Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon
This essay examines the vision of society presented in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930). In contrast to critics who argue that Hammett brought a Marxist perspective to the novel, reflecting his support to the Communist Party later in the decade, this current article argues that The Malte...
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| Language: | English |
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University of Graz
2024-03-01
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| Series: | AmLit |
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| Online Access: | http://media.obvsg.at/AC17129202-2001, https://resolver.obvsg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-ubg:4-49486 |
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| author | Zumoff, Jacob A. |
| author_facet | Zumoff, Jacob A. |
| author_sort | Zumoff, Jacob A. |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This essay examines the vision of society presented in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930). In contrast to critics who argue that Hammett brought a Marxist perspective to the novel, reflecting his support to the Communist Party later in the decade, this current article argues that The Maltese Falcon presents a vision of society with no fundamental order or meaning, in which all rules are arbitrary, and in which every attempt to present a grand narrative fails. This nihilist conception of society is in keeping with the rise of modernism and reflects the shift from a rural, agricultural, traditionalist society to an urban, industrial one. It is not, however, a Marxist view. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-90aa8bf753af4c06bb2e34491dba76e7 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2789-889X |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | University of Graz |
| record_format | Article |
| series | AmLit |
| spelling | doaj-art-90aa8bf753af4c06bb2e34491dba76e72025-08-20T02:21:25ZengUniversity of GrazAmLit2789-889X2024-03-01Jahrgang 4 (2024)Heft 1415910.25364/27.4:2024.1.3AC17129202Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese FalconZumoff, Jacob A.This essay examines the vision of society presented in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon (1930). In contrast to critics who argue that Hammett brought a Marxist perspective to the novel, reflecting his support to the Communist Party later in the decade, this current article argues that The Maltese Falcon presents a vision of society with no fundamental order or meaning, in which all rules are arbitrary, and in which every attempt to present a grand narrative fails. This nihilist conception of society is in keeping with the rise of modernism and reflects the shift from a rural, agricultural, traditionalist society to an urban, industrial one. It is not, however, a Marxist view.http://media.obvsg.at/AC17129202-2001, https://resolver.obvsg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-ubg:4-49486communismcrime novelsdashiell hammettgreat depressionmarxism |
| spellingShingle | Zumoff, Jacob A. Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon AmLit communism crime novels dashiell hammett great depression marxism |
| title | Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon |
| title_full | Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon |
| title_fullStr | Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon |
| title_full_unstemmed | Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon |
| title_short | Politics and Society in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon |
| title_sort | politics and society in dashiell hammett s the maltese falcon |
| topic | communism crime novels dashiell hammett great depression marxism |
| url | http://media.obvsg.at/AC17129202-2001, https://resolver.obvsg.at/urn:nbn:at:at-ubg:4-49486 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT zumoffjacoba politicsandsocietyindashiellhammettsthemaltesefalcon |