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The Inspector Barlach Mysteries
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1. Setting: The setting is the Swiss city of Berne in the post WWII era. So the communications between members of the police force are face to face, there are hats and overcoats and much cigar smoking indoors. Women areperipheral. It is neither British nor American fiction but Swiss-German. It was written in German. It is pre Cold War days, but the shady dealings of entrepreneurs and diplomats are part of the plot and there could be spies involved. The topography is important. The action takes place on moutainous roads above the lake that wind through vineyards and pine forests.2. Detective As Hero: The main character is not a hero in the usual sense in detective fiction. That is the whole point of this work. The detective, Inspector Barlach. sets himself up as the judge of his old nemesis and takes the law into his own hands by manipulation of a fellow detective. Durrenmatt is subverting the expectation that the detective will solve a crime by methods of deduction and that the criminal will be brought to justice. He is questioning the traditional detective genre and the idea of justice itself.
3. Villain As Embodiment of Evil: Gastman has been known to Barlach for many years. He believed that he could commit crimes that would be impossible for Barlach to prove that he was the perpetrator, starting with the murder of an innocent bystander to prove his point. We don't know what evil he has done in the interim, or even how his staging of meetings between entrepreneurs and diplomats might be a criminal activity, but he finally is convicted of his crimes, not by a court of law, but by the manipulations of Barlach.
4. Stereotypes: Barlach, the chain smoking, raincoat wearing precursor of Colombo, might be stereotypical in appearance, but his methods are definitely not. 5. Metaphysical Considerations: I cannot comment on the popularity of detective fiction because it is not my favourite genre and I care for television versions even less, but I suspect that it is the author toying with the reader to guess what the outcome will be. In this case metaphysical considerations are very important. What is the nature of justice? Is the judicial system better than natural justice (a theme in Westerns) and who is the hero and who the villain?
6. Style: This is a fascinating question. It is probably irelevant to this book, but the terms genteel and hard-boiled hint at what the question poses. Britain and the U.S. have diverged in both literary traditions and society at large. British police seldom carry guns and politely interview suspects. American police use force first and ask questions later. I still recoil in shock from seeing Strauss-Kahn in handcuffs doing the 'perp' walk in 2011. He was convicted before he had even been interviewed! In this story a lawyer is able to put pressure on a senior polic officer to not question a suspect at all!
1. Setting: How does setting reflect the social values of the period in which the text was written? How does the depiction of landscape differ in British and American fiction?The setting is post war Switzerland and the nature of the winding mountain roads plays a part in this short novel. In addition, unlike most American detective stories we receive glimpses of high society and their nefarious cohorts in the diplomacy ranks and we are introduced to a cold intelligence in our primary character who is not above some manipulation in order to attain "his" justice.
2. Detectives as Hero: Is the detective a modern day extension of the medieval knight or American frontier cowboy? What are the similarities and differences in the characterization and methodology of each detective? What motivates each? How does each reflect society’s attitude towards the law? Towards evil?
In many detective stories, the reader aligns their sympathies with the main detective even though He/She may not be much different than the criminals they chase. Thinking about Philip Marlow in the noir books of Raymond Chandler for existence. He has a stubborn ethical streak but it is not the "standard" ethics of the regular police force. In a way, our mythical detective is as above the law in the service of justice as any of his criminals.
In this book, Inspector Barlach, is not unlike that mythical detective, as he is chased by some guilt that he had a hand in creating a monster and he is willing to manipulate others to get revenge upon our villain and thereby free the world of this evil. Lucius Lutz is driven by wanting to uphold appearances for himself, but also for his police force and even his society. Tschanz is driven by wanting personal recognition and rewards.
3. Villain as Embodiment of Evil: What characteristics does the villain possess? Is there such a thing as a criminal mind? What motivates the villain? How is society damaged by the villain?
Gastmann is someone who loves the game and therefore is truly evil. He is not driven by right and wrong but by winning or losing. He is not even driven by personal gain, although what he has done has gained him much. He simply enjoys manipulating and controlling situations and people and very clearly demonstrating that control. He enjoys flaunting his abilities and his horrid acts when interacting with Barlach and is proud of having never had to pay for anything he has done.
4. Stereotypes: How do stereotypical characters based on race, class, ethnicity, or gender serve or damage the text? How do they reflect the social values of their period?
