The Manly Man Versus The Femme Fatale Many of the characters in The Maltese Falcon attempt to gain leverage over one another in order to achieve their goals. While the men in novel use classic male intimidation and bullying characteristics, the female characters tend to rely on more subtle womanly approaches. The women in the novel obtain what they want by using their dainty innocence and their sexuality, also known as their “feminine charm,” to seduce the male characters into cooperating with them. Both the men and the women in the novel resort to the traditional gender-based methods of influence to get what they want. The female characters in the novel are able to utilize their femininity and sexuality to influence Sam Spade and the other male characters. An example of this technique is the complex relationship between Spade and Brigid O’Shaughnessy. After Joel Cairo offers Spade five thousand dollars for the recovery of the missing falcon, Ms. O’Shaughnessy attempts to regain Spade’s loyalty with payment as well but is unable to match Cairo’s offer: “It is far more than I could ever offer you, if I must bid for your loyalty.” After Ms. O’Shaughnessy accepts that she cannot use money to reclaim Spade, she instead tries to convince him with her sex appeal: “Can I buy you with my body?” This method is proven to be effective after Spade replies that he will “think it over” (57). Ms. O’Shaughnessy’s approach in this passage clearly expresses how women in the novel are able to use their sexuality as a means of leverage. In addition to leveraging their classic sexual qualities to get what they want, the women in the novel are also able to use dated stereotypical female behaviors such as innocence and daintiness to gain sympathy from the male characters. When Ms. O’Shaughnessy approaches Spade for the first time, with the alias of Ms. Wonderly, she reports that her sister is missing and she wishes to find her. In reality however, Ms. O’Shaughnessy’s sister is actually herself and her real intentions are for Spade to protect her from Floyd Thursby. The language that Ms. O’Shaughnessy uses in this interaction can easily be described as frightened and delicate: “Oh, but you must be careful!” The text describes that Ms. O’Shaughnessy’s voice in that moment “shook a little,” and that “her lips shaped the words with nervous jerkiness” (8). The choice of words that Ms. O’Shaughnessy uses and her meek behavior in this moment are clear examples of archetypal female false timidity used to make Spade feel sympathy for her. Another instance of women using womanlike behavior is when Iva Archer confronts Spade regarding calling the police to his apartment. When Iva apologizes to Spade, her tone of speech is described as whimpering and her constant repetition of “sorry, sorry, sorry” implies that she is in a frail state and on the verge of tears (102). This style of speaking highlights a female character using distinct feminine behavior to cause Spade to feel empathy towards her in order to take advantage of his emotions. While the women in the Maltese Falcon are able to use their sexuality and their frail behavior to gain leverage, the male characters in the novel are not able to seduce the other men and therefore must rely on more forceful and masculine methods to pursue their ambitions. One of these methods is the use of money and bribery to get the other characters to comply with them. One instance of this is when Cairo attempts to search Spade’s office for the missing falcon. In order to capture Spade’s attention, Cairo offers Spade “five thousand dollars for its recovery” (44). While Cairo is considered a feminine character in the novel, he is still unable to persuade Spade through female sexuality or daintiness and therefore must instead rely on economic control to convince him. Along with offering bribes to get what he wants, Cairo also attempts to display his masculinity with the use of threats and violence to intimidate Spade. Almost immediately after Cairo promises the five thousand dollars and Spade shows hesitation, he draws “a short compact flat black pistol out of an inner pocket” and threatens him at gunpoint (44). This passage shows that rather than trying to convince Spade to let him search the office, Cairo decides to resort to bullying to gain control over him without any hesitation. Not only does Cairo rely on money and threats to gain leverage, Casper Gutman also attempts to apply a similar strategy to achieve his plan. After he explains the true value of the falcon that he is searching for to Spade, Gutman offers a substantial payment to enforce his financial dominance and entice Spade: “What would you say, sir, to half a million?” (129). This amount of money is much greater than anything else offered to Spade and clearly displays how the men in the novel attempt to assert their male dominance through their wealth. Similar to how Cairo offers a large payment and immediately follows up with physical violence, Gutman uses his hired gunman, Wilmer Cook, to threaten Spade into working for him. During his negotiation with Spade, Gutman secretly drugs him and has Wilmer assault him: “The boy drew his right foot far back and kicked Spade’s temple” (130). These acts of violence and flaunts of financial supremacy embodies a consistent pattern of resorting to the male stereotypes of that era. Many of the characters in The Maltese Falcon struggle to gain leverage over Spade to achieve their goals. The female characters rely on their sex appeal and their dainty stereotypes to persuade Spade into working with them. The male characters, on the other hand, use more masculine methods such as economical gain and physical intimidation. Dashiell Hammett possibly draws upon these gender stereotypes to setup for the ultimate conclusion that neither the masculine nor feminine influence succeeds in gaining control over Spade. Both of their failures could possibly be Hammett’s underlying message that in order to gain one’s trust and loyalty, one must be straightforward and honest rather than being an aggressive male or an underhanded female.

Hammet, Dashiell. The Maltese Falcon. New York: Black Lizard Vintage Books, 1992. MLA Format.