"The Big Sleep": How Raymond Chandler Gave Fresh Life to the American Crime Novel

Abstract

This thesis examines how Raymond Chandler’s first noir fiction changed the common conception that all crime novels are the same. The first chapter focuses on the author’s life, providing the background to his creation of The Big Sleep and his leading character, Philip Marlowe. The second chapter presents an explanation of how The Big Sleep was written. Then it proceeds to explain the differences the novel has with its 1946 movie version, and how they can be considered two stories with different purposes from each other. Thereafter the focus shifts to an analysis of the figure of detective Philip Marlowe, who is the first-person narrator and the protagonist of the novel. The third chapter analyzes the characters of the novel: how they are represented and act in a certain way. There follows a more focused analysis on the role of women in the novel and why they are fundamental. Finally, the thesis examines the major themes presented in the novel.