Literary Criticism 1
"The politics of Dashiell Hammett's Red Harvest."
By J.A. Zumoff
Analysis
Confirmation Bias
With the acquisition of knowledge that Hammett has been involved in the communist party, analysis of the novel, Red Harvest, has been simplified into a commentary on the faults of fascism and categorized into a “proletarian novel” through and through. J.A. Zumoff argues against the definitive claim put onto the novel. Often, those who analyze the novel overlook details that disprove their argument towards a anti-marxist view because they grew tunnel vision and are only searching for confirmation other than evidence as a whole. One such example, as Zumoff points out, is that Hammett’s “relationship with the Communist Party” was in large, heightened years after Hammett’s publishing of the Red Harvest.
Hammett’s Political Involvement
Dashiell Hammett’s political involvement with the Communist Party followed his time at the Pinkerton Detective Agency and was almost entirely formed in the late 1930’s which is close to a decade off of when the Red Harvest was published. The Pinkertons were essentially an opposing side of the anti-fascist and pro marxist ideals as they even went as far as “employing violence and deceit against the efforts of organized labour to improve workers’ conditions”. The publishing time of the Red Harvest falls between Hammett’s time at Pinkerton and his joining of the Communist Party. Objectively, a “proletarian novel” could not have been made in this transitory phase that Hammett had gone through and is a basis of Zumoff’s strongest pieces of affirmation.
Literary Criticism 2
"'That Which Is the Case' The Novels of Dashiell Hammett."
By R.H.W. Dillard
Analysis
Summary
Hammett’s unique writing and unparalleled story telling brought his novels to unmatched levels that other “mystery novels” did not achieve. Hammett’s novels do not follow a cut throat and predictable foundation. His stories are crafted to be unpredictable or special. R.H.W. Dillard compares his writing to other sleuth pieces to the likes of Newton and Einstein. Other mystery literature categorized “unchanging” or “absolute” as “Newton’s laws of motion” while Hammett’s writing is of varying capability as “Einstein’s dynamic universe”. Dillard advocates that Hammett’s writing takes a higher moral standpoint with an increasingly serious tone with the backing of reality’s rules. Reality can often be unpredictable and Hammett’s writing style mimics in which the inconsistent real world fluctuates day to day. Hammett’s writing tasks the mask of a mystery, but exudes a tale of difficulty and convoluted discrepancies. This complexity is mostly achieved with the beautifully woven characters that are crafted by Hammett. The detectives or protagonists of most of Hammett’s novels have to battle internal challenges along the way, not just finding a solution or answer to a crime or incident. The characters feel more than a simple leader to the stories, but instead are emotional and moral humans amidst a sea of immorality steering through a storm of uncertainty.
Literary Criticism 3
"Lead birds and falling beams."
By Dean Defino
Analysis
Flitcraft Background
Dean Defino finds deep meaning in a certain subplot in Dashiell Hammett’s The Maltese Falcon. This specific story is a past experience of the protagonist of the novel, Sam Spade. Sam Spade was ordered to find the husband of a woman that had been reported missing years prior. When Spade confronts him, the man, Flitcraft, explains why he left years ago. Flitcraft was almost crushed by a falling beam that fell from a construction site. This event brought him to change his entire life in hopes of avoiding such an occurrence from ever happening again. Ironically, his new life and family mirrored his old life before the beam.
Flitcraft Meaning
Defino explains how the story is about the “illusions of order” and also how “models of the past give meaning to present hopes”. People tend to find meaning in every little action or event in life. Order is something many strive to take control of. The fear of death led to the fear of life as Flitcraft experienced. But this fear did not change his situation as he continued the same habits that once held him petrified. Meaning can not be found in the beam because of its chaotic nature and its “significance” is entirely “subjunctive” as Defino puts it. Defino summarizes how this subjunctive truth is a “poison” that Hammett’s characters are confronted with, not just Flitcraft. Trying to locate an ultimatum in a singular “image”, only to destroy them from the inside as it once did with Flitcraft.
Literary Criticism 4
"Lead birds and falling beams."
By Walter Blair
Analysis
Point of View
Walter Blair places point of view in Hammett’s novels as a wonderful strength and an important part in making Hammett’s writing the shining star it is known to be. Hammett utilizes action in his stories to let the story play out for itself without character opinions or thoughts clouding exposition or groundbreaking plot points. By using the objective way of storytelling, much more of the interpretation is left to the readers which leads to a greater engagement especially for a mystery which is what Hammett specializes in. Blair notes that scenes of shock without dialogue or inner thoughts create greater suspense, notably in the novel, Red Harvest.
Characters
Walter Blair’s second strength of Hammett’s writing is the way that the characters are structured in every novel. Specifically, in the novel The Maltese Falcon, the characters’ appearances lead to deceitful effect that forms better unpredictability in his stories. By creating characters in this way, Hammett’s novels become much more memorable and interesting. Blair notes that multiple characters in The Maltese Falcon are set up as more cowardly with their appearance, but end up being the most dangerous or rowdy. A surprise that shifts the narrative giving into an increased sense of uncertainty on top of the already complex mystery placed in the beginning.