The Destructors

Aki E, Daniel F, Kaitlin B, Ethan X,

Shervan G.

Pre-Reading Questions
Title: The Destructors
Author : Graham Greene
Question 1: What is the significance of the title of the story?
Question 2: When was a time you witnessed inequality in society? How did this
make you feel?
Question 3: How do you feel when people of higher status pity you? How do you
react?

Parody Video
https://youtu.be/TglOpqpUf60?t=122

Summary

Post WW2
Protagonist (Anti-hero):T
Antagonist (victim): Old Misery
Supporting Character: Blackie (leader)
Chocolate given by Old Misery
T receives a tour of Old Miserys house
Change in power
Plan to destroy Old Miserys house
Destruction
Old Misery arrives early, attacked
Successfully destroy house

Elements of the Story

Introduction

Post WW2 era

Imagery : A bombed out London with a
victorianesque house standing tall and
proud towering above the rubble
Old Misery offers a few members of the
gang chocolate
Gang felt like act is a bribe

Rising Action

T. talks about his tour

Tells gang Old Misery will be away
Suggests destroying it
The gang gathers tools
Gang breaks in
Destruction

Climax
T. discovers 70
Burns the money with Blackie
The gang is almost done
dismantling the house
They hear Mr. Thomas is about to
return early

Falling Action

T. comes up with an idea

The gang members trick Mr. Thomas
to go into the outdoor washroom
Buys them some time to finish their
plan

Denouement

House is tied to a truck

Driver arrives, and begins driving
House falls
Mr. Thomas heart shatters
Truck driver laughs

External Conflict
Man vs Man

Blackie vs T.

Man vs Environment

Destruction

Man vs Society

Class struggle

Characters

T.

Newest recruit
Introverted, manipulative, calculative
Dynamic
Sparks conflict

Blackie

Supporting character
Leader
Insecure
Power Struggle
Selfless
Static

Old Misery (Mr.Thomas)

Victim
Represents time before the war
Prideful
Innocent
Generous
Nave
Trusting
Dynamic

Themes

Theme: Luxury

Lived without money or luxury

Luxuries are foreign
Old Misery has luxuries
Contrast
They dont believe he deserves these things
A motive to destroy the house.

Theme: Equality

House is a representation of a better time

Post war-time resilience
Foreign to the members of the gang
The mansion didnt fit
Destruction to create equality and conformity
Did not steal
Bringing Old Misery to their esteem
No desire to bring themselves up

Theme: Order in a disorderly world

Why would the Wormsley Gang commit such a horrible act?

Children grew up in war
Traumatic events
Many youth lost family
Gang = comfort
Old Miserys house represents order in their disorderly world
Solution for the gang was to destroy the house

Important Quotes
Destruction after all is a form of creation. A kind of imagination had seen this
house as it had now become. (P.8)
Yet walls could be preserved...This could again be a home. (P. 10)
When he climbed out the whole landscape had suddenly altered. (P.15)

So what? Now what?

Pride

Downfall of man
Related to Materialism/Achievements
Can be good/positive

Life is too volatile to be prideful, so being humble during

lifes highs can pay off when you are experiencing lifes
lows.

Discussion

Discussion
Why were the gang members so skeptical of
the chocolate given by Old Misery? What do
you think this represents?

Discussion
Who is the true protagonist in the story?

Discussion
What do you think Mr.Thomas did after his
mansion was torn down?