Anthropomorphism in Patricia Highsmith s Fiction

For decades, scientists objected strongly to ascribing human characteristics to animals (anthropomorphism), proclaiming that feelings and emotions belonged solely to human beings. However, prolific American writer Patricia Highsmith was adamant that sentient beings possessed cognitive capabilities and emotional capacities, a conviction held by Darwin two centuries ago. Highsmith’s love for animals led her to adopt them as pets, include them in her plots, dedicate novels to them, and even to write exclusively about them. The Animal-Lovers Book of Beastly Murder, is a case in point. In this collection of short stories, Highsmith’s anthropomorphic imagination emerges in full swing when sentient beings are given names, characters, personalities, emotions, feelings, and biographies. Viewed primarily as a writer of crime fiction, Highsmith’s liberationist stance was left unexplored until this study decided to call attention to it from the position of animal-standpoint criticism.