The Talented Mr. Ripley | Teaching Key Figures

Character Descriptions

This section provides a short description of all the major characters in the book. This can be printed out as a study guide for students, used as a "key" for leading a class discussion, or you can jump to the quiz/homework section to find worksheets that incorporate these descriptions into a variety of question formats.

Characters

Tom Ripley - He was orphaned at a very young age when his parents were drowned on a boat in Boston Harbor, inspiring a life-long fear of water. He matures into a young man who is incapable of feeling empathy or sympathy for any other human being.

Dickie Greenleaf - He is an accomplished sailor from a prestigious shipbuilding family, with a private income from a trust fund. Rather than use his talent for designing sailboats, Dickie has chosen to live in a tiny village in southern Italy, where he is an enthusiastic,...
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