reader and putting them in Dupin’s shoes.

Finally, this work of detective fiction I thought to be rather a combination of elusive detective fiction and illusive one. The elusive factor of the story takes place in the beginning during the discourse of analysis. The story was more illusive in the fact that it mixed reality with the imagination in a sense of how the women died. The way they died was in-fathomable. Individuals do not generally die in such a harsh and graphic manner. However, cases of such a nature can not be ruled out completely if you look at it from today’s societal point of views. In addition, throughout the reading one can observe that the reality of the narrator is misconstrued the entire time during the case of solving the women’s killer. While Dupin solves the murder case the narrator has conjuring in his mind of what happened to the women.