Alix Ohlin: Misfits and Malfeasance: The Criminal Act in Fiction (July 2012)

In this class, Alix Ohlin considers stylistic approaches to the portrayal of criminal acts in fiction. Looking at works by Raymond Chandler, Carson McCullers, and Alice Munro, Ohlin explores how charged moments of criminality can shift tone and texture. Ohlin argues that acts of violence and betrayal, often rendered lyrically, are integral not only to plot development, but also to successful, nuanced characterization.