The Talented Mr Ripley

8 Pages 1906 Words

In Patricia Highsmith’s The Talented Mr. Ripley, Tom Ripley’s underlying desire to start a new life, and become a successful man leads to the eventual death of Dickie Greenleaf. Tom’s jealousy, along with his infatuation of Dickie, became so overwhelming that he began to obsess over Dickie’s life. Tom would constantly try to please Dickie, and win over his affection; though Tom soon learned that he would never be able to compete with Marge and this drove him over the edge.
Tom Ripley sailed to Italy on behalf of Mr. and Mrs. Herbert Greenleaf, the parents of Dickie Greenleaf. Mr. Greenleaf had approached Tom and informed him that he would put up all the money for a trip to Italy, if Tom would attempt to convince his son to return home to the states. It did not take Tom long to make up his mind, because this was the fresh start he had been looking for. He was already in trouble with the law, so Europe would be a good excuse to get away for a while. Tom accepted, and upon his arrival in Italy, he was immediately overwhelmed by his new found surroundings. For the first time in Tom’s life, he had the chance to start over, and to make something of himself. It was time that he said, “goodbye to all the second-rate people he had hung around and had let hang around him the past three years in New York” (p 34). There was nothing but opportunity in front of Tom Ripley, and he intended to take
advantage.

It took some time for Tom to win over Dickie’s friendship. Tom confessed to Dickie the real reason why he was in Italy: “it was his one last chance to amuse Dickie or repel him, to make Dickie burst out laughing or go out and slam the door in
disgust” (p 56). This brought a smile to Dickie’s face and led to the eventual friendship that developed between the two of them. Although it is obvious from the beginning of this friendship that Tom would constantly be the one trying to please Dickie. After all, “...