Reading Response to Devil in a Blue Dress
Reading Response to the Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley
By
[Course]
[Course Instructor]
25th November, 2013.
The Devil in a Blue Dress
As the first of a series based on the fictional character of Easy Rawlings, the Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley is a hardboiled mystery and detective fiction novel that I enjoyed reading. For reasons connected to the major themes of race and racism and the influence of money, I must say that I found the Devil in a Blue Dress a more interesting read than the Maltese Falcon that was the subject of my first reader response essay. I enjoyed the manner with which Mosley used these two themes in particular to discuss some societal issues. Starting with a brief summary of the novel, I intend to expatiate on these two themes in subsequent paragraphs.
The Plot
Set in Los Angeles in 1948, the Devil in a Blue Dress is centered on the character of Ezekiel ‘Easy” Rawlings a black man who had fought in World War II and who has just lost his job at an aircraft company and desperate to find a means of earning an income to meet his financial needs especially his mortgage payment. Easy’s desperation leads him to accepting a job from Dewitt Albright to find a young white lady Daphne Monet. Although Dewitt Albright had a questionable personality, Easy accepted the job after assurance from Albright that the task does not portend any significant problem with the law. Moreover, it was an opportunity to earn some money and considering his financial situation he had to accept the job. As the story progresses, Easy comes to realize that things are far more complicated than he could have thought. He is accused of murder, at risk of being hurt by Albright’s henchmen and having to rely on his friend Mouse, whom Easy is weary of. Furthermore, the lady Easy is expected to track down is not who they say she is. Easy along with Mouse have to find their way out of the predicament they find
By
[Course]
[Course Instructor]
25th November, 2013.
The Devil in a Blue Dress
As the first of a series based on the fictional character of Easy Rawlings, the Devil in a Blue Dress by Walter Mosley is a hardboiled mystery and detective fiction novel that I enjoyed reading. For reasons connected to the major themes of race and racism and the influence of money, I must say that I found the Devil in a Blue Dress a more interesting read than the Maltese Falcon that was the subject of my first reader response essay. I enjoyed the manner with which Mosley used these two themes in particular to discuss some societal issues. Starting with a brief summary of the novel, I intend to expatiate on these two themes in subsequent paragraphs.
The Plot
Set in Los Angeles in 1948, the Devil in a Blue Dress is centered on the character of Ezekiel ‘Easy” Rawlings a black man who had fought in World War II and who has just lost his job at an aircraft company and desperate to find a means of earning an income to meet his financial needs especially his mortgage payment. Easy’s desperation leads him to accepting a job from Dewitt Albright to find a young white lady Daphne Monet. Although Dewitt Albright had a questionable personality, Easy accepted the job after assurance from Albright that the task does not portend any significant problem with the law. Moreover, it was an opportunity to earn some money and considering his financial situation he had to accept the job. As the story progresses, Easy comes to realize that things are far more complicated than he could have thought. He is accused of murder, at risk of being hurt by Albright’s henchmen and having to rely on his friend Mouse, whom Easy is weary of. Furthermore, the lady Easy is expected to track down is not who they say she is. Easy along with Mouse have to find their way out of the predicament they find