earticle

영어

This paper tries to analyse the relationship between two main characters, Tom Ripley and Dickie Greenleaf in the framework of Melanie Klein’s theory of envy. Tom’s envy shows the same process which Klein mentioned, the idealization of the envied character and the transformation of it into violence on him. Given that Tom’s envy is fundamentally based on the class difference, it is likely to think the author tries to emphasize the harmful consequences of an unequal society. But Tom doesn’t show any concern about the social structure which creates and ensures unequality. Instead he aspires to belong to the world of wealth and privilege. In that sense in his envy we cannot find any impulse to criticize and change his society. But when we see that he succeeded in passing for Dickie through killing and perfectly imitating his identity, and enjoyed the pleasure of consumption of luxurious things such as clothes, bags, shoes and fountain pens which are believed to shape his identity and give the meaning of his existence, we come to glimpse a dark world where subject’s authenticity, meaningful relationship with others and the value of the spiritual are lost.