Analysis Of R. J Meaddough's 'The Death Of Tommy Grimes'

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”The death of Tommy Grimes” is a story written by R.J Meaddough in 1962. In this essay, I will do an analysis of story, and then a comparison on how the main character is gaining experience through killing, as it is portrayed in this story, and in ”Just Like That”. ”The death of Tommy Grimes” is a story about the twelve-year-old boy Tommy and his father, also known as Pa. The story takes place in Mississippi,” But he smiled happily as the feeling of the warmth like Mississippi sunshine” (p. 23 l.8-9). It also takes place an early morning,” The sun had not yet risen” (p.19 l. 2). We get no introduction of Tommy or his father in the beginning of the story, meaning that the story starts in media res. The first time we are introduced to Tommy is in a flashback (Starts on p.19 l. 8). We hear about Tommy’s father Pa instructing him while shooting. His father is pushing him by saying,” Why did not you shoot? What you waiting on? What is wrong with you, boy? ”. However, Tommy struggles with pulling the trigger. He cannot do it (p. 19 l. 14). Afterwards Tommy practices his shooting …show more content…

However, the stories have similar themes, for example, killing, shooting and hunting are the main points. In addition, both of the main characters loses their innocence and gains experience through killing/shooting/hunting. However, in different ways. The main character in “Just Like That” realizes that killing is wrong and it doesn’t make you a man. He tries to impress the man but he doesn’t really care. Whenever he saw the man kill a kangaroo, something inside the boy dies,” He waited until the man shot the kangaroo in the brain. Something inside the boy died”. Exactly like how Tom Grimes told Tommy that something inside you always dies. Tommy does not enjoy killing, but it is something he feels is a duty due to his father’s expectations of him. Tommy experiences that killing a black man was required for him to be a

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