James M. Cain's Double Identity

In Double Identity by James M. Cain, the main characters Phyllis and Walter, expose the themes of infidelity and ambitious when Phyllis cheats on her husband Mr. Nirdlinger with Walter Huff, but they plan to kill Phyllis’ husband for his insurance money. Even if this text fits perfectly into contemporary times, most critics argues that Wilder and Chandlers did a brilliant job of conveying “the general rootlessness of living in the 930s Los Angeles.” By “rootless of living in the 1930s Los Angeles” critics refer to the 1930s as a period of time with no boundaries, stability, or commitment, since Phyllis and Walter pursued financial mobility and would do anything in there hands to obtain it. First of all, Phyllis attempt to murder her husband for money demonstrates the lack of commitment she has towards her marriage. While the character Walter exhibits how males avoided family ties, since he is not married and avoids the emotions families brings (dislikes the emotions he receives when he sees Phyllis stepdaughter, Lola). Also, Walter’s personal life at work exposes the infidelity workers had

Walter explicitly tells Phyllis that he has been working for this insurance company for fifteen years, yet he creates a whole plan to out win the company (7). When Walter states how successful he is for his spring sales, one thinks that he makes good money. So then why does Walter need more of it? The character of Walter represents the ambitious man in the 1930s whom seeks to make quick cash at any expense, in this case by betrayal and murder.

Overall, Double Identity themes of infidelity and ambition reflect the effects of the historical background going on during the 1930s, the Great Depression. The actions in which Phyllis and Walter take implies the extremes many individuals had seek to maintain themselves emotionally or economically