The Maltese Falcon

By Dashiell Hammett

“The Maltese Falcon” by Dashiell Hammett is a classic detective novel that employs various literary devices to enhance the intrigue and suspense of the story. Some of the devices used include symbolism, foreshadowing, dialogue, and characterization. The novel is known for its intricate plot, complex characters, and vivid imagery, making it a must-read for fans of the genre.

Themes 📚

1. The search for truth: Throughout the novel, the characters are constantly searching for the truth about the elusive Maltese Falcon, and their own motivations and desires.
2. Corruption and greed: The characters in the novel are driven by their desire for money, power, and status, which leads them to engage in unethical and illegal behavior.
3. The consequences of one’s actions: The novel shows how the characters’ actions have consequences that can be far-reaching and unexpected.
4. The dangers of obsession: The characters in the novel become obsessed with finding the Maltese Falcon, which leads them to make irrational and dangerous decisions.
5. The role of women in society: The novel portrays the limited opportunities available to women in the 1920s, and the ways in which they are objectified and exploited by men.
6. The fragility of trust: The characters in the novel often deceive and betray each other, showing the fragile nature of trust in a world of corruption and greed.
7. The tension between appearances and reality: The characters often hide their true motives and desires behind a façade of respectability and politeness, highlighting the tension between appearances and reality.
8. The struggle between law and justice: The novel explores the tension between following the letter of the law and achieving justice, as the characters engage in illegal and unethical behavior to achieve their goals.
9. The power of language: The novel’s dialogue is sharp and witty, highlighting the power of language to manipulate and deceive.
10. The nature of morality: The novel explores the nature of morality and whether it is possible to be moral in a corrupt and morally ambiguous world.

Use of Literary Devices ✍🏽

1. Symbolism: The Maltese Falcon itself is a powerful symbol that represents greed, power, and the corrupting influence of wealth. Other symbols include the statue of Brigid O’Shaughnessy and the bird-like characteristics of the characters.
2. Foreshadowing: The novel is filled with foreshadowing, particularly in the form of hints and clues about the true nature of the characters and their motivations.
3. Dialogue: The novel’s sharp and witty dialogue is a hallmark of the hardboiled detective genre, and helps to establish the characters’ personalities and motivations.
4. Imagery: The novel’s vivid imagery brings the streets of San Francisco and the characters’ physical appearances to life, and helps to establish the mood and tone of the story.
5. Flashback: The novel employs flashbacks to reveal important details about the characters’ pasts and their relationships with each other.
6. Irony: The novel is filled with irony, particularly in the ways in which the characters’ plans and schemes are foiled by unexpected events and circumstances.
7. Characterization: The novel’s complex and nuanced characters are carefully developed through their actions, dialogue, and interactions with other characters.
8. Point of view: The novel is told from the perspective of the detective, Sam Spade, giving the reader a unique and intimate insight into his thoughts and motivations.
9. Plot twists: The novel is full of unexpected plot twists and turns, keeping the reader on edge and engaged throughout the story.
10. Allusion: The novel makes allusions to various literary works and cultural phenomena, including Shakespeare, the Bible, and the myth of the Holy Grail, adding depth and meaning to the story.

Examples of Literary Devices 📋

Foreshadowing

Example	Explanation
1. The mysterious client	The mysterious client who visits Sam Spade foreshadows the complex web of deceit and intrigue that unfolds throughout the novel.
2. The death of Spade’s partner	The death of Spade’s partner, Miles Archer, foreshadows the danger and violence that pervade the story.
3. Spade’s mistrust of Brigid O’Shaughnessy	Spade’s initial mistrust of Brigid O’Shaughnessy foreshadows the eventual revelation of her true motives and involvement in the plot.

Symbolism

Example	Explanation
1. The Maltese Falcon	The Maltese Falcon itself serves as a symbol for greed, obsession, and the corrupting influence of wealth and power.
2. The black bird	The black bird is a symbol of the elusive nature of truth and the deception that pervades the story.
3. The city of San Francisco	The city of San Francisco symbolizes the dark, gritty, and dangerous world in which the characters operate.

