Little Caesar · Question
How does Little Caesar develop the theme of Crime and Consequence?
Answer
Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett develops Crime and Consequence across the chapters the companion marks for this theme.
The narrative follows the rise and fall of gangster Rico and his associates, showing how criminal actions inevitably lead to violence, betrayal, and downfall, as seen in the murders, arrests, and executions that punctuate the story.
The epigraph's warning that sowing hemlock yields no corn directly alludes to the inescapable repercussions of criminal actions, a central theme of the novel.
The gang meticulously plans a robbery, with Vettori emphasizing the limits of what can be fixed by the Big Boy—murder is off-limits.
The robbery and murder of Courtney set the stage for the inevitable repercussions of criminal actions.
Evidence in the book
- Epigraph
The epigraph's warning that sowing hemlock yields no corn directly alludes to the inescapable repercussions of criminal actions, a central theme of the novel.
- I
The gang meticulously plans a robbery, with Vettori emphasizing the limits of what can be fixed by the Big Boy—murder is off-limits.
- I
The robbery and murder of Courtney set the stage for the inevitable repercussions of criminal actions.
- IV
Rico's visit to the fence and the news of Captain Courtney's murder highlight the ongoing criminal activities and their repercussions.
- V
Tony's guilt and dread after the robbery illustrate the psychological weight of criminal actions.
- VII
Rico's obsessive reading of the clippings shows his preoccupation with the aftermath of the robbery and murder, and his concern over how he is portrayed.
- III
Joe Massara faces the immediate consequences of his criminal activities as he is arrested and jailed.
- IV
Joe faces the immediate consequences of his alleged crime: arrest, solitary confinement, lineup identification, and the threat of hanging.
