Killings: A Father's Love for his Child

The love that a parent feels for a child is the most indescribable feeling in the world. Most parents would do anything and everything to protect their children, but not all parents are aware of the danger their child faces. In the short story "Killings," by Andre Dubus, a mother and father are faced with the tragic death of their son. Both parents, although both may not admit to it, believe that the murderer deserves the same consequences their son suffered. Matthew Fowler takes matters into his own hands, and along with his friend, Willis Trottier, kills Richard Strout. The death of Richard Strout should not be tried as a murder, but as a justifiable homicide. Matthew Fowler, the father of Frank Fowler, had every reason to reciprocate Strout's actions. A child should not be taken from a parent in the way that Frank was taken from his.

The actions that a parent takes in order to protect or support their child cannot be judged in a courtroom, because parents cannot describe the way that they feel knowing that their offspring is gone forever. In a court of law, Matthew Fowler should be tried for justifiable homicide, and he should possibly plead temporary insanity. A parent cannot control their violent actions, because the feelings that one feels towards a child is much stronger than any other emotion could ever be. Frank Fowler's life was taken in a horrific and traumatic matter, and for this, a parent cannot undergo the normal mourning process. A parent like Matthew Fowler could not go through each day knowing that their child's murderer is walking the streets freely. A mother, like Ruth Strout, would go crazy seeing that heartless person do everyday things that her son/daughter can no longer do. This would drive a person to temporary insanity, causing them to lash out and kill the murderer. Matthew Fowler had reason to kill Richard Strout, even if it would result in hurting Matthew in the end.