Is Marlowe a Racist (or even homophobic)?

[John Carvill]

Well, you've altered the subject and thereby widened the accusatory
field. Fine. I already said that Marlowe is not a racist but admitted
the question of his attitude to homosexuals is a different, more
complex matter.

And we have already mentioned examples of Marlowe - and Bogart -
displaying 'non-PC' attitudes. Wanna call Bogart a racist and a
homophobe now? I hope not! Would you remove that scene from the film
of The BIg Sleep where Bogart flips his hat brim up and puts on that
vaguely 'gay' act?

It's probable that Chandler had conflicted feelings towards the idea
of homosexuality. But compare Marlowe with Sam Spade, who enjoys
beating up Joel Cairo precisely because Cairo is obviously gay. Plus
all that stuff about Gutman's 'gunsel'. Compared to all that, Marlowe
is practically a gay rights activist.

Marlowe is depicted in a sympathetic way, but he is quite a complex
character. If we as modern readers recoil slightly from some of his
attitudes, we have to factor in the times, and we should be aware
that, even with all his flaws, the character of Marlowe was, while
still tough and manly, actually pretty sensitive and, especially for
his time, progressive.

Attempts to paint him as a straight-out racist or homophobe or Fascist
or brute, will all ultimately fail.