Love In The Short Story, Killings, By Andre Dubus

The best example of Richards’s compulsive characteristics is the way he killed Frank. The Author writes very bluntly, “Richard shot Frank in front of the boys” (570). We can infer that the author writes this way, because he wants the reader to wonder why Richard is obsessed with his wife, and he loves her more than anything. She is his pride, and he will do anything to keep her, even if it means killing her lover in front of his children. This is why he is so compulsive when he kills frank.

Miller uses irony to demonstrate the flaws, the corruption, within the court’s justice system. In this case, it’s emphasized when Giles is found guilty; even though, he did have evidence to prove his accusation. He states, “if Jacobs hangs for a witch he forfeits up his property that's law! And there is none but Putnam with the coin to buy so great a piece”( Miller 89). In addition, he has a witness that heard Putnam thanking his daughter after she cried out on Jacobs.

Taking the law into his own hands killing those who have committed murder after he finds enough evidence of their guilt. In great contrast to the “Official Hero” all of Dexter’s personal relationships are superficial. He does eventually marry and have a child because of his main superficial relationship. At the end of season four Dexter returns home to find his wife is murdered by his latest victim, a psychologist that would murder his patients. The impulsive mature of the “Outlaw Hero” has caused Dexter to make a few mistakes one being, after killing a convicted rapist, Fowler, Dexter discovers Fowler’s latest victim is still alive and witnessed the entire murder.

Some deserve it because they non-repentance killers or to be serial killers while other should not deserve it because of the circumstances required them. Juveniles who killed people without any mercy should be treated as an adult and be given Juvenile Life Without Parole(JLWOP). For example, the murderer of Jennifer Jenkins’ pregnant sister and her husband. Jennifer describes, “[Jenkins’s Sister] begged for the life of her unborn child as [the killer] shot her. He reported to a friend, who testified at his trial, about his ‘thrill kill’ that he just wanted to ‘see what it would feel like to shoot someone’”(Jenkins).

This only proves that the spread of evilness can diminish any bit of innocence left in a persons mind. In TKAM, this is expressed when Jem felt sick to his stomach as he heard the guilty verdict. Also, when Scout couldn’t understand why Miss Caroline would request her to stop learning out of school. Another incident occurred when Dill ran out of the courthouse, crying in shock. Overall, To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee is a novel that does a good job of showing how innocence can be destroyed by the display of evil.

He is portrayed as a mastermind in the cold-blooded killing of the Clutters family, a man with little respect for the lives of others, which can be seen through Dick’s expression before the murder of the Clutters when he converses Perry, “We’re gonna go in there and splatter those walls with hair” (Capote 234). This sudden tone shift enables Capote to depict Dick as a cruel and immoral character. Dick’s lack of empathy and concern for other people beside himself allow him to commit crimes without remorse, which is in contrast to Perry’s moral contemplation after each bad actions they committed. Moreover, Dick is represented as the true criminal with evident motives in murdering the Clutters, while Perry is seen as a vulnerable victim who depends on Dick for validation and acceptance, something in which Dick happily provides in order to manipulate Perry, as Capote writes, “Dick became convinced that Perry was that rarity, ‘a natural born killer,’—absolutely sane but conscienceless, and capable of dealing with or without motive, the coldest-blooded deathblows. It was Dick's theory that such a gift could, under his supervision, be profitably exploited” (Capote 205).

The first deadly sin implemented into the story is pride. Three rioters become aware of their friend being taken by death. The men claim that they will “slay this traitor Death” (371). Although Chaucer knows death not to be man, he personifies it in this tale into the form of a man. This quote demonstrates the deadly sin of pride because the foolish rioters think they can avenge their friend against an unknown enemy.

Or was it just to comfort her husbands remorse? As for “Killings” Matt murders Richard Strout in vengeance of his son. The repercussions of his actions though make him wonder was it the right thing to do. Both of these characters have unanswered questions. Has Lisa been with Kyle all this time just for his comfort?

Reading Between the Lines Pride is a personal commitment. Keep in mind how pride connects to personal commitment when talking about a tragic hero in The Crucible. Although many people may assume that Reverend Hale is the tragic hero of The Crucible, I believe John Proctor is because how he makes Mary Warren confess to the court about how Abigail and the girls are lying about conjuring the devil, Proctor also confesses about having an affair with Abigail. Even though knowing the consequences for his action Proctor would do anything in his supremacy to save his spouse from prison or the act of being hanged. In act two of The Crucible Proctor demands that Mary Warren confess to the court regarding the young women lying about conjuring Satan.

In May, 1924, two boys, Nathan Leopold Jr. and Richard Loeb, sought to commit the perfect crime: kidnapping and murdering their 14-year-old neighbor, Robert Franks. However, instead of executing the perfect crime, they were caught the following day and were sure to be hung. Their families hired a defense attorney by the name of Clarence Darrow who made one of the most influential and well-known speeches against the death penalty: “A Plea for Mercy.” Darrow utilizes historical references, logical and emotional appeals, anaphora, and persona, to sway the court to not employ the death penalty for Leopold and Loebs’ murder. Darrow explains the relationship between past wars and contemporary themes and a large part of that is society changing to be more forgiving. He also uses these devices to show that society is partly to blame for this butchery and could have avoided this ridiculous situation had they changed.