Raymond Chandler's Writing Style in The Big Sleep

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Raymond Chandler's Writing Style in The Big Sleep

Unique writing style is definitely an essential element in any piece of writing, and Raymond Chandler uses his style efficiently in The Big Sleep. Chandler's style is one that seems to come easily to him and it also seems very natural to the reader, perhaps because there is not a lot of high, eloquent language. Rich in description and dialogue, the characters seem more realistic to the reader as a result of such details and natural speech. Chandler includes many descriptive words, similes, metaphors; yet they are not complicated or ambiguous which may lead to misinterpretations. He also tends to focus on a few major aspects of the characters, repeating those characteristics again each time the person appears in the scene. Writing about the characters in this way engages the reader and makes for a more realistic and interesting novel.

When examining each character, it is simple to pick out the key aspects which Chandler wishes the reader to grasp, often using Phillip Marlowe to do so showing how is extremely observant and detail-oriented. He is able to pick up on details right away and describe them perfectly. Introduced first is Carmen Sternwood. Chandler writes a paragraph about what Marlowe first notices about her. Chandler describes her hair, eyes, and body, yet it is her teeth which Chandler focuses on. He writes, "Shecame over near me and smiled with her mouth and she had little sharp predatory teeth, as white as fresh orange pith and as shiny as porcelain" (5). This description is a simple yet effective one because of the images used: images that are not complicated and the reader can relate to. They are common items which most people...

... middle of paper ...

...each for the phone, and wave at the glassed-in shelves (24). These are not simply physical characteristics, they are part of who the blonde is.

The unique writing style of Chandler, especially description, is one that engages the reader to see the characters as more than simple stereotypes. By focusing on particular attributes and assets of each one, they take on a personality all their own. This style of description is one that is simple for the reader to understand and interpret, but does not produce a simple work. Instead, it is a work full of similes, metaphors, metanomies, and description which would probably not be found to be so effortless in any other work than The Big Sleep.

Works Cited

Chandler, Raymond. The Big Sleep. New York: Vintage Books, 1996.

Kemp, William. The Writing Process: Chandler 202. January 14, 1999

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