Masquerading identities in The Talented Mr. Ripley and Crossing: trauma, deconstruction and performance

Abstract

Masquerading, the disguise of impersonation, offers the unique dimensions of concealing, revealing and reforming identity. This thesis analyses the compelling portrayal of masquerade in light of the novels The Talented Mr. Ripley (1955) and Crossing (2016), where the characters Ripley and Bujar put on metaphysical masks to perform as their desired personas. Although this phenomenon seems like a mere act of deceit, the complexities of the masquerade have an underlying cause. By taking a deep dive into the characters’ minds, this research investigates the impact of trauma using Cathy Caruth’s trauma theory, and how it causes deconstruction of self. As a result, they resort to masking and mimicry, serving masquerade as a coping mechanism and reinvention of identity. Additionally, this thesis employs Goffman’s performance module and Butler’s gender performativity to demonstrate how the characters perform in everyday life as queer individuals. The thesis further examines how the conscious and nonconscious mimicry of performances, viewed through the psychological lens of the chameleon effect, shape the way these deviants negotiate their shifting identities.