GENRE

Psycholoical Thriller

Noir fiction

 

 

 

IMPORTANCE OF TITLE

Highsmith uses the title Strangers on a Train to underscore the theme that anybody is capable of murder, including ordinary people like Guy Haines. The title itself has a negative connotation of fear and uncertainty, which contributes to the dark undertones of the book and the aleatory nature of Guy and Bruno’s meeting on a train. Furthermore, the vague title contributes to the idea that this cycle of strangers meeting and plotting to kill other people is not confined to this specific situation; instead, it is applicable to all of humanity and this ongoing cycle could happen to anybody.