Now What?

The end of the novel has always surprised me. Why did Highsmith choose to end the book with no clear answer as to whether or not Tom gets caught? This ending is not what we typically see in murder mystery novels. Usually, the detectives solve the case and the murderer is punished. By leaving the ending open ended, the reader can use their imagination to guess what could possibly happen. In a way, we do see Tom’s success in the case. In the end, he is granted with Dickie’s freedom and wealth. That was all he ever wanted. Regardless of what the police and detectives uncover, Tom has successful manipulated Mr. Greenleaf and Marge in believing Dickie’s death was a suicide.

This open ending leaves Highsmith room to write sequals, which could continue the mystery of Dickie Greenleaf and Tom Ripley. In reading a biography of Highsmith, I come to find out she has wrote four more books that continue Tom Ripleys story.

Highsmiths Biography: http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/highsm.htm

Theme of Art

One of the themes of the novel was “art”. Why was art and painting such a dominant theme? Dickie was a painter and enjoyed creating new works of art daily. Tom became fascinated with art as well. One of the stories Tom made up was that Dickie had traveled to Rome to meet with a well known artist. I think artwork may have been important to the novel because art is a creative form of expressing oneself. Throughout the entire novel, Tom is disappointed with the way he lives his life and is not happy with himself as a person. He is constantly trying to express himself in a new way; as Dickie. Dickie’s identity crisis parallels the freedom of expression through art.

Marge and Tom

What made Marge give Tom a second chance at friendship? Marge had never been impressed with Tom nor very fond of him. Before Dickie’s death, Marge did not want to believe a word that came out of Tom’s mouth but preceding the death, Marge believed every word Dickie said. She completely trusted Tom even after all of her previous, uncomfortable encounters. I believe she has a new trust in Tom because she has no one else in her life. She was in love with Dickie and he was her world. When he was gone, she had no one to run too. With Tom being the closest one to Dickie before the murder, she may have felt that she was in a way spending time with Dickie. Also, since Tom had studied Dickie’s mannerisms and language so intricately, subconsciously Marge may have saw Dickie in Tom.

Murder + Money= Traveling

One thing I thought was interesting was that Tom was able to travel the world and site see while he was changing identities and under the investigation. I thought it was so bizarre how relaxed and amused Tom was after murdering two of his friends. With Dickie’s money in hand Tom was able to travel from place to place in order to keep those from finding out his secrets. Even with all of the anxiety of being caught, Tom was actually enjoying the new cities and made the most out of each destination he was hiding at. He was even singing and giggling at points. He got thrill out of crime investigation he was the center of. Highsmith writes, “It occurred to him that his anticipations was more pleasant to him than his experiencing.” To Tom, this was an entertaining life, a life he had always wanted to live.

Tom's Wild Imagination

The biggest factor that helps Tom get away with the two murders is the vivid imagination he has. He is constantly thinking of potential outcomes to the situations. Before he speaks with anyone involving the case, Tom imagines how the conversation is going to go. He thinks so detailed about these imaginary situations that he is prepared when the phone rings. This gives him the confidence to pull off the stunts. On page 239 it states, “His stories were so good because he imagined them intensely, so intensely that he came to believe them.” Without his imagination, I don’t think Tom would have had been prepared to talk to so many different people about so many different aspects of the case like he was. His imagination is the key to his success.
Also, having a these potential outcomes and situations broadcasted, it allows the reader to imagine what may happen as well.

The Trickster

I cannot believe Tom is trying to pull of being both Tom and Dickie. It is always such a suspenseful moment when we read about a predicament Tom get his himself into where he has to act as a certain person and is not prepared. Even though I have read the novel before and know how the story ends, I am always held at anticipation to see when he’ll get caught. With the plot being so twisted between the three different cases that Tom is involved in, it’s hard not to believe Tom will get caught in the act. Highsmith has developed such a strong plot that the possibilities of when and where Tom will get caught are endless.

