Fergusson

In war, there is always death, sorrow and loss. But when the war is over it, many families will be burn with the death of loved ones and the loss of their property. Those that are affected mostly by the war are the children. Many of them are so traumatized by the war that it changes their way of life. Many children are left unsupervised and have to find their own way of survival. This paper explains Graham Greene’s short story “The Destructors” about a group of boys who destroyed an old man’s house. Trevor and the boys’ act of destruction symbolize their rebellion against fathers and authority figures.
 
      The war has destroyed Trevor and his family’s lives, leaving Trevor distraught and angry at the world. His parents move from an upper class neighbourhood to a lower class. Being traumatize by having such a life, Trevor lashes out at the adult world because he holds them responsible for the war. It is their war not his. The aftermath of the war leaves many houses destroyed, but one house was not destroyed and it was left standing by itself. That house is owned by an old man named Mr. Thomas. Trevor sees that the house wasn’t bombed with the others and that infuriated him because the house represents the change of his social economics status. Trevor being angry at the adults, said, “It’s a beautiful house, but we will pull it down and we’ll destroy it”. (pg, 63-64). He sees the house as wealth, strength and beauty and destroying it is a way to get even with his father, knowing that he was an architect and would have love the house. According to Trevor, “destruction after all is a form of creation”(pg, 65). So destroying Mr. Thomas’s house and burning his money is also Trevor’s way of getting back at the upper class and Mr. Thomas having to start his life over just like he had to start his life over.    

      The affects of the war had destroyed the children’s faith in the adult world and by destroying the house; they are demonstrating their hatred of...