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What has happened to loyalty and fidelity in this novel? Are any of the characters loyal or faithful to each other? Can Sam Spade be distinguished from the other characters by his loyalties? What are his motives? Does he have a personal code of values? If so, upon what is it based?

Sam is faithful to himself. In a way, Effie is pretty loyal, but I don't think her loyalty is absolute. She definitely doesn't approve of everything Sam does and I get the sense that there's a limit to how much of his bad behavior she'd put up with. Gutman is loyal to his quest to get the falcon back. Other than that, everyone's loyalty is questionable. It's a huge part of what makes the book so much fun.

Sam Spade is not a heartless character. I think, in some ways, he is extremely sensitive. If he wasn't, he wouldn't be such an astute manipulator of others. As I understand him, he has strict and simple code:

- He keeps his intellect and emotions separate.
- He ALWAYS acts in his own best interest (intellectually, not emotionally)

***SPOILERS***
I feel like Sam sticks to his code above everything in the end, even his own heart. I think he really does love Brigid, but turns her in anyway. His personal code is put to the ultimate test and, by saving his neck, is proven to be sound (in a kind of sad way).

Nathan wrote: "Sam is faithful to himself. ... Sam Spade is not a heartless character. I think, in some ways, he is extremely sensitive."

Yeah, true, he also seems to care about and feel protective towards Brigid.

Nathan wrote: "In a way, Effie is pretty loyal, but I don't think her loyalty is absolute."
This is an interesting point. If Effie was completely loyal would it change her? She is the only character who requires little effort to be 'good', she is also not afraid to point out Sam's character. I haven't got to the end of the book yet, so I am not sure if there's a point she becomes tired of Spade's ethics. If she doesn't then does this count as absolute loyalty?

I don't know the answer to this, you just got me thinking Nathan.

Finished this, and what an amazing read.

Somewhere in the last few chapters Spade demonstrated loyalty to his partner when he explained that he didn't like him but was determined to find his murderer. Now that's loyalty.