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In A Lonely Place: Male Character's Mindsets (Hard-boiled Protagonist…
In A Lonely Place:
Male Character's Mindsets
World War 2
After the second world war there was a push towards nuclear family views. Dix Challenges this norm as he lives a more 'bachelor lifestyle' by not getting married or having children. Whereas Brub conforms to it and from this we see the separation of the male characters.
This novel was published in 1947 which was after the second World War and during the Cold War. Since it was only men that fought in the war Hughes had no direct experience with it. From this Hughes directs the novel towards looking at individuals which showed the larger impact of society.
There is an interesting depiction between the different male character's view on their time in the war. For most men this period was seen as a traumatic experience whereas Dix reflects on his time in the war with fondness. World War 2 was this moment of victory for America and yet Dix is a figure of this anti-climatic of the war
'The war years were the first happy years he'd ever known [...] The world was yours'.
Language betraying certain misogynistic attitudes
There is a role reversal in the final confrontation as Sylvia is the one who solves the crime and is able to keep her composure when confronted. This is compared to both Dix and Brub who cannot uphold their masculine persona during this scene as they both breakdown.
'She wasn't hysterical. What she cried was bell clear. "It worked!" she cried in her husky voice."It worked!"'
'He sat there very quietly, trying not to hear, not to speak, not to feel. But the tears rose in his throat, matted his eyes, he could not withhold them longer. He wept "I killed Brucie"
Competing ideas of Masculinity
Hughes uses Dix's veteran's displacement as a take on his masculinity. There is a symbol of lost masculinity in Dix as he associates his time in the war with power. This means he has to 'regain his masculinity' through different activities of that are associated with the war and masculine ideals.
'He didn't want to get comfortable; he wanted something lively. Something amusing and stimulating and male.
The unsettled nature in page two shows Dix enjoyment of the woman's terror. This represents Dix's enjoyment of power over women.
'He didn't walk faster, he continued to saunter but lengthened his stride, smiling slight. She was afraid.'
Hard-boiled Protagonist
The 'hard-boiled' masculine persona is a prominent figure that emerged in 1920-1945 in literature from the previous misogynistic attitudes.
One feature of this protagonist is their violent behaviour. This is important as not only is Dix a serial killer, he commits his crimes in an intimate style through strangulation which shows his strength and passion towards the crime.
Another feature is the character being an outsider. Dix is an outsider coming in this society as since he previously lived on the east it disconnects him since no one notices his pattern previously. Dix is also seen as an outsider as he pushes against the capitalist lifestyle since doesn't work hard to climb up the social latter.
Dix is very conflicted as he tries to live the hard-boiled masculine ideal but throughout the novel he begins to merge into the romantic ideal. He internalises the idea of the nuclear life with Laurel.
Romantic Hero
A key aspect of a romantic hero is their rejection of authority. Dix rejects any morals as he is seen to have no remorse for his actions. He also rejects any authority by pushing the boundaries on his luck as he remains in close contact with the detectives without them knowing about his crimes.
Typically seen as having attractive attributes, Dix must be considered as an attractive character from his gained attention. He is able to attract Laurel Gray and has the ability to lure the unknowing women in to commit his crimes.
Continuing from this, there is an idea that despite the reader being repulsed by Dix's actions; the reader can still accept to see him as a human. By depicting Dix crimes, this may numb the reader as he doesn't just simply reflect his ideas as a serial killer but also the different levels of men in society after the war.
Attitudes towards women
Toxic masculinity ideology with Dix. Dorothy Hughes stops the pattern of the gruesome murders as in the end the killer is caught.
Dix's 'masculine' persona unites the women as they work together to against the dangerous masculine power
Hughes presents a toxic masculine mindset with Dix's language towards women.
'"That’s anybody’s guess’" Brub Scowled. Maybe he doesn’t like women. Maybe some girl did him dirt and he’s getting even with all of them
'He took a deep breath outside to expel the odour of Maude from his lungs. He’d like to meet her on a dark corner. It would be a service to humanity’
'There wasn’t any girl worth getting upset over. They were all alike, cheats, liars, whores’
Dix's attraction with Laurel bares the hallmarks of romantic beginnings in other popular genres but since this situation is around a serial killer there is a much more cynical tone as Dix's attraction turns into obsession.