The women in the novella are not of much consequence except as a possible reward. Class is clearly drawn, in particular when Dr. Lutz is talked into not speaking with Gastmann, a witness and a possible suspect, as "the embassy does not want to be mentioned in association with this class of industrialists". Justice for the upper class is a very different thing than for the lower class.
5. Metaphysical Considerations: What accounts for the detective fiction’s enormous popularity? Does detective fiction serve as a protest against a universe ruled by chance?
Chance is very much a factor in detective fiction, so it is possible that if the villain is brought to justice even when chance walks so boldly in the detective genre world, that there is a way in which the reader is reassured that chance does not maintain an upper hand. Although, honestly, I think that detective novels are popular because of the addictive quality of finding out "who done it".
6. Stylistic Questions: Does the importance of plot diminish fine characterization? What are the stylistic differences between British (genteel) fiction and American (hard-boiled) fiction? What do those differences reveal about the two societies?
The style of this novella treats us to a more gentrified version of the detective story. There are no moments of fist fights, shoot outs, women being slapped, drug addicts selling out their neighbor for a hit....etc. The key to this story is finding out about what motivates Barlach and Gastmann and in what way these two characters are similar and in which ways they are extremely different. We still get the detective genre basics of trying to figure out "who did it" through a few twists and turns, but the core of the story is the nature of justice itself.
1. Setting: I'm not sure about the social values of the piece, but I found the reluctance that some of the police had towards scientific criminology very interesting to see, with some obviously preferring the old-fashioned investigative boots on the ground approach. 2. Detectives as Hero: Barlach struck me as a bit of a flawed hero, he had tried for 40 years to bring his nemesis to justice for his crimes, and having failed over and over again, finally resorted to bringing him down by any means possible.
3. Villain as Embodiment of Evil: Our villain simply doesn't seem to care about whether or not he hurts others, he simply likes to play, likes to win and likes to get away with it. He has been playing a long game with Barlach and had no intention of stopping.
4. Stereotypes: The stereotypes of women being unimportant (just on the periphery of the text) and the rich being able to get slip through the hands of the law, seemed very of the time. It helped ground you in the time and place, so I think it added rather than detracted from the plot.
5. Metaphysical Considerations: I don't read a lot of detective fiction, but I do like to solve a puzzle, I think the popularity of the genre may stem from the reader wanting to be out smarted by the writer, you want to try and guess the ending, you think you want to be right, but what you really want is the author to suprise you (but still make sense). Which I think Dürrenmatt does well in this novel.
6. Stylistic Questions: For a short story you actually get a real sense of our characters and their motives. I think this is because it's not packed with lots of action, but instead focuses on our characters reactions to the events as they unfold, this is what tells you about who they really are and what they might do next.
1. Setting: How does setting reflect the social values of the period in which the text was written? How does the depiction of landscape differ in British and American fiction?It felt like there were still post war undercurrents. That probably explains the commentary about global capitalists. In a geographic sense, I don't think this story could have been set anywhere else. For a short novel, there is a real sense of place.
2. Detectives as Hero: Is the detective a modern day extension of the medieval knight or American frontier cowboy? What are the similarities and differences in the characterization and methodology of each detective? What motivates each? How does each reflect society’s attitude towards the law? Towards evil?
This seems like an odd question (in reference to this novel). I don't think any of the detectives (police) saw themselves as heroes. Barlach probably sees himself as pragmatic, trying to 'right the wrongs'. Tschanz is in it for himself, and Lutz is in it for the politics/promotion. However, the question of how they each reflect society's attitude is interesting - I think Barlach is the 'everyman' and Lutz is more a reflection of how actual justice works.
3. Villain as Embodiment of Evil: What characteristics does the villain possess? Is there such a thing as a criminal mind? What motivates the villain? How is society damaged by the villain?
I don't know the answer to these questions. The supposed villain in this story is vaguely drawn, basically as an amoral person. The true villain is self serving and petty.
4. Stereotypes: How do stereotypical characters based on race, class, ethnicity, or gender serve or damage the text? How do they reflect the social values of their period?
The only stereotype we really see is the fiance. Sadly, I think that may have been a reflection of some of the women of the time. Tschanz probably presented himself as a man who would be able to support her in an increasingly better lifestyle and took advantage of her grief. (Also, what Gail said about class distinctions.)
