ipl-logo

Talented Mr Ripley Analysis

1007 Words5 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Tom ripley character analysis

Patricia Highsmith’s novel Talented Mr. Ripley illustrates an interesting protagonist, Tom Ripley, who is good at committing crimes and imitating others. Tom Ripley is hired to bring Dickie Greenleaf back from Italy. However, during the time spent in Italy, Tom is fascinated with Dickie’s wealthy and splendid lifestyle so he plans to kill Dickie and take over his identity. Crime fiction consists of different elements, usually crime, mystery and suspense acts the most important role. From past till now, crime fiction has changed that it is no longer necessary to follow the genre conventions of crime fiction. Someone argues that Talented Mr. Ripley is a typical crime story that adopts the genre conventions of crime fiction but several scenes …show more content…

Classic crime fiction usually writes from detective’s perspective and detective is described as clever, strong hero. However, Highsmith writes Talented Mr. Ripley in a different way by following murderer’s mind and the detective didn’t show up until near the end of the story. "The detective in this kind of story must be such a man. He is the hero; he is everything. He must be a complete man and a common man and yet an unusual man” (Chandler 4). Chandler believes in common detective story the protagonist should be an intelligent male hero who is the spotlight of the story. Nevertheless, Tom is an antihero who has to kill people to look for his personalities and an identity to inhabit. According to the film version of Talented Mr. Ripley, Tom said that he prefers being a fake somebody than a real body. This indicates that Tom is low in self-esteem and confidence leads him to become an antihero which conflicts Chandler’s idea. “With his rule that the reader should not be allowed to follow the murderer’s thought” (James 59). Monsignor Knox explains that in crime story readers are not supposed to know what does the murderer thinks. Thus, Highsmith inverts Knox’s propose and allows the readers full access to the mind of Tom Ripley. By reading the murderer’s mind, it builds our sympathies in Tom Ripley and wants him to success. Highsmith also arranges the detective to show up at the last part of the story,

Show More
Related
508 Words | 3 Pages

Cordingly talks of movies based on works of fiction, saying “There is nothing wrong with this….But the fact remains that the lives of some of the real pirates and the men who hunted them down are as fascinating and as full of drama as any of the works of fiction” (177). Cordingly is fine with letting fictional pieces be exaggerated for the story, but does not want the true stories to be forgotten. First hand sources from journals, letters, court records, and other written sources are used to verify the events proving the points of the book. In the first chapter, Cordingly discusses the written records describing pirates’ attire.

Read More
171 Words | 1 Pages

(Sorrells, Walter) The author would have to research how to solve a mystery because once again the story brings together another investigation. Walter

Read More
1308 Words | 6 Pages

Holden Caulfield lives his life as an outsider to his society, because of this any we (as a reader) find normal is a phony to him. Basically, every breathing thing in The Catcher in the Rye is a phony expect a select few, like Jane Gallagher. What is a phony to Holden and why is he obsessed with them? A phony is anyone who Holden feels is that living their authentic life, like D.B. (his older brother). Or simply anyone who fits into society norms, for example, Sally Hayes.

Read More
2014 Words | 9 Pages

Chandler produces the classic detective novel through his use of conniving criminals, corrupt police, and characters that are slighted by the actions of those in their lives. The novels chief detective, Philip Marlowe, is unable to eliminate every criminal that crosses his path, much to his dismay. Although most of the offenders are apparent from the beginning of the novel, some are not revealed until towards the end. Consider mob boss Eddie Mars; well known by the police officers, along with his hitman Canino, yet no one seems to do anything about it. The absence of action is not a result of ineptitude; it is merely from the mob having control over everything, spanning from bootlegging to covering up murders.

