Release time：2021-04-20

The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon Mind Map The Maltese Falcon is a 1930 detective novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. The Maltese Falcon is also a 1941 American film noir written and directed by John Huston.

Edited at 2021-04-20 03:44:07

Second Hand Poet

The Maltese Falcon

Second Hand Poet

Recommended to you
Outline

The Maltese Falcon

The Maltese Falcon is a 1930 detective novel by American writer Dashiell Hammett. The Maltese Falcon is also a 1941 American film noir written and directed by John Huston.

Themes

In the shadows of 1920s San Francisco, morally ambiguous detective Sam Spade unravels the mystery of a stolen statue and discovers the lies and violence shrouding its recovery. The Maltese Falcon explores the question of how honor and justice can exist in a world defined by deceit and greed.

Deception

Deception is at the root of most relationships, clouding the ability to tell truth from lies and undermining trust.

Hard-Boiled Detective

Sam Spade represents both traditional ideas about masculinity and moral ambiguity.

Femme Fatale

Female sexuality is presented as dangerous, a secret weapon used by devious women to control others.

Main Characters

Effie Perine

Loyal, dependable secretary

Sam Spade

Cynical detective; drinker, smoker, womanizer

Brigid O'Shaughnessy

Devious femme fatale

Joel Cairo

Effeminate, deceitful thug

Casper Gutman

Evil, greedy manipulator

Wilmer Cook

Young, violent hired gun

Numbers

Film adaptations of The Maltese Falcon (1931 and 1941)

Months Hammett was imprisoned for refusing to testify against the Communist Party in 1951

1921

Year Hammett moved to San Francisco, where The Maltese Falcon is set

>$1M

Current worth of each surviving falcon statue from the 1941 film adaptation of The Maltese Falcon

Author

Dashiell Hammett

Like Sam Spade, Hammett liked to drink, gamble, and womanize. He drew on his own work as a private investigator to write best-selling detective novels and short stories. Hammett also wrote screenplays, splitting his time between New York City and Hollywood.

Symbols

Maltese Falcon

Symbolizes greed, corruption, extreme wealth, and impossible dreams

Flitcraft

Represents unattainable dreams and the circular nature of the plot