Revenge And Love In Killings By Andrew Dubus

“Killings” by Andrew Dubus is a short story about revenge and love. There is no single way to state the theme of a story, but Dubus gives the reader detailed clues. A theme is a meaning behind a story and can sometimes be explained as the moral of a story. Dubus ties two different themes together, while giving the reader a better understanding of the characters. Matt Fowler and Richard Strout commit the crime of murder for two different reasons, but both end with consequences and regret. In “Killings”, Matt Fowler is examined as a father that loves and protects his children. Matt Fowler’s son, Frank Fowler, was killed by Richard Strout, and Matt Fowler takes it into his own hands. Matt Fowler and his wife are devastated about the death of their son and cannot handle the thought of seeing the murderer walk the same streets. Dubus shows the theme of

This short story is told from the point of view by Matt Fowler, but does not give details that other characters are thinking. Matt does not seem to show much emotions, but you can gather his feeling of love and revenge by the details. The reader gains a feeling of sympathy for Matt, as he seems to be a completely different person after his son’s death. Matt only seems to be descriptive and emotional when he describes his drive to Boston (Dubus 99).

The title of “Killings” gives the reader an automatic feeling of revenge. When readers see that title, they may think of death, revenge, hatred, and anger. This title sets the mood automatically and gives the reader an insight as to what may occur in the short story. In addition to the title, the setting gives the reader a clue about the theme. The first paragraph describes the graveyard: “At the limousine Matt stopped and looked back at the grave, the casket, and the Congregationalist minister who he thought would probably have a difficult job with the eulogy though he hadn’t seemed to” (Dubus