Critical Analysis Essay on Killings by Andre Dubus
“Killings” is a short tale written by Andre Dubus in 1979 and
was first published in The Sewanee Review. The story was later adapted by film director Todd
Field in the 2001 movie entitled In the
Bedroom, a highly acclaimed movie by the Academy Awards. The story revolved on love, murder, revenge
and morality.
The story sets in a small town somewhere in Massachusetts
one August morning with the burial of a 21 year old Economic graduate Frank
Fowler, Ruth and Matt’s youngest son. Along to grief with the couple were their
two other children – Steve, oldest and Cathleen, the second among the
brood.
Richard Strout, a 26 year old former football scholar
dropout who has worked as a bartender, shot Frank one Saturday night in
September right in front of his two sons.
Strout was known to many as the spoiled and hot-tempered
guy. It was this very same attitude that
caused his wife of 6 years, Mary Ann, to file for divorce.
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Mary Ann was the girlfriend Frank had before his death. The two met in Salisbury beach where the latter worked as a
lifeguard. Their romance blossomed while she was in the process of the
divorce. Frank’s mother, Ruth, disagreed
to the relationship. She never wanted Mary Ann for her son for a number of reasons:
first, she had a history of playing around, second, the divorce was not
finalized yet, third, she had kids and lastly, she was older than him. Matt, on the other hand, being a protective
father that he was tried to understand his son and weighs the balance between
his wife and son. He accepted Mary Ann
and welcomed her into the family.
Unfortunately, this was not the same case with Strout. Whether be it for his pride or love for Mary
Ann that forced him to commit murder, it was very clear that he never approved
of the divorce.
The tragedy has not left the Fowlers since then. Conflicts arose when Strout was granted a
bail for which his presence made coping tougher for both Matt and Ruth. Strout was seen all over town living a normal
life after the crime. Seeing him not
only sharpened the pains of losing their son but it strengthened the eagerness
of revenge.
Matt and Ruth’s suffering grew with each passing day. To end such suffering, Matt premeditated on
killing Strout with the help of his friend, Willis Trottier. Willis, a short silver-haired man, was a
restaurant and bar owner who shared Matt’s sentiments. Being a good friend that he is, he felt for
Matt. Together they consummated a crime.
Dubus was able to present the story in a very vivid
manner. He was able to showcase conflict
of emotions in an orderly way.
The crime committed by Matt to overcome his ill feelings
maybe justifiable. There is no greater
pain than losing a child to someone with no worth. It is more unacceptable seeing the antagonist
out in the open and free while justice was not fully served yet. But then again, we cannot correct a mistake
by another mistake. It’s not always
right to take the law into your own hands.
Avenging may make things worse in the future. In this case, once authorities discovered
Strout’s murder, they will only point at one suspect, the one with the
strongest motive. That will make the struggle for the Fowlers more
gruesome.
Like the saying goes, ‘to err is human, to forgive divine.
Sometimes we have to go over the limits of human nature to put things in its
proper perspective. It might take time,
but justice will be served.
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Related Topics:
1. Summary and Analysis Essay of Killing by Andre Dubus
2. Essay on Killings by Andre Dubus
Related Topics:
1. Summary and Analysis Essay of Killing by Andre Dubus
2. Essay on Killings by Andre Dubus
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