Patricia Highsmith, The Blunderer

Guilt, Innocence and Fate

An interpretation of „The Blunderer“ by Patricia Highsmith

Introduction

The following interpretation deals with the comparison of protagonist and antagonist in Patricia Highsmith´s psychological crime novel „The Blunderer“ first published in 1956.

Both characters, Walter Stackhouse and Melchior Kimmel, will be investigated with special regard to their differences. I’d especially like to point out their different attitudes, means, personalities and concepts of guilt. Thus, I will be able to explain their inevitable and vicious conflict: The clash of worlds; one of emotion and fiction (Stackhouse) and one of rationality and reality (Kimmel).