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Prostitution In Dashiell Hammet's The Maltese Falcon

994 Words4 Pages

In Dashiell Hammets, “The Maltese Falcon”, Women are portrayed as being a deceptive, conniving, manipulative, selfish, and emotionally-driven prostitutes. Every woman has some degree of prostitute in her. Every woman has a little evil in her. I believe the women in the book look for muscular men to protect them. This trait is useful to women, in the way that money is useful. They also like tall men because height implies strength. I also believe women’s sexual attractions are all geared towards using men. What they look for in men is utility, usability, a means to an end, a way to profit. Specifically, there are 3 women in the book that we’re focusing on. Effie Perine, Brigid O’Shaughnessy and Iva Archer. Each of these women have the traits …show more content…

However, here are the facts: Effie Perine is the most humane one of all, although sometimes she can play with Sam Spade’s head. “‘That louse wants to marry you, Sam… ‘Did you see her last night?’” (Pg. 15) Although she is supposed to be Sam’s secretary, she always attempts to intervene with his personal life. What if Sam Spade loved Iva but he felt that Effie would never accept the idea so he would have to play along and find the next girl. Of course Effie liked Brigid so ironically, Sam was in love with Brigid. Iva didn’t care for Miles’ death. Although she showed some emotion, she wanted to sleep with Sam and get …show more content…

Effie may come out to be the good girl here but she can leave Sam alone to do whatever he wants. If he loved Iva, she shouldn’t have intervene and make a big deal about him kissing the widow. Additionally, Iva kissed Sam, asked him to come over the day after Miles was dead, stalked him, called the police and attempted to frame him for the murder when she noticed that Sam didn’t want her. Brigid O’Shaughnessy is the biggest manipulative, selfish, and emotionally-driven prostitute. She made Sam believe that she was innocent and that she was in danger, she doesn’t want to go to jail for the murder of Miles, and she asked Sam if she can buy him with her

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