Read More
1126 Words | 5 Pages

Unlike many of his contemporaries, Barrett does not write formulaic novels as each narrative comes with its won unique flavor given his variety of CSI experiences in his day job. Even as his novels frequently involve police procedure, they are for the most part about the Crime Scene investigations officers and how they solve crime. The Eddie Collins and SOCO Roger Conniston series offer insights on the life of a CSI as they do battle with cunning criminals who commit crime to make opne shudder and lock their doors at

Read More
376 Words | 2 Pages

Ways of the Eccentric Detective Sherlock Holmes, known as a famous detective with peculiar abilities of observation possesses a contrary side that makes him notably original. In “The Red-Headed League” by Arthur Conan Doyle, Holmes is an eccentric character because of the double attributes he shows throughout the story. Foremost, the narrator, Dr. Watson observes at a concert that while Holmes was “gently waving his long, thin fingers in time to the music”, “his gently smiling face and his languid dreamy eyes are unlike those of Holmes, the sleuth hound”. Imagery paints the picture of Holmes, seemingly dominated by music and in a poetic mood. This contrasts the “brilliant reasoning power” he has that makes Holmes the successful detective

Read More
293 Words | 2 Pages

In The Body in the Library, Agatha Christie provides many mystery tropes that are a staple in the mystery genre. For example, Miss Marple, supposingly the main sleuth, has barely even touched the mystery. This is similar with her french detective Hercule Poirot. Both investigators never want to get involved, and normally leave it up to other people. E.g. Superintendent Harper, and Colonel Melchett.

Read More
1240 Words | 5 Pages

Introduction When I was asked to do a movie review of the film entitled Antwone Fisher I was hesitant as to what to write. However, as I watched the movie there was a flood of emotions and thoughts that entered my mind. Antwone Fisher the movie was based on a true story of a man, who ended up writing a screenplay about his experience. The movie was based on Antwone Fisher’s life who is an African-American in the United States Navy that was stationed in California.

Read More
469 Words | 2 Pages

Tom Ripley is at odds with himself, the more he lies, the more he destroys his true self. He is driven obsessively to right these perceived wrongs in his life and feels justified to whatever means he deems necessary to pursue his

Read More
515 Words | 3 Pages

Throughout the play, he exhibits a sense of authority that commands respect from the other characters, even those who initially dismiss him as a nuisance. The Inspector's interrogation techniques are also notable, as he employs a methodical and persistent approach to his questioning, often forcing the other characters to reveal uncomfortable truths about themselves and their actions. This creates tension and suspense for the audience, as we watch the Inspector gradually unravel the layers of deceit and hypocrisy that lie beneath the surface of the Birling family's seemingly idyllic lifestyle. Another way in which the Inspector is presented in the play is through his enigmatic nature. Although he is a central figure in the narrative, we learn very little about the Inspector himself, beyond his role in investigating the suicide of a young woman named Eva Smith.

Read More
743 Words | 3 Pages

He tells us of places, people, and events” (Doyle 239). It is believed Doyle chose Watson as the narrator, because he was easier to relate to. He was believed to be a decent man, who was honest and loyal (Doyle

Read More
750 Words | 3 Pages

In this book, instead of seeing the narration from Sherlock Holmes’ perspective, the author provides the reader from another angle, Dr. Watson. As the narrator of this story, Watson provides a less serious attitude than his mentor. Holmes though does not let his absence pass as he is

Read More
1107 Words | 5 Pages

The 1995 film adaptation of Sense and Sensibility, directed by Ang Lee and originally written by Jane Austen, has timeless elements in its composition. Starring Emma Thompson, also the screenwriter, and Kate Winslet as Elinor and Marianne Dashwood, the movie tells of two heroines and their struggle between balancing idealism and reality. As young, female adolescents of the 1800s, they are responsible for finding husbands that can support them financially; and following their father’s death and loss of money, this becomes even more emphasized. But, they come to struggle when having to choose between what their hearts crave, and what their minds know is best. Elinor’s ideal partner is the initially dull Edward Ferrars, who is discovered to be secretly engaged

Read More
688 Words | 3 Pages

Tim Burton contributes to the world of animation in the film industry and redefined stop motion . Lighting is an important cinematic technique directors can use to set the mood for a particular scene. For instance, high-key lighting is used to flood a scene with light, often making the set and characters appear happy and safe. In contrast, low-key lighting casts deep shadows across the set and characters creating a sense of danger. Burton makes good use of lighting techniques in many of his films.

Read More
1317 Words | 6 Pages

Having both a narrator and an investigator role, Charles Hayward leads

Read More

More about Talented Mr Ripley Analysis

Related Topics

Open Document