When you were lecturing about Patricia Highsmith, you said she's more concerned with how and why than who. The only information she gave about why Ripley was so psychologically and morally messed up was his Aunt Dottie. So, yes, I think there's enough information in the first novel to draw that conclusion. Tom's drive is an imitation of a real life drive. He's not real, so his drive isn't real, but an imitation.
Newspapers report crimes from real life, thus the similarity.
I was arguing that The Talented Mr. Ripley is not suspense fiction, but is in fact a part of literature, which is why I compared it to the Man in the Iron Mask, and The Prince and the Pauper. They have similar themes. I think I made a valid point, and I don't appreciate you making fun of it. He killed two innocent people and got away with it. I think that's tragic.