In ‘Death and Violence in Detective and Spy Stories,’ violence and crime are essential elements in spy and detective stories. The two subgenres features crime marred plots. The spy story is a subgenre of literature involving espionage as a significant context or plot device. The recounts feature mysteries and thrillers that involve intrigue and adventure. On the other hand, a detective story is a form of literature that concerns itself with examining a crime. The wrongdoing is introduced and investigated, and the culprit is revealed. The investigation his carried out by either an amateur or a professional detective. Suspense and mystery are key elements ubiquitous to the detective stories. Remarkably spy and fiction stories involve crime and, by default, violence. Therefore, any form of crime can suit the two categories, but murder is the most commonly featured. Why is murder the most covered crime in spy and detective stories?
It should be a Word document 3-4 pages long (double-spaced, 12-point font).Make sure your name and date are on the first page of the document itself.
In this paper, you should concentrate on creating a real argument, not just listing observations about the works (I should be able to disagree with your paper, while still thinking it’s good work). To that end, you should end your first paragraph with a question. Your final paragraph should then provide the answer to that question.
WRITE ABOUT THIS TOPIC:
1. VIOLENCE. How important is violence to a detective story? To a spy story? Is violence dealt with similarly in both genres, or does its treatment differ? Choose two works and analyze the role/significance of death in each.
The opening paragraph of your essay must end with a question. That question should then be answered in the final paragraph. An example of an appropriate question might be “Why is murder a more common topic of detective stories than, say, theft or assault?”
Violence is inseparable from spy and detective stories, as evidenced in many literal works. Detective recounts unfold with the crime’s happening and continue with the knowledge of the culprit’s identity that redevelops into either whodunit or whydunit. Violence is central in detective stories as it forms the basis of the plot and motivates other actions in the recount. This is clearly exemplified in the novel ‘The girl on the train’ by Paula Hawkins. The book is a psychological thriller that gives narratives from three dissimilar women relationship troubles and excessive drinking. The suspenseful thriller has a complex violence-marred plot with shocking twists. In the book, Hawkins recounts the story of Rachel Watson ‘the girl on the train’ who has spent the past few years stumbling through depression filled life after his husband left her for another woman.
The depression-stricken divorcee resorts to binge drinking, which makes her lose her job, but she cannot accept the reality of job loss and rides the commuter rail to and from London daily to non-existent work. While on the train she engages with committed people watching and mesmerizes a perfect fantasy life for a couple (Megan and Tom) is obsessed with. The train stops outside the couple’s house every morning, which is on the street; Rachel resided before her husband kicked her out after she could not get pregnant. The couple is not perfect as Rachel sees the lady kissing a man who was not his husband, and a few days later, the lady disappears. The man who is later identified as Dr. Abdic becomes the main suspect of the lady’s disappearance and he is called for questioning by the police (Hawkins, 2015). However, he denies having an affair with Megan. Up to this point, the plot of the story seems usual and uninteresting. The discovery of Megan’s body, which portrays violence, creates a shocking twist to the plot and leaves the readers yearning to know more. The scene founds dramatic possibilities and creates a platform where the story advances as the police try to unravel the mysterious murder.
As pertains to the spy story, an intriguing adventurous action must be existent based on Death and Violence in Detective and Spy Stories. The protagonist or protagonists have a mission assigned to them at the beginning of the story, which they accomplish by spying. The subgenre appeals to the audience wanting to be challenged to solve a mystery together with the main character(s). Violence is a common feature of espionage as the spy agencies are depicted focusing on high-end crimes. Murder is usually one of their most common targets. In ‘The Christopher Killer’ forensic novel, Alane Ferguson recounts about Cameryn, a seventeen-year-old girl who envisions becoming a forensic pathologist. Cameryn sees her dream come true when she begins to work as an assistant of the county coroner who happens to be her dad (Ferguson, 2008). Nonetheless, her dreams become a nightmare when she realizes one of the deaths she has to probe is of her friend, who had been executed by a serial murderer known as The Christopher Killer.
Cameryn is determined to use scientific insight to identify the murderer, but the dedication puts her life in danger. She is also plagued by Deputy Justin Crowley, who also happens to be disliked by her father (Ferguson, 2008). Cameryn engages in intensive and dangerous activities in her investigation until she identifies Dr. Jewel was the Christopher Killer. Notably, violence and crime are the events that advance the plot of this spy recount. The murders that were occurring in Silverton Colorado, were at the center of the novel’s narrative. They make the novel fascinating and sparks dramatic actions as depicted by the role played by various characters.
Essentially, in Death and Violence in Detective and Spy Stories, evidence shows murders are the most opted crime in detective and spy stories. The suitability of this violence for the subgenres is due to many reasons. Firstly, it is a crime against an individual that has implications for society. Murder is misconduct that mirrors the vices or loopholes existent in society. For this wrongdoing to occur, a perceived injustice that reflects the society’s norm of handling unfairness must exist. Next is that murder provides the most dramatic possibilities in the battle of intellects between culprits and investigators. Murder is the most dramatic crime as it produces the greatest tensions and plays for the highest stake. Unlike other crimes, the main consequence of murder is the loss of life, which is a severe and heinous occurrence.
