42 pages • 1-hour read
The Long Goodbye
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Essay Topics
Philip Marlowe is one of the least financially secure characters in the novel but also one of the most moral. How does his financial status affect his morality?
How do the characters struggle to deal with their repressed trauma?
How does the portrayal of alcohol suggest that the society depicted in The Long Goodbye is hiding many secrets?
How is the city of Los Angeles portrayed in the novel?
Lennox undergoes several identity changes in the book. To what extent is the real Lennox ever seen?
Even if Roger really died by suicide, would Eileen Wade still be considered responsible for the death of her husband?
The institutions of Los Angeles are portrayed as hollow, useless behemoths, beholden to the interests of the rich and powerful. How does the portrayal of social institutions reflect the portrayal of society as a whole?
How does Harlon Potter shape reality? Who is able to challenge him on this?
To what extent is capitalism cited as the cause of the society problems depicted in The Long Goodbye?
What is the meaning of the title The Long Goodbye? How does Marlowe both support and contradict this meaning?
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