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The Life & Crimes of Harry Lavender and the Hard Way Essay

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The Life & Crimes of Harry Lavender and the Hard Way Essay
Distinctive voices are created in texts through the use of the protagonists, antagonists and setting. Contemporary composers manipulate characteristics of texts to portray its distinctive voice. This is evident in Marele Day’s novel the Life and Crimes of Harry Lavender, by the giving the protagonist Claudia Valentine - a hard boiled detective, the antagonist Harry Lavender – A major crime boss and Sydney each a distinctive voice. John Badham also incorporates this into the film The Hard way with the use of the protagonist John Moss – a hardboiled NYC Cop, the antagonist The Party Crasher – a serial killer and NYC. Emphasis on their voices increases readers’ identification with the text.
The protagonists’ distinctive voice expresses their particular purpose. Day constructed the protagonist in the LCHL, Claudia Valentine’s voice as tough talking; this is shown by her stating “No one gets in my room… Let alone my bed.” And cynical “Well heeled, well coiffed.” Her dialogue is mainly noir, and classic private eye detective style. This simile and paradox “I woke up feeling like death…” tells the reader she lives life on the edge. “One step closer to heaven was the crematorium.” This metaphor shows the reader Claudia’s witty side. Badham moulds the protagonist in The Hard Way, John Moss, to have dialogue of a typical 90’s hard boiled New York City cop. When John Moss states “At least they didn’t steal your rubber gun.” This informs the viewers of his sarcastic nature and some what wittiness. John Moss also has a typical, NYPD short temper when he states “OK. Knock that off alright?” John Moss is also intelligent as he comprehends the Party Crasher’s leads quickly. (RELATE TO THESIS)
The antagonists’ distinctive voice expresses their particular purpose. Day constructed the antagonist in the LCHL, Harry Lavender’s voice as manipulative and patient. This is established early on when Lavender displays his knife “So close to their eyes they cannot even blink.” This gives

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