If you order your research paper from our custom writing service you will receive a perfectly written assignment on The Talented Mr. Ripley. What we need from you is to provide us with your detailed paper instructions for our experienced writers to follow all of your specific writing requirements. Specify your order details, state the exact number of pages required and our custom writing professionals will deliver the best quality The Talented Mr. Ripley paper right on time.
Our staff of freelance writers includes over 120 experts proficient in The Talented Mr. Ripley, therefore you can rest assured that your assignment will be handled by only top rated specialists. Order your The Talented Mr. Ripley paper at affordable prices!
Tom Ripley's Infatuation with Dickie GreenleafIn 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 4). There was nothing but opportunity in front of Tom Ripley, and he intended to take advantage.
Purchase your paper on The Talented Mr. Ripley
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, "the first step was to make Dickie like him. That he wanted more than anything in the world" (p 5).Dickie soon took an immediate liking to Tom. Tom felt that, "Dickie was bored at the moment and needed someone to show how him to have fun" (p 60). The friendship between the two men blossomed so greatly, that Marge soon felt as if she had been replaced. They traveled many places together and it became obvious that Tom had grown "quite fond" of Dickie. He very much was in love with the life that Dickie was leading and very much wanted to be a part of it. This was due to the fact that Dickie lived quite lavishly, a typical day consisting of "a siesta after the late lunch, probably, than the sail in Dickie's boat at sundown. Then aperitifs at one of the caf 's on the beach" (p 4). This was very appealing to a man like Tom, who was not used to a rich lifestyle like Dickie's. The closer that Tom and Dickie became, the more that Marge was pushed out of the picture. When Dickie realizes that he is beginning to lose his relationship with Marge, he immediately begins to make some changes; starting first with his friendship with Tom. It disgusted Tom, though, the way that Dickie would hold on to Marge. Dickie's arm was around her waist. Dickie was kissing her, little pecks on her cheek, smiling at her… and what disgusted Tom was that he knew Dickie didn't mean it, that Dickie was only using this cheap, obvious,easy way to hold on to her friendship… Tom really wouldn't have believed it possible of Dickie! (p 77)This passage clearly portrays the jealousy that Tom holds within for anyone who is able to attain Dickie's attention. It is obvious to the reader that Tom does not like it when Marge is around Dickie, and if he had things his way "they (Dickie and Tom) would go on living together" (p 74). Tom's world comes crashing down when he and Dickie depart on their final trip together to San Remo. Right before they leave, Dickie informs Tom that he "would really prefer to go to Cortina d'Ampezzo alone with Marge" (p 7). It is obvious by this point of the novel that Dickie is fed up with Tom. Dickie has been hinting to Tom recently that he would like for him to leave.Only yesterday Dickie had said, "Are you going home forChristmas?" very casually in the middle of some conversation, but Dickie knew damned well he wasn't going home for Christmas. Hedidn't have a home, and Dickie knew it… It had simply been a big hint, that was all. (p 4)Dickie begins to make more and more comments like this. This causes bitterness and hatred to build up inside of Tom. He is not only angry towards Dickie, but Marge as well, for stealing Dickie away from him. While Dickie and Tom are in San Remo, Tom has the idea that the two of them should take a boat ride. The violence and anger that Tom portrayed on that boat had been accumulating for quite some time. Although Tom had not previously planned on committing such a crime, the opportunity presented itself when Tom realized "he could have hit Dickie, sprung on him, or kissed him, or thrown him overboard, and nobody could have seen him in the distance" (p 10). This was the chance that Tom Ripley had been waiting for. This could be his real chance to turn his life completely around for the best.Tom realized the friendship that he and Dickie had would never be the same. "He had failed with Dickie, in every way. He hated Dickie, because, however he looked at what had happened, his failing had not been his own fault, not due to anything he had done, but due to Dickie's inhuman stubbornness" (p 100). In Tom's own mind he was justifying the actions he was about to perform. As well, he was scheming in his mind how he could get away with this murder.He could he had just thought of something brilliant hecould become Dickie Greenleaf himself. He could do everything thatDickie did. He could go back to Mongibello first and collect Dickie'sthings, tell Marge any damned story, set up an apartment in Rome orParis, receive Dickie's checque every month and forge Dickie's signatureon it. (p 100)This plan would not only enable Tom to get away with the murder, but it would also give him the opportunity to assume the identity of Dickie. He has been jealous of the life that Dickie has led since he first met him, and now he would get a taste of what Dickie's life was like. Tom's infatuation with Dickie's life went so far as to him changing the way he spoke, dressed and acted, just to fit the role of Dickie. Tom had lightened his hair slightly with a peroxide wash and had forced some waves into it, aided by hair oil, and for the inspector'sbenefit he had put on the rather tense, rather frowning expression of Dickie's passport photograph. (p 14) Tom appears to be disregarding his life as Tom Ripley, and is completely assuming the identity of Dickie Greenleaf. A very risky thing to do, but the reason he murdered Dickie was for this exact reason, so he could walk through the streets of Rome and pass as Dickie Greenleaf, and certainly "he was prepared for someone to get up from on of the tables at any moment, and come over and say, Dickie Greenleaf! Is it really you?"(p 16)Unfortunately, for Tom's sake, he was forced to dispose of Dickie's clothing in storage until this whole mess blew over. He would have to become himself and "he hated becoming Thomas Ripley again, hated being nobody, hated putting on his old set of habits again, and feeling that people looked down on him" (p 1). For the first time in Tom's life, people were not laughing at him, they were taking him seriously. It was extremely hard for him to give up an identity that changed his whole outlook on life.Although Tom knew that when he sent Dickie's clothing to storage, the chances of him returning to wear them were very unlikely. This was a fate worse than death for Tom, because "he definitely wanted to see Greece. He wanted to see Greece as Dickie Greenleaf with Dickie's money, Dickie's clothes, Dickie's way of behaving with strangers. The idea of going to Greece, trudging over the Acropolis as Tom Ripley, American tourist, held no charm for him at all"(p 180). The life that Tom Ripley led as Tom Ripley, did not appeal to him at all; but the life he led as Dickie Greenleaf, completely changed the kind of person that he was. He was infatuated with Dickie's life, everything about Dickie, and this led to Dickie's own misfortune. It is apparent throughout Highsmith's novel that Ripley wants nothing more than to be like Dickie. He not only assumed the role of Dickie Greenleaf, but he also killed whoever stood in the way of making this dream of his possible. Tom Ripley's infatuation with Dickie became so overpowering that he allowed it to control his life. He gave in to his jealousy, and committed murder. BibliographyHighsmith, Patricia. The Talented Mr. Ripley. New York Furst Vintage Crime/BlackLizard Edition, September 1. Please note that this sample paper on The Talented Mr. Ripley is for your review only. In order to eliminate any of the plagiarism issues, it is highly recommended that you do not use it for you own writing purposes. In case you experience difficulties with writing a well structured and accurately composed paper on The Talented Mr. Ripley, we are here to assist you. Your persuasive essay on The Talented Mr. Ripley will be written from scratch, so you do not have to worry about its originality.
Order your authentic assignment and you will be amazed at how easy it is to complete a quality custom paper within the shortest time possible!
