The Big Sleep

by

Raymond Chandler

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Terrence “Rusty” Regan Character Analysis

Although Rusty Regan does not appear in person in The Big Sleep, his presence, or lack thereof, hangs over the text, as he has been missing since before the narrative picks up. Rusty married Mrs. Regan, the eldest daughter of General Sternwood. The son and father-in-law got along well, and the General was personally hurt when Rusty left without saying goodbye. When Sternwood hires private detective Philip Marlowe to investigate why Arthur Gwynn Geiger is blackmailing him, everyone else assumes Marlowe is looking into Rusty’s disappearance. At the end of the novel, Marlowe discovers that the General’s daughter, Carmen, killed Rusty in a fit of rage. To protect her sister, Mrs. Regan called in local racketeer Eddie Mars to help her cover up Rusty’s murder. Mars devises a ruse, hiding Rusty’s car at his wife Mona’s apartment complex, to make it seem the two ran away together. Mona goes into hiding to keep up appearances.

Terrence “Rusty” Regan Quotes in The Big Sleep

The The Big Sleep quotes below are all either spoken by Terrence “Rusty” Regan or refer to Terrence “Rusty” Regan. 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:
The Corruption of Society Theme Icon
).
Chapter 20 Quotes

He’s got friends in town, or he wouldn’t be what he is.

Related Characters: Captain Al Gregory (speaker), Philip Marlowe, Eddie Mars, Terrence “Rusty” Regan, Mona Mars
Page Number: 125
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21 Quotes

Eddie Mars would have been very unlikely to involve himself in a double murder just because another man had gone to town with the blonde he was not even living with … If there had been a lot of money involved, that would be different. But fifteen grand wouldn't be a lot of money to Eddie Mars. He was no two-bit chiseler like Brody.

Related Characters: Philip Marlowe (speaker), Eddie Mars, Terrence “Rusty” Regan, Joe Brody, Mona Mars
Related Symbols: Money
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 32 Quotes

What did it matter where you lay once you were dead? In a dirty sump or in a marble tower on top of a high hill? You were dead, you were sleeping the big sleep, you were not bothered by things like that.

Related Characters: Philip Marlowe (speaker), Terrence “Rusty” Regan
Related Symbols: Money
Page Number: 230
Explanation and Analysis:
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Terrence “Rusty” Regan Quotes in The Big Sleep

The The Big Sleep quotes below are all either spoken by Terrence “Rusty” Regan or refer to Terrence “Rusty” Regan. 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:
The Corruption of Society Theme Icon
).
Chapter 20 Quotes

He’s got friends in town, or he wouldn’t be what he is.

Related Characters: Captain Al Gregory (speaker), Philip Marlowe, Eddie Mars, Terrence “Rusty” Regan, Mona Mars
Page Number: 125
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 21 Quotes

Eddie Mars would have been very unlikely to involve himself in a double murder just because another man had gone to town with the blonde he was not even living with … If there had been a lot of money involved, that would be different. But fifteen grand wouldn't be a lot of money to Eddie Mars. He was no two-bit chiseler like Brody.

Related Characters: Philip Marlowe (speaker), Eddie Mars, Terrence “Rusty” Regan, Joe Brody, Mona Mars
Related Symbols: Money
Page Number: 128
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 32 Quotes

What did it matter where you lay once you were dead? In a dirty sump or in a marble tower on top of a high hill? You were dead, you were sleeping the big sleep, you were not bothered by things like that.

Related Characters: Philip Marlowe (speaker), Terrence “Rusty” Regan
Related Symbols: Money
Page Number: 230
Explanation and Analysis: