Is tom ripley gay

Answer 1

This depends on whether you are referring to Tom Ripley from the book or the movie.

There are homosexual overtones to Tom's actions in the book including his perpetual fear that "perverts" and "queers" are following him around. Yet he is equally repulsed by Marge and makes no moves to get to know other women. But there is no hard evidence concerning his sexuality.

Tom Ripley in the movie, however, is gay. Tom and Peter Smith-Kingsley have a definite connection. Tom makes references to meeting a "special someone" who is undoubtedly understood to be Peter. There are also many scenes where they are staring into each others eyes. The scene were tom kills Peter to keep his secret is exceedingly heartwrenching because it comes after Peter describing all the good things about Tom