Little Yellow Dog, Long Goodby

Comparative Essay:

The Little Yellow Dog & The Long Goodbye

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Every human being must have a set of moral codes. These morals are usually set out by the people and environments that one finds themselves surrounded by. Easy Rawlins, the main protagonist in The Little Yellow Dog by Walter Mosely, is exposed to crime at an early age, and is surrounded by it for most of his life. On the other hand, Philip Marlowe, the main protagonist in The Long Goodbye by Raymond Chandler, grows up in a peaceful and pleasant environment. His first experiences with crime occur when he becomes a private investigator. As adults, both of these men find themselves involved in criminal activity. In their attempts to seek the true justice that they deserve, they are forced to defy the law. In doing so, they experience many physical challenges, including gang beatings and police intimidation. They also experience numerous mental challenges, including lying to the police, deceiving their own families, and the ability to cope with all the chaos that is surrounding them. In addition to being challenged physically and mentally, they are also socially challenged: Marlowe and Rawlins both feel that they are looked down upon due to their occupations. By the end of their journeys, both characters feel that defying the law can be the only way of achieving true justice.

Marlowe and Rawlins both experience immense physical challenges. At one point in The Little Yellow Dog, Rawlins finds himself mixed up in a murder case. The police suspect Easy to be withholding information simply because he is black. He is escorted through the basement of the Hollywood Police Station, where it is described as “thirty or so men living in cages underground. Like livestock waiting for some further shame to be laid on them. Like sharecroppers or slaves living in shanty shacks on the edge of a plantation.” (Mosely 148). Rawlins is appalled by the brutality that surrounds him. “Terrible isn’t it, Mr. Rawlins” (Mosely 152) the captain asks Easy, “yes it is” (Mosely 152) he replies, for he knows the entire reason for him to be escorted through is “a setup” (Mosely 154). It is obvious to Easy that the police are attempting to exploit the jail. Rawlins again endures physical punishment when he is clubbed on the head by a group of gangsters. “And then a heavy weight came down on the back of my head.