Characters Discussed
(Great Characters in Literature)
Sam Spade
Sam Spade, a tall, blond, pleasantly satanic-looking, hard-boiled private detective suspected of having killed Thursby and of having also killed Miles Archer in order to marry Iva. He at last learns how he has been used in the plot to get the Maltese falcon; he discovers the murderers of Miles and Thursby, and he turns Brigid over to the police.
Brigid O’Shaughnessy
Brigid O’Shaughnessy, his tall, attractive, auburn-haired, deceitful client, who first masquerades as a Miss Wonderly, then shoots Miles, double-crosses her associates, and finally attempts in vain to seduce Sam into letting her go free of a murder charge.
Casper Gutman
Casper Gutman, her fat, tough employer, who is attempting to get hold of the Maltese falcon. He is shot by Wilmer Cook.
Wilmer Cook
Wilmer Cook, Gutman’s young bodyguard, murderer of Thursby, Jacobi, and Gutman.
Joel Cairo
Joel Cairo, Gutman’s dark-skinned, flashily dressed one-time agent.
Miles Archer
Miles Archer, Spade’s middle-aged partner, solidly built, wide-shouldered, red-faced. He is shot and killed by Brigid.
Floyd Thursby
Floyd Thursby, Brigid’s murdered accomplice.
Iva Archer
Iva Archer, Miles’s wife, a voluptuous, still pretty blonde in her thirties; in love with Sam.
Kemidov
Kemidov, a Russian in Constantinople who has substituted a lead imitation for the genuine Maltese falcon.
Jacobi
Jacobi, captain of the ship La Paloma; killed by Wilmer.
Effie Perine
Effie Perine, Sam’s lanky, boyish-faced, suntanned secretary.
Rhea Gutman
Rhea Gutman, daughter of Gutman.
