Classics Without All the Class discussion

What do you think of Hammett's depiction of the female characters in the novel?

Spade's client, the knockout Brigid O'Shaughnessey
Spade's girl Friday, Effie Perine
Spade's partner's wife, Iva Archer

Effie Perine is the most stable character in the novel. She is unwavering in her loyalty to Spade and she helps him to be a better detective. She trusts Spade in his seemingly outrageous actions and is always just a phone call away. On the other hand is Brigid O'Shaughnessey, who consistently and convincingly plays the victim to get what she wants. She is overly emotional and not very clever. As for Iva Archer, the only impression I could form from her brief existence in the novel is that she is a hot mess who has the hots for Spade. Other than to reveal Spade's womanizing, I'm not sure what her purpose in the story was.

I get Spade's with Effie and Iva, even though he was pretty rotten to Iva. Bridgett though? It's hard for me to see the attraction beyond beauty. I'm kind of glad he turned her in.

I was too. Perhaps that was the author's intention?

I agree with you all about Effie, but noticed in the last few chapters how she was described several times as having 'boyish' looks. She was also the only woman who was not just good but had no sex appeal.

If this was deliberate on the author's then what point is he making? I was just wondering if you all had any thoughts on this.

I think an interesting thing is how Effie thinks so highly of Brigid (after their first encounter when Brigid is using an assumed name).
Effie is so unfailingly good, that I want to trust her judgement, when everyone else in the book is too deceptive to trust. It makes me wonder about Sam's choice to (view spoiler)[turn in Brigid (hide spoiler)] at the end. Did he make the right choice? Because his choice goes against Effie, the one good & constant person in the book.

I was wondering why Effie is always -- almost to the point of redundancy -- referred to as Effie Perine, and never just Effie or Miss Perine. None of the other characters are referred to similarly. Hmmmm. . . maybe because there is some distance or formality to Spade's relationship with her? Perhaps because she is beyond reproach, with her feet on the ground, and she does not leap at far-fetched chances on impossible dreams, unlike all the other characters.

Great observations about Effie. I agree that Hammett wants the reader to see Effie as a different kind of woman than the other two. Not only smart but self reliant and trustworthy.

Effie is certainly the most likable female character because at least she tries to help and to be perceptive, but she misses the mark a few times. Of course, how can a woman who is at heart a good person be truly perceptive about scum like Brigid?