Multiple Stories

It is hard for me as the reader, to keep all of Tom’s stories in line. I can only imagine how hard Tom’s brain is working to remember who he told what, about who. There are now so many pieces to the puzzle that it’s astonishing that some have not yet been revealed. Tom clearly has a mind for this type of drama. He has the skill to be calm under such stressful situation. In chapter 17, Tom speaks with the police and has his address released in the newspaper as Dickie Greenleaf’s address. The fact that his address is now publicized has made it possible for friends of Dickie to contact him. Tom has a lot of work ahead of him to keep the same story straight to everybody.

The Death of Freddie

Freddie’s murder scene was one of the more exciting scenes in the novel. It kept me at the edge of my seat to know if Freddie would pick up on the fact Tom is actually living at the apartment and not Dickie. Clearly Freddie was quicker than Tom thought. I just can’t believe that Dickie chose to kill another innocent person. Freddie had done nothing to Tom, but potentially put together the missing pieces of Dickie’s disappearance. Now is Tom going to keep murdering everyone that he thinks is on to him? Does he not realize he is now involved in two murder cases and that the probability of getting caught has just doubled? It is interesting that Tom believes the way to solve problems is to just kill.

Poor Marge

I am starting to feel bad for Marge. She thinks she has been left by the man she loves, but little does she know he has been murdered. I cannot imagine believing that I am still talking to someone I love when really the letters are not from him. She is forced to believe Tom’s lies because she has nothing else to believe. Marge is very hopefully and it saddens me that she is being lied to. It’s hurtful to think that someone would just up and leave her with no indication of where there are going or at least a good bye, but what’s worse is to think that her boyfriend has been murdered and she still thinks he’s alive. Tom is starting to see Marge’s sadness and he thinks it should help if she received kinder letters from Dickie, but that only makes her miss him more.

"Tom felt completely comfortable, as he had never felt at any party that he could remember"

A quote from the book that struck me as interesting was, “Tom felt completely comfortable, as he had never felt at any party that he could remember”. This is from the scene where Tom attends a party in Rome as Dickie Greenleaf. How can someone feel so comfortable when they are not acting as themselves? The person we know best is ourselves. He is living a life that he has never lived before. How can that be comforting? Much of his “comfort” has to deal with the fact that he is enjoying luxury that he has never had. It would be comforting to not have to worry about money and to be able to fancy parties every night, yet how could you feel comfortable when you have just committed murder and our wrapped around a string of lies? The fact that Tom is comfortable with the life of lies he is living only gives more evidence that there is something not right with Tom Ripley.

Communication in 1950s

I think the lack of communication technology in the 1950s helps Tom’s murder plot. Without cell phones and internet, it would be more difficult to get in contact with someone in another city. Since Marge and the dead Dickie communicate through letters (via Tom), Tom is able to pull off Dickie’s impersonation by mimicking his handwriting and way of expression through words. Since no one is aware of where “Dickie” is staying, there is no way to contact him through a land line. This means letters are the only way of communicating.
If this act Tom is pursuing would have been less likely if it had taken place in 2010. With the technology like Facebook and Twitter, it makes it very easy to get in contact with others. Tom’s would have been busted 30 pages ago.

Communication in the 1950s: http://socyberty.com/history/communications-history/

The Reactions

The sketchy story of Dickie’s disappearance leaves Marge confused and shocked. Even though she is not a fan of Tom, she believes the story. It makes me think that in the back of her head she must know something is not right. It is hard to imagine someone believing such a mysterious story. Also, Dickie’s reaction to the murder seems mind boggling as well. He continues his life with no regret or sorrow. He wears the dead man’s clothes and speaks of lies every time he talks to Marge. Wouldn’t it eat at you? I guess not, if you are a sociopath like Dickie. Does he truly believe he will get away with this scheme? I just question how this can be pulled off without somebody catching on real soon.

A detailed story makes a more believable story..

I enjoy reading about the culture in Italy and the places the characters visit. Highsmith does a great job with providing vivid details about the scenery as well as what is taking place around them. It was interesting to read about what types of bathing suits the Europeans wear and what kind of food they eat. Since I have never traveled outside of the United States, I enjoy reading novels that take place elsewhere and make me feel like I am actually there. Even the characters are described in detail of their dress and mannerisms. I think that a detailed story makes a more believable story. Highsmith makes it easy to feel like you actually know these characters and have visited these European cities.

Rome:http://www.italyguides.it/us/roma/rome_italy_travel.htm