The Destructors
- Submitted by: bubbles1717
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- Category: English: Novels
- Date Submitted: 01/13/2014 05:28 PM
- Pages: 2
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In Graham Greenes short story, "The Destructors", the boys in the Wormsley Common Gang are portrayed as the protagonists. The boys solve the conflict by rebelling against the image that is projected of upper class society by planning to completely raze the magnificent house owned by Mr. Thomas to the ground, leaving nothing behind. The gang of boys are individually impacted by the war and destruction and are able to resolve their hatred of society.
When the Wormsley Gang is introduced, Graham Greene reveals the impact of war on each individual throughout the characters actions. Since the boys in the gang grew up through the war and destruction of WWII, they do not know any better as to what is right from wrong in solving their problems. For example, when Old Misery's house is discussed, they automatically decide that "[They'll] pull it down," and "[They'll] destroy it." However, when the destruction occurs we can infer that the boys see the situation differently because Trevor sees it as a way of destroying a symbol of his past and the other boys see it as fun and something to do making it a sense of accomplishment in many ways. In the short story, the gang of boys fulfill their feelings of war and destruction through their actions.
In the narrative, the primary conflict is between the gang and society. The author emphasizes the distinct difference between classes when Trevor, one of the leaders of the gang is introduced and when the boys in the gang are describing Mr. Thomas' house and lifestyle. Trevor is depicted as the boy whose "Father, a former architect and present clerk had 'come down in the world' and that his mother considered herself better than the neighbors." Since WWII, Trevor and his family were forced to move to a lower class however, Mr. Thomas remains the same. "It's a beautiful house," Trevor mentions about Mr. Thomas' house that "Stuck up like a jagged tooth and carried on the further wall relics of its neighbor, a dado, the remains of a...
When the Wormsley Gang is introduced, Graham Greene reveals the impact of war on each individual throughout the characters actions. Since the boys in the gang grew up through the war and destruction of WWII, they do not know any better as to what is right from wrong in solving their problems. For example, when Old Misery's house is discussed, they automatically decide that "[They'll] pull it down," and "[They'll] destroy it." However, when the destruction occurs we can infer that the boys see the situation differently because Trevor sees it as a way of destroying a symbol of his past and the other boys see it as fun and something to do making it a sense of accomplishment in many ways. In the short story, the gang of boys fulfill their feelings of war and destruction through their actions.
In the narrative, the primary conflict is between the gang and society. The author emphasizes the distinct difference between classes when Trevor, one of the leaders of the gang is introduced and when the boys in the gang are describing Mr. Thomas' house and lifestyle. Trevor is depicted as the boy whose "Father, a former architect and present clerk had 'come down in the world' and that his mother considered herself better than the neighbors." Since WWII, Trevor and his family were forced to move to a lower class however, Mr. Thomas remains the same. "It's a beautiful house," Trevor mentions about Mr. Thomas' house that "Stuck up like a jagged tooth and carried on the further wall relics of its neighbor, a dado, the remains of a...