The Maltese Falcon

Main Characters and Their Development

• Sam Spade - a private detective and the main protagonist of the book. He is smart, cynical, and possesses a keen sense of justice. Throughout the plot, Spade demonstrates his professional competence and moral resilience despite pressure from various interested parties.
• Brigid O'Shaughnessy - a mysterious woman who hires Spade for the investigation. Her character is multifaceted: she is manipulative yet vulnerable. As the story progresses, her true motives and personality gradually unfold.
• Joel Cairo - a small-time criminal also searching for the Maltese Falcon. Initially presented as an antagonist, his role becomes more complex and layered as the story develops.
• Kasper Gutman - the main antagonist, known as «The Fat Man». He is obsessed with finding the Maltese Falcon and is willing to do anything to obtain it. Gutman embodies greed and amorality.
• Wilmer Cook - Gutman's young and hot-headed bodyguard. His loyalty and aggressiveness make him dangerous, yet he remains a pawn in the game of more experienced criminals.