AP English- Blog for The Postman Always Rings Twice

Published in the 40’s, The Postman Always Rings Twice, is a well accepted and critically acclaimed novel that addresses deep themes and an intense and engaging plot that engulfs the reader into the novel. Cain’s novel uses themes of the subconscious human desires in order to entice readers into the genera of Crime Noir and hook them into the novel instantaneously. The most evident themes in the novel The Postman Always Rings Twice are the failed American dream which houses the sub-categories of love, sex, money, greed, and violence. The novel starts out with a nomadic man named Frank who stumbles into a roadside diner owned by a Greek man named Nick and his gorgeous wife Cora. There is an instant love connection between Cora and Frank, which is a sexual association that Cain makes very apparent. The new couple decide to murder her husband so they can run away together, and also collect the insurance money off of her husband. The murder is successful, Cora is convicted, and Frank is not found guilty. The twist in the novel occurs when Frank and Cora are driving, and Frank crashes the car accidentally killing Cora. Frank is convicted of murdering Cora and faces the death penalty. At this point the reader finds out that Frank is narrating the novel from a jail cell, and a sense of honesty and justice is restored to the novel. The Crime Noir genere has become increasingly popular, and Cain’s influence on it has been immense. The mysterious and sexual drive behind his novel, make it an interesting and logical read. ~HAE