Violence Is the Answer?
Alexa Keating
3/24/13
Violence Is The Answer?
Human violence is frowned upon by society, but it is a very common theme for short stories. Authors use gruesome or macabre details to develop and emphasize theme. Theme, the controlling idea or insight to the story, can be clarified when authors use such extreme forms of violence. In the short stories “The Destructors”, by Graham Greene, “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, and “The Most Dangerous Game”, by Richard Conell, some form of gruesome actions takes place. In each of these stories, irrational acts of violence, horrible traditions, and the hunting of humans, respectively, help to highlight and accentuate the theme. By striking interest in the reader while these gruesome actions are taking place, the authors of these stories are able to draw attention to the theme of their stories. Also, the way humans are treated in these short stories informs society that violence like this may seem bizarre, but it is very common in other parts of the world. It is clear that the elements of violence and cruelty demonstrate the self-centeredness that abounds in each story.
To start off, the short story “The Destructors” is about a group of teenage boys who call themselves the Wormsley Common gang, after the area where they live. They meet every day in a parking lot near a part of town that was bombed during World War II. Almost everything in this area is destroyed although one house stands with minimal damage. This house is owned by Mr. Thomas an old man who lives alone. One day, the gang leader suggests that the boys take advantage of the old man’s upcoming two-day absence to demolish the house from the inside just for laughs and entertainment. Although they are not hurting the house owner physically, they are mentally destroying him by disrupting his possessions and ruining his life. Greene does a great job of placing people who have the capacity for good and evil in situations where they must make a choice between the
3/24/13
Violence Is The Answer?
Human violence is frowned upon by society, but it is a very common theme for short stories. Authors use gruesome or macabre details to develop and emphasize theme. Theme, the controlling idea or insight to the story, can be clarified when authors use such extreme forms of violence. In the short stories “The Destructors”, by Graham Greene, “The Lottery”, by Shirley Jackson, and “The Most Dangerous Game”, by Richard Conell, some form of gruesome actions takes place. In each of these stories, irrational acts of violence, horrible traditions, and the hunting of humans, respectively, help to highlight and accentuate the theme. By striking interest in the reader while these gruesome actions are taking place, the authors of these stories are able to draw attention to the theme of their stories. Also, the way humans are treated in these short stories informs society that violence like this may seem bizarre, but it is very common in other parts of the world. It is clear that the elements of violence and cruelty demonstrate the self-centeredness that abounds in each story.
To start off, the short story “The Destructors” is about a group of teenage boys who call themselves the Wormsley Common gang, after the area where they live. They meet every day in a parking lot near a part of town that was bombed during World War II. Almost everything in this area is destroyed although one house stands with minimal damage. This house is owned by Mr. Thomas an old man who lives alone. One day, the gang leader suggests that the boys take advantage of the old man’s upcoming two-day absence to demolish the house from the inside just for laughs and entertainment. Although they are not hurting the house owner physically, they are mentally destroying him by disrupting his possessions and ruining his life. Greene does a great job of placing people who have the capacity for good and evil in situations where they must make a choice between the