Dialogue

Example	Explanation
1. Spade’s interactions with Brigid	The dialogue between Spade and Brigid reveals their complicated and shifting relationship, as well as Spade’s growing mistrust of her.
2. Spade’s conversations with police	Spade’s conversations with the police showcase his resourcefulness and determination to solve the case on his own terms.
3. The exchanges between the various criminals	The dialogue between the various criminals involved in the search for the falcon provides insight into their motivations and the complex web of alliances and betrayals that drives the plot.

Flashback

Example	Explanation
1. Spade’s memories of his past cases	Flashbacks to Spade’s past cases serve to provide context for his current investigation and reveal his methods and character.
2. The history of the Maltese Falcon	Flashbacks to the history of the Maltese Falcon provide the necessary background information for understanding its significance and the motivation of the characters seeking it.
3. Brigid’s past	Flashbacks to Brigid’s past reveal her history of deception and manipulation, providing insight into her true nature.

Suspense

Example	Explanation
1. The search for the Maltese Falcon	The search for the Maltese Falcon creates suspense as the characters race against time and each other to find the valuable artifact.
2. The unknown loyalties of the characters	The suspense in the novel is heightened by the unknown loyalties of the characters, as it is unclear who can be trusted and who is hiding ulterior motives.
3. The threat of violence	The ever-present threat of violence throughout the novel adds to the suspense, as the characters navigate a dangerous world filled with treachery and deceit.

Irony

Example	Explanation
1. The true value of the Maltese Falcon	The irony of the Maltese Falcon’s true value is revealed when it turns out to be a worthless fake after all the dangerous pursuits and sacrifices made by the characters.
2. Spade’s code of ethics	The irony of Spade’s code of ethics is that, despite being a morally ambiguous character, he ultimately upholds a sense of justice and refuses to be swayed by greed.
3. Brigid’s final betrayal	The irony of Brigid’s final betrayal is that she attempts to manipulate Spade, who has already seen through her lies and deceptions, ultimately sealing her own fate.

Setting

Example	Explanation
1. San Francisco	The setting of San Francisco serves to create a gritty, noir atmosphere that enhances the novel’s themes of corruption, greed, and deception.
2. Spade’s office	Spade’s office serves as a central hub for the novel’s events and provides a backdrop for many key interactions between the characters.
3. The various criminal hideouts	The various criminal hideouts throughout the novel serve to underscore the seedy underbelly of the city and the dangerous world the characters inhabit.

Motif

Example	Explanation
1. Greed	The motif of greed runs throughout the novel, as the characters are driven by their desire for wealth, power, and the Maltese Falcon.
2. Deception	Deception is a recurring motif in the novel, as the characters constantly lie, manipulate, and betray one another in pursuit of their own interests.
3. Betrayal	The motif of betrayal is evident in the complex web of alliances and double-crosses that form the core of the novel’s plot.

Imagery

Example	Explanation
1. The description of the Maltese Falcon	The detailed imagery used to describe the Maltese Falcon emphasizes its allure and the power it holds over the characters.
2. The dark and foggy streets of San Francisco	The vivid imagery of the dark and foggy streets of San Francisco creates a sense of danger and uncertainty that pervades the novel.
3. The characters’ appearances	The imagery used to describe the characters’ appearances helps to convey their personalities, motivations, and moral alignments.

Allusion

Example	Explanation
1. The title’s reference to the Maltese Falcon	The title’s allusion to the Maltese Falcon, a legendary artifact, creates intrigue and sets the stage for the novel’s central conflict.
2. Biblical references	Biblical references throughout the novel, such as the story of the Garden of Eden, serve to underscore the novel’s themes of temptation, sin, and moral ambiguity.
3. References to classic detective fiction	Allusions to classic detective fiction, such as the works of Arthur Conan Doyle and Dashiell Hammett’s own previous novels, serve to position “The Maltese Falcon” within the larger tradition of the genre.

FAQs 💭