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““The Destructors”The Destructors”

ByBy

Graham Greene Graham Greene

(1904-1991)(1904-1991)

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Graham GreeneGraham Greenehttp://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/1608/greene.htm

English novelist, English novelist, short story writer, short story writer, playwright, journalistplaywright, journalist

Roman Catholic - Roman Catholic - wrote of God’s grace wrote of God’s grace and mercy, and mercy, adventure, and adventure, and suspensesuspense

Worked in WWII Worked in WWII intelligenceintelligence

Books have been Books have been made into filmsmade into films

Suffered from bi-Suffered from bi-polar disorderpolar disorder

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Physical SettingPhysical Setting

Man-madeMan-made HostileHostile London, 9 London, 9

years after years after WW IIWW II

Bombed-out Bombed-out car parkcar park

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ConflictConflict

Person vs. Person vs. personperson

Person vs. Person vs. selfself

Person vs. Person vs. environmentenvironment

SummarySummary

A gang of teenagers A gang of teenagers decide to destroy an decide to destroy an old man’s house old man’s house

The gang decides to The gang decides to destroy the house destroy the house from the inside out.from the inside out.

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ConflictConflict

Consider the Consider the way the story way the story moves:moves:• Exposition Exposition • Complication Complication • Climax Climax • DenouementDenouement

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Social SettingSocial Setting

Blitzed worldBlitzed world Destruction, Destruction,

aftermath of aftermath of warwar

Gang members Gang members unconsciously unconsciously taking revenge taking revenge on a society on a society that has that has betrayed thembetrayed them

Class societyClass society• snob valuessnob values• money valuesmoney values• aesthetic valuesaesthetic values

Values are Values are associated with associated with the 200-year- old the 200-year- old house built by Sir house built by Sir Christopher WrenChristopher Wren

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CharactersCharacters

Protagonists=gang membersProtagonists=gang members• appear to have opposite values of the class appear to have opposite values of the class

society they reject:society they reject:• work hard at destructionwork hard at destruction• reject personal gainreject personal gain• forget personal rivalriesforget personal rivalries• maintain justice within gang frameworkmaintain justice within gang framework

Antagonists=members of the Antagonists=members of the upper class upper class • Opposite of all the above from the gang’s Opposite of all the above from the gang’s

viewpointviewpoint

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ThemesThemes• Loss of Innocence- Trevor the main Loss of Innocence- Trevor the main

protagonist moved into the protagonist moved into the neighborhood after his family neighborhood after his family suddenly lost their social status. He suddenly lost their social status. He already lost his innocence. This is the already lost his innocence. This is the reason for destroying the house. reason for destroying the house. Blackie is slower in losing his Blackie is slower in losing his innocence, by the end he is in full innocence, by the end he is in full support of destroying the house.support of destroying the house.

Destruction and CreationDestruction and Creation

The story suggest the possibility of The story suggest the possibility of creation in the face of destruction. By creation in the face of destruction. By destroying the house the gang destroying the house the gang creates a criminal identity that will creates a criminal identity that will be noticed by the other gangs. When be noticed by the other gangs. When the house is destroyed, the boys the house is destroyed, the boys create a way for Mr. Thomas to move create a way for Mr. Thomas to move beyond his “Old Misery” by taking beyond his “Old Misery” by taking away the anchor from the past. away the anchor from the past.

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Class StruggleClass Struggle

This is seen in Trevor because he and his This is seen in Trevor because he and his family once had money but were forced to family once had money but were forced to move to Wormsley Commons for move to Wormsley Commons for unexplained financial reasons. The other unexplained financial reasons. The other gang members are aware of this. The gang members are aware of this. The name is an upper class name, and this is name is an upper class name, and this is why “T” is used for his name. This gives why “T” is used for his name. This gives him status for the gang. As a statement ? him status for the gang. As a statement ? Trevor burns Mr. Thomas life savings. This Trevor burns Mr. Thomas life savings. This is the way Trevor aligns himself with the is the way Trevor aligns himself with the gangs. gangs.

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Absurdity of Life

Shows the absurdity of life and the meaningless Shows the absurdity of life and the meaningless randomness of misfortune. randomness of misfortune.  In making young boys the main impetus behind all the actions of the plot, Greene reveals that oftentimes the clearest understanding of life emerges from immature and fickle minds. This is most strongly revealed in the final scene of the story; a motorist stands next to Mr. Thomas as they both gaze over his thoroughly demolished home. As the motorist laughs, the reader is left to wonder if there is any more significance to the destruction of the two homes that once stood next to Mr. Thomas

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Major SymbolsMajor Symbols HouseHouse

• symbolically symbolically identified with identified with the old social the old social order and its order and its valuing ofvaluing of

moneymoney beautybeauty courtesycourtesy lovelove

Top HatTop Hat• Identified in two Identified in two

references as a references as a symbol of high symbol of high societysociety

in Blackie’s in Blackie’s thoughtsthoughts

in the Lorry in the Lorry driver’s final driver’s final reaction reaction

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““Destruction after all is Destruction after all is a form of creation.”a form of creation.”

The gang has a flipped value system.The gang has a flipped value system.

They no longer trust members of the political They no longer trust members of the political structure that brought the war, including structure that brought the war, including their familiestheir families

They value friendship, loyalty, acceptance, They value friendship, loyalty, acceptance, courage, hard work, leadership . . . but not courage, hard work, leadership . . . but not outward vestiges of power, wealth, and rank.outward vestiges of power, wealth, and rank.