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.
Harry Jones Quotes in The Big Sleep
The The Big Sleep quotes below are all either spoken by Harry Jones or refer to Harry Jones. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 25
Quotes
She’s a grifter, shamus. I’m a grifter. We’re all grifters. So we sell each other out for a nickel.
Related Characters:
Harry Jones (speaker), Philip Marlowe, “The Blonde” / Agnes Lozelle
Related Symbols:
Money
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
He puffed evenly and stared at me level-eyed, a funny little hard guy I could have thrown from home plate to second base. A small man in a big man's world. There was something I liked about him.
Related Characters:
Philip Marlowe (speaker), Harry Jones
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
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Harry Jones Quotes in The Big Sleep
The The Big Sleep quotes below are all either spoken by Harry Jones or refer to Harry Jones. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 25
Quotes
She’s a grifter, shamus. I’m a grifter. We’re all grifters. So we sell each other out for a nickel.
Related Characters:
Harry Jones (speaker), Philip Marlowe, “The Blonde” / Agnes Lozelle
Related Symbols:
Money
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
He puffed evenly and stared at me level-eyed, a funny little hard guy I could have thrown from home plate to second base. A small man in a big man's world. There was something I liked about him.
Related Characters:
Philip Marlowe (speaker), Harry Jones
Related Themes:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
