How we cite our quotes: (Chapter.Paragraph)
Quote #7
You can have a hangover from other things than alcohol. I had one from women. Women made me sick. (25.1)
Geez, Marlowe. Misogynistic, much? Many macho men are also known to be playboys or womanizers, but Marlowe is neither. He rejects sexual advances and steers clear of women as much as possible. What can be said about the relationship between masculinity and sexuality in Chandler's portrayal of Marlowe?
Quote #8
He was a small man, not more than five feet three […]. He had tight brilliant eyes that wanted to look hard, but looked as hard as oysters on a half shell. (25.12)
At first glance, Harry Jones doesn't seem like he'd be able to play the tough guy act. For one thing, he's just too short to pull off the part. He sure does try his hardest to show that he's tough (but he seems to fail at it here). Notice Chandler's use of simile to describe Jones' eyes. The image of "oysters on a half shell" is a classic example of Marlowe's sarcastic witticisms. (He's of course saying that Jones' eyes don't look hard or intimidating at all. Rather, they look all soft and mushy like oysters.)
Quote #9
He moved his dark eyes up and down slowly and then glanced at his fingernails one by one, holding them up against the light and studying them with care, as Hollywood has taught it should be done. (27.38)
Marlowe refers to Hollywood and the movie industry in his criticism of an unnamed man's (one of Canino's hitmen) attempt to imitate what he sees on the big screen. What does Marlowe think about Hollywood and the people who emulate the actors and actresses they see in the movies? Is Marlowe intimidated by this unnamed man's attempt to look like the nonchalant tough guy?