Harry Jones Character Analysis

Harry Jones is a grifter who makes money by running a gambling book. He tails private detective Philip Marlowe’s car, as he wants to sell Marlowe information on the whereabouts of the missing Mona Mars. Jones knew Rusty Regan, who has supposedly run off with Mona, the wife of local racketeer Eddie Mars. Marlowe mocks Jones, calling him “little man” because he is short. Yet, Jones displays great strength of character—namely, he lies to Lash Canino, Mars’s hired assassin, when interrogated about where Agnes Lozelle lives. Canino puts cyanide in Jones’s whiskey, killing him. Marlowe also notes that Jones is smarter than he first realized, yet still refers to him as “little dead man,” his continued lack of respect showing the detective’s inflexible notions of masculinity.