The Thin Man

Nick and Nora’s relationship contrasts with other couples in the novel. Compare and contrast the Charleses’ relationship with the Quinns’. What are some factors Hammett posits are necessary for a successful marriage?

In Chapter 25, Nick says to Dorothy, “I’m not a psychoanalyst. I don’t know anything about early influences. I don’t give a damn about them” (149). What does Nick’s refusal to listen to Dorothy’s story about her childhood say about his methods and theories as a detective? How does this compare with other detective stories you’ve read?

What is the purpose of the narrative in Chapter 13 concerning a case of cannibalism in late-1800s America? What does it say about the characters of Gilbert, who asks about the subject, and Nick, who has the answers?