5. Metaphysical Considerations: What accounts for the detective fiction’s enormous popularity? Does detective fiction serve as a protest against a universe ruled by chance?
I suspect, as mentioned above, that mysteries are popular because people/readers like to figure out/lead to 'who done it'. Maybe the supposition in the second question is true, but I have always thought it was because readers like to try their wits against the fictional detective.
Mod
Made a bet 40 years ago. Barlach did not think anyone would be capable of going through with the bet. “You were always such a good boy, your probity was never in danger of being tempted, but I was tempted by your probity. I kept my bold vow to commit a crime in your presence without your being able to prove that I did it.”
“The court believed my version, that the merchant had committed suicide.”
“I chose my victim carefully, my friend.”
“I couldn't resist the temptation to commit crimes right under your nose, each one bolder, wilder, and more outrageous than the last, and time after time you were unable to prove them.”
“committing evil and loving it.”
“When I say he's bad, it's because good and evil are, for him, just a matter of whim, and he would go to any length in either direction simply because the mood strikes him. He would never do anything evil just for the sake of gain, the way others commit crimes, for money, women, or power. Be he would do it for no reason at all – maybe. Because for him, two things are always possible, good and evil, and it's chance that decides which it will be.”
“For him evil is not the expression of a philosophy or a biological drive, it is his freedom: the freedom of nothingness.”
Mod
“Your thesis was that human imperfection – the fact that we can never predict with certainty how others will act, and that furthermore we have no way of calculating the ways chance interferes in our plans – guarantees that most crimes will perforce be detected.”
1. Small town cut off from outside influence handle things themselves. Officials can interfere in police investigations if they believe it is for the greater good.
2. Barlach is a flawed hero he is working to beat an enemy he created at a chance meeting, he is willing to use manipulation and endanger others to get his ultimate revenge/justice.
3. G is a criminal mastermind he has been set the challenge of committing the perfect crime and has indeed succeeded it appears he may have also committed others along the way. He is not bought to justice for anything he has actually done but rather for something he hasn't done a perfect set up.
4. I don't think they do damage the text because without these stereotypes there isn't much of a story.
5. I think it could do going into a detective story the reader expects the detective to solve the crime and for the crime to be punished and ideally this is how society should work although lets not necessarily encourage Barlach's methods.
6. America to me has always seemed a more aggressive culture with the right to bear arms which is reflected in the hard boiled detective fiction English crime of the period is much more likely to be subtle like poisoning, stabbing etc also England is a much smaller country so easier (you would think) to find criminals.
2. Barlach is a flawed hero he is working to beat an enemy he created at a chance meeting, he is willing to use manipulation and endanger others to get his ultimate revenge/justice.
3. G is a criminal mastermind he has been set the challenge of committing the perfect crime and has indeed succeeded it appears he may have also committed others along the way. He is not bought to justice for anything he has actually done but rather for something he hasn't done a perfect set up.
4. I don't think they do damage the text because without these stereotypes there isn't much of a story.
5. I think it could do going into a detective story the reader expects the detective to solve the crime and for the crime to be punished and ideally this is how society should work although lets not necessarily encourage Barlach's methods.
6. America to me has always seemed a more aggressive culture with the right to bear arms which is reflected in the hard boiled detective fiction English crime of the period is much more likely to be subtle like poisoning, stabbing etc also England is a much smaller country so easier (you would think) to find criminals.
I read this a few years ago and enjoyed it. It was a nice, short, read as I recall. I hope to read other books of his in this series.
2. Detectives as Hero: Is the detective a modern day extension of the medieval knight or American frontier cowboy? What are the similarities and differences in the characterization and methodology of each detective? What motivates each? How does each reflect society’s attitude towards the law? Towards evil?
3. Villain as Embodiment of Evil: What characteristics does the villain possess? Is there such a thing as a criminal mind? What motivates the villain? How is society damaged by the villain?
4. Stereotypes: How do stereotypical characters based on race, class, ethnicity, or gender serve or damage the text? How do they reflect the social values of their period?
5. Metaphysical Considerations: What accounts for the detective fiction’s enormous popularity? Does detective fiction serve as a protest against a universe ruled by chance?
6. Stylistic Questions: Does the importance of plot diminish fine characterization? What are the stylistic differences between British (genteel) fiction and American (hard-boiled) fiction? What do those differences reveal about the two societies?
Source: https://mainehumanities.org/detective...