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In the novel The Postman Always Rings Twice, James M Cain employs deception for new love and deception for the safety of one's own consequences in order to convey how the characters deceive others for their own benefits resulting in a crime, ultimately illustrating people will go to lengths for the new opportunities and love. Cain initially shows deception for new love at the beginning of the novel not only deceiving Frank but Cora as well in order to demonstrate his willingness to find new love.
For example, Frank had deceived Nick and Cora leading them to believe was a drifter and was in need of a job. This was a way he could become close with the two allowing the affair to begin. Because he went to those lengths, Frank was able to become close with the two. Consequently, he was able to appeal to Cora leading to their newfound love. Therefore, Frank can be shown as an example of people going lengths for what they want such as new opportunities or in this case love. The deception carries on to be a very common part of the novel leading to more unexpected twists.As the theme continues Cora is next to deceive as an opportunity for new found love, but at the cost of an unhappy love. Cora deceives her husband Nick not only during her and Frank’s affair, but also by conspiring her plan to murder him to escape what she felt was an unhappy marriage. These plans of Cora’s show how she is willing to leave something she has known for a new fresh opportunity for love and happiness. Since, she is so quick to betray her husband that can drive some doubt into Frank's head, also questioning her loyalty. Thus showing the human nature of always wanting what is not easily accessible.
All of the deceiving does not stop with Frank but also with people of authority and even each other. Moreover, James M Cain demonstrates how Frank and Cora also use deception as a way to avoid consequences of their own actions. These two attempt to deceive the police to try to cover up their crime and avoid their consequences as well as maintain their relationship. Frank and Cora set up the murder to be seen as an accident attempting to also deceive the authorities. Because of their want for something more and new it causes them to commit crimes and ultimately dig a deeper hole for themselves. Consequently their lies and manipulation of the crime scene put them more at risk for more harsh repercussions if they do get caught. Therefore, these characters' actions show their disparity of anything but what they already have. The constant manipulation and lies resulting in the two even distrusting others. Cora and Frank become skeptical of each other during the investigation of Nick's murder uneasy whether they were being loyal to each other. Both worry for themselves that the other will betray them, turning them into the police. Because of the constant lack of honesty they both were able to conceal to others it drives a wedge of distrust and becomes a constant suspicion between the two when the tensions become high. Since, their relationship was not based on pure love, honesty, and their ability to deceive anyone they come across so easily it does not give their relationship a true chance to thrive because if they are so good at lying to others, imagine the way they could be lying to each other. Thus concluding, although people may go any length for things they may desire it does not always mean it is a positive trait and could even make the person worse off than they felt they were before.
Overall, James M Cain exemplified that deception for new love cannot be successful if the relationship is also maintained by more deception such as avoidance of consequences. A love built on this foundation has an unavoidable downfall because if other people should not trust the two then why should they be able to trust each other. This controversial relationship shows that although people may go to lengths for new love and opportunities it does not always have an outcome that is sure to be positive.
In the novel The Cocktail Waitress, James M Cain includes crime into the plot which allows for the development of a deeper understanding of the moral complexities in order to convey the main characters' motivations and morals with the goal of self-preservation, ultimately illustrating, a person can deceive someone by hiding their morals and motivations so they can reap their own advantages and benefits or even for their own survival.
Cain initially shows his first demonstration of crime, opening the novel talking about the main character, Joan Medford’s husband , Tom, who dies in an alleged car crash, already raising suspicion on Joan and her motivations and overall morals. This situation sets the plot and gives initial opinions of characters. This suspicion of Joans possible involvement in her husband's death shows signs of a possible complex relationship problem she may have. Because right from the beginning there is tension and a sort of external conflict happening it already provides deeper understanding of the characters and how these types of personalities can contribute for the rest of the storyline. Consequently, Joan already leaves an uneasy feeling with her victim complex while there are investigations being done on her leading to the belief she may not be as much of a victim that she tries to get others to believe. Due to these contributions of the crime scene of Tom's death, it shows their purpose and importance to deeper analysis into the story and characters.While this first scene gives an inside look into characters and morals it also foreshadows what may happen later into the novel. For example the death of Joan's husband later ties into other deaths that happen. The detail and information from this first incident gives great understanding and helps to jump start the storyline. The foreshadowing ties into the characters motives and morals, because if this is new information shows common themes that may be following. Since this situation of crime is not the last time it is encountered looking back after having read it, it is obvious the author is trying to hint at what is to come. Thus, leaving the question of if Joan is what she is made out to be or better or maybe even worse!
James M Cain includes many crime scenes in this novel showing much more detail about the characters and they’re true morals and motivations. This also shows her further involvement with crime considering after the death of her husband she surrounded herself with a lot of men but not very good ones increasing her role and presence in the crime world. To continue, Joan becomes married to another man after Tom who was very wealthy in which she was financially dependent on him and also a potential threat to her survival. This also shows her further involvement with crime considering after the death of her husband she surrounded herself with a lot of men but not very good ones increasing her role and presence in the crime world. The death of another man that Joan was romantically involved with starts to assure the possible morals and motivations shown in the first scene of the novel. Because this crime appears to be carefully orchestrated through manipulation it can be a reassurance for the ideas created by Jane from the death of her first husband. Consequently, the severity of her criminal roles show her determination to secure her advantages and survival throughout her life. Due to these situations, it is hard to help but wonder if she is a victim to her own circumstances, or just someone who uses crime and manipulation for her own advantage and survival.Through this scene it also shows Joans complex perspective of relationships.This scene shows the second person being killed while being married or romantically involved with Joan. It shows her complexity because two people who are romantically involved typically would never have any hopes of manipulation or killing to be satisfied or survive no matter the circumstances. Since, she was suspected to not only be a part of one but two mishaps with her romantic partners shows that her morals and motivations when it comes to relationships are not traditional and ultimately seem like they are based on manipulation and looking out for only her advantage.
Overall, in James M Cain’s novel The Cocktail Waitress crime is not just used for entertainment or filler but mostly for a deeper understanding of the main character and her morals and motivations. It shows her complex perspective on relationships and the way that she perceived people to get close and manipulate them to her advantage. In sum, demonstrating a person's true values and motives can be misinterpreted so that they can benefit themselves in their own ways.
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