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The setting of The Big Sleep is Los Angeles in the 1930s, the era of the Great Depression. Raymond Chandler must have been greatly affected or intrigued by the Great Depression in some way. Chandler uses the setting to help convey the theme and importance of money during the time period. In his work, The Big Sleep, money plays a role in the storyline. Characters are bribed and blackmailed and are forced to pay large amounts of money to Geiger so their nude pictures don't get out into the public.
Chandler does an excellent job of developing the characters in the novel. Raymond Chandler allows us to learn about the characters through various literary devices. One device is that of point of view. The book is written in first person tense. In the narration from Marlowe, we learn more about both he and the people whom he describes through his perspective. Another device that the author uses to develop the characters is characterization. Carmen Sternwood is characterized as a young giggly and flirtatious girl. The author describes each character with vivid descriptions. The Antagonist of the story, Eddie Mars, is a pure foil to the protagonist, Philip Marlowe. Marlowe's actions and morals oppose and contradict those of Mars. Marlowe helps General Sternwood by investigating the case of what Geiger is up to. Mars and Geiger seems to be linked to all evil that occurs in the novel.
The author views pornography as something that leads to negativity. Pornography causes the whole chain of events to occur within the novel. Chandler uses the setting, Los Angeles in the 1930s after the Depression to create a depressing, negative and sad mood. The common theme of death throughout the novel also leaves the reader feeling down.
Do you enjoy plenty of characters? Countless events due to chain reactions? Mysteries or detective novels? I do, and if you do to, then this book is for you. Once you pick it up, you won't want to put it down.