Talk:The Talented Mr. Ripley

Homosexuality in the novel
No mention is made of the homosexuality that pervades the novel from its very beginning. I should think this a vital element of the plot and one that should be added to the article.Abenr (talk) 06:38, 14 February 2010 (UTC)--Abenr (talk) 06:38, 14 February 2010 (UTC)


 * There is a mention of sexuality in the article on Tom Ripley. Homosexuality clearly does not "pervade the novel", and it certainly has nothing to do with the plot. Ktlynch (talk) 13:26, 14 February 2010 (UTC)


 * It is definitely just subtext in the novel, and mentioning it here without a source would be editor POV/interpretation; surely there's a reliable review or analysis out there which notes the undertones that can be cited? &mdash; TAnthonyTalk 17:55, 14 February 2010 (UTC)


 * I'm looking for some good sources now, the article is only a plot summary at the moment, so it's innsufficient in every way. In my reading, there are hints of homosexuality as part of the characterisation of Ripley as a young man unsure of himself, but not as part of the plot. Nothing sexual actually happens in the novel, apart from another hint that too other characters are romantically involved. To characterise this book as "gay literature" would be a gross overstatement.Ktlynch (talk) 19:08, 14 February 2010 (UTC)


 * Agreed it is not "gay lit" (and the plot doesn't depend on Tom having sexual feelings for Dickie - it would work perfectly well without this nuance) but plenty of commentators have picked up on homoerotic undertones.
 * http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19960703/REVIEWS/607030303/1023
 * http://rogerebert.suntimes.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/19991224/REVIEWS/912240305/1023
 * http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2000/jan/28/crimebooks?INTCMP=SRCH
 * http://www.guardian.co.uk/books/2003/jul/12/featuresreviews.guardianreview3?INTCMP=SRCH
 * http://scholar.google.co.uk/scholar?q=%22tom+ripley%22+homosexual&hl=en&btnG=Search&as_sdt=1%2C5&as_sdtp=on
 * http://movies.nytimes.com/movie/review?res=9F06E7DE1239F937A15751C1A96F958260&scp=1&sq=%22tom%20ripley%22%20homosexual&st=cse
 * http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/08/books/review/Campbell-t.html?scp=2&sq=%22tom%20ripley%22%20homosexual&st=cse
 * If no-one objects, I'm going to add it, briefly. Barnabypage (talk) 18:01, 9 April 2011 (UTC)

Plot summary
It's been awhile since I read the novel, but the film made some changes and this plot summary seems to have incorporated some of those, in particular Marge's expanded role. Can someone who has read it more recently take a crack at trimming this section? &mdash; TAnthonyTalk 05:53, 20 January 2011 (UTC)

Name confusion
'Greenleaf' or 'Dickie' in the same or adjacent sentences is very confusing - one person or two? Father or son? 89.168.93.79 (talk) 22:34, 23 March 2011 (UTC)

This plot describes the film, not the book
In the book, Tom as Dickey does not go to Venice, but to Sicily--etc. Please read the book before you write the summary! — Preceding unsigned comment added by Gr5959 (talk • contribs) 20:28, 8 April 2014 (UTC)

Tom's feelings towards Marge
This is incorrect: "Tom begins to grow jealous of Freddie, and grows closer to Marge over their shared anguish in Dickie's shifting loyalty." Tom dislikes Freddie Miles from their first meeting, but it's only a brief encounter. Miles doesn't become significant until later when he is murdered by Tom. Tom was never close to Marge and could barely conceal his dislike of her throughout the novel. He was disgusted by Dickie's affection towards her, even repulsed by the sight of her underclothes drying on the line, and actively interfered in their relationship. 108.35.76.64 (talk) 19:41, 5 May 2023 (UTC)