Role of Race to Readers.

In the three books we have read so far race has played a role in how readers see the characters, and how the authors target a certain audience. Of the three novels Cotton Comes to Harlem, and The Chinese Parrot, race plays a large role on how characters act. The Big Sleep on the other hand used certain hints at sexual orientations to tie the storyline together. For example, we found out that after Carol shoots Joe Brody, that he was living with Geiger, and he moved the body so he could get revenge for his "friend". All in all, The Big Sleep deals with whites; I will use this as a basis of comparison for the other two novels.
In the Chinese Parrot race is used to let Chan weasel his way into being able to find clues. Chan and Bob Eden are sent to deliver the pearls to the Madden ranch. Chan is carrying the pearls, but he is the one who is disguised as the servant. This is due to the time period this story takes place. During the 30's a white man having a Chinese servant would not be suspicious looking, and because the audience can accept a Chinese servant. If we look at it in reverse a white man being a servant to Chan would have be very suspicious to readers of the time and not that believable. As compared to The Big Sleep race in The Chinese Parrot is used to make Chan's actions follow general stereotypes at the time.
On the other hand, Cotton comes to Harlem is going to use race as a source of major conflict. The first chapter gives a foreshadowing of these events on page 7 " A police cruiser was parked at the curb. Two white cops in the front seat cast sour looks over the assemblage. "Where do you think they got a permit for this meeting?" "Search me. Lieutenant Anderson said leave them alone." "This country is being run by niggers." " I had an idea what the book was going be about just from the title, but after reading this passage I knew that the main conflict would be caused by race relations. In comparison with The Big Sleep Himes uses race instead of criminal activity as the source of conflict in the novel.

The Big Sleep vs CSI and Law and Order

At any time of if you turn on the TV you can most certainly find ether a Law & Order on or CSI. These two shows and the characters on them are bound by laws the police have to follow, but at some points the shows must cross the line and the characters put their necks on the line to get answers. Chandler does the same thing with Marlowe in the Big Sleep; Marlowe is not afraid nor does he care much how out of line he has to go to get the job done. This one time on Law and Order particularly sticks out in my mind on how Jack McCoy the assistant DA, puts himself and his career on the line to get justice. McCoy was specifically told by a federal judge not to mention a certain detail of his case because that information could have compromised an ongoing federal case. Well, of course in the State trail McCoy brings this exact evidence up. Then he proceeds to win the case and the federal government did not bring charges upon him. On the other hand CSI is nothing like Marlowe. CSI uses all these little clues then find on the crime scene like sand or a blue cotton fiber. Marlowe uses people skills and manipulation with a little force here and there to get his information.

Crime Flim

One of my favorite crime films of all time is the movie Blow. This movie shows how quickly one can get sucked into a world of crime and destruction. In Blow the man character, played by Johnny Depp has his friends and family turn on him as he tries desperately to move away from the drug underworld.