42 pages • 1-hour read
Trouble Is My Business
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Essay Topics
Philip Marlowe is the only recurring character in each of the stories in Trouble Is My Business. What consistent traits carry through from one story to the next? Write a character sketch.
In “Red Wind,” the weather provides the impetus for a number of strange, random events. How do they all connect by the end of the story?
How does the recurring motif of liquor forward the themes of “Trouble Is My Business?”
Explain how Marlowe’s search for truth differs from legal justice.
Marlowe says to Lola, “You bought me.” Contrast his relationship with her to his interactions with the other women in these stories.
Marlowe’s personal code of ethics is unconventional. Give examples of how his behavior deviates from traditional views of right and wrong as he solves his cases.
Many female characters in these tales are initially cast in the role of femme fatale. Discuss them individually and explain how they correlate with or deviate from that role.
Give examples of a few of the obstructive duos who impede Marlowe’s progress. Are any benign as opposed to malignant?
Discuss the central theme of greed as it relates to the characters in “Goldfish.”
How does political corruption factor into the plot of “Finger Man?”
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