Personville is no doubt one of those places that are going to hell in a handbasket. The legal institutions can't maintain order, and the men in charge fail to follow any consistent code of ethics. It's a lucky thing that the Op pays a visit to Personville because after Donald's murder, the Op is the only man left who even has a professional code of ethics in Red Harvest. The Op does break plenty of rules, but in his mind, he's doing it all in the name of morality. Think about whether you agree or disagree with the Op's set of principles. Does Hammett portray the Op as a morally upright detective?
Questions About Morality and Ethics
- How would you describe the Op's moral code? Is it related to his belief that the end justifies the means?
- Is it possible to follow a code of ethics in a world as corrupt as the society of Personville?
- Should the Op be held accountable for the way in which he brought about the deaths in Personville? Were his actions moral, immoral or amoral? How responsible is he for Dinah's murder?
Chew on This
The Op adheres to his moral code only when it suits his needs.
The Op's intentions to cleanse Personville were honorable, which means that he's allowed to use whatever means are necessary to accomplish that goal.