Point of View

This novel is told in the first person point of view from the view of investigator Philip Marlowe. It is a limited point of view because Marlowe does not have access to the thoughts and emotions of the people he is dealing with other than the actions and emotions that he observes. Because this novel is intended to be a mystery/suspense novel, this point of view is ideal. The reader is given clues and information only as Marlowe receives it. It becomes a challenge for the reader to try and determine how Marlowe will solve the crimes. This style also gives the reader the ability to exercise their own detective skills by guessing the outcome of the novel.

A great deal of this story is told through dialogue. This is because Marlowe must talk to his suspects and witnesses in order to glean information from...