The Destructors Literary Analysis

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Successfully forming your characters in fiction stories sets the basis for the story to unfold. In D.H Lawrence’s “The Rocking-Horse Winner” the tone of the main character is described as young and ambitious. His physical characteristics go along with this, and the conflict that he encounters is perfect for his tone and character. In Graham Greene’s “The Destructors” the main character is a bit different. His tone is more quite and stern. The conflict that he encounters is different and his motivations are as well. The characterization of each is revealed differently. In “The Destructors the main character and his motivation is portrayed slowly whereas in “The Rocking-Horse Winner” the tone, conflict and motivation of the main character is brought to our attention immediately.

In “The Rocking-Horse Winner,” Paul, is introduced in the first paragraph, and is the main character. Paul is worried that his family has run out of luck and is in desperate need of more money at all times. “There was never enough money. The mother had a small income, and the father had a small income, but not nearly enough for the social position which they had to keep up” (par.3). Paul is portrayed as a young inquisitive boy, who is the oldest of his siblings. He is also ambitious in nature and is determined that he has more luck than his father or mother. “’Well anyhow,” he said stoutly, “I’m a lucky person”” (par.14). In “The Destructors” we are introduced to Trevor. Trevor is introduced as a poor boy like Paul, who lives in London nine years after world- war 2. He is described as short and direct with his words, usually not saying much to get his point across. When he said his name “Trevor” “it was a statement of fact, not as it would have been with th...

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...side world changed when he proved that he was lucky by being able to pick winning horses. He has good-hearted principles that apply to everyone today. He others before himself and was rewarded for that. Trevor started off as a strong silent boy. He then began to start using his abilities to achieve a more prominent status in his gang and was eventually able to destroy Old Misery’s house. His motivations were more devious in nature and more self-centered. He was only looking out for himself, and the destruction of another person’s property was an example of the evil nature that he had. It goes to show the extent that some people are willing to go to achieve seemingly meaningless goals for their personal benefit. Both characters are “round” and “stock”. They may have different qualities about them, but each one’s qualities were the backbone to the story and its events.

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