Essay on Trevor's Actions as a Means of Resolving his Conflicts in the Short Story "The Destructors".

Essay by codymurraychodeHigh School, 12th gradeA, November 2003

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"The Destructors" is a very intriguing short story in which the author, Graham Greene, narrates the plight of an interesting young man living in post-World War II London. Trevor, or "T," as the gang prefers to call him is a unique young man with provoking yet disturbing ideas on life and social stature; moreover, he is the story's protagonist.

From the beginning, Graham Greene establishes that Trevor is different than the other boys when the fifteen year old says, " 'It's a beautiful house.' " T. proves the difference between himself and the other boys; he uses a very composed and structured language in comparison to his friends because of his upper-class, knowledgeable yet unhappy upbringing. Trevor's dad has recently " 'come down in the world' and... his mother considered herself better than the neighbours." Amongst Trevor's family there is separation because of money, for his mom will not leave the upper-class life while his dad has come down in the world and must leave the upper-class status.

T., even though having been in a rich family, does not like the idea of people being segregated and judged by their social class. He believes that everyone should be treated equal in society regardless of money. Old Misery's house is a beautiful and high-class house in the midst of rubble and destruction. Not only does Trevor feel very uncomfortable with this house that is left standing, but he also wants and plans to see the demise of the house in a way that it could never be rebuilt. This is quite ironic because his father's occupation is an architect; someone who practices the art of creating buildings, and T. is planning on destroying this house despite his knowledge of what goes into creating a building. The house, which had "stood...