English Literature-g. Greene & DH

English literature-G. Greene & DH Lawrence The Destructors by Graham Greene was set around after World War II in Britain during the bank holiday. it's a story about the Wormsley Common Gang who has just accepted a new recruit, Trevor, whom they called T. Blackie, the gang's leader, proposed to cheat on buses by finding out how many free bus rides they can snatch; and in order to avoid cheating, they had to go by pairs.

However, the gang decided to go with T.'s proposal, which was to destruct the beautiful old house belonging to man they called Old Misery. At that time, Old Misery was out for the bank holiday. With the decision of the majority to follow T., the power dynamics in the gang shifted. Blackie wasn't the leader anymore while T. led the gang and called the shots.

Motivated by the idea of belonging to a group with distinction, Blackie decided to join the gang as they went on to destruct Old Misery's house. They started from the inside and to work their way out, like a worm does to an apple. The story described in detail how each gang member cooperated to accomplish their task of destroying Old Misery's house. They were making real progress when they found out that Old Misery had decided to come home early.

With this news, most of the gang members felt that it was time to run away so that they would not get caught but desperate to see the house to its destruction, T. pleaded to the gang. This led to another shift in power where Blackie assumed his role as leader again. When Old Misery came back home, one of the boys locked him in his outside lavatory and gave him blanket and food, an attempt to make him comfortable, while the boys continued to destroy Old Misery's house.

The following morning, the walls of the house crumbled as the driver of the lorry moves the truck. He finds Old Misery in his outside lavatory. Old Misery cries when he sees his destructed house but the truck driver laughs because he thinks it was funny. This story illustrates life in post-World War II whilst analyzing emotions and human behavior. Greene illustrates how people are wary to trust that innate goodness might be present in people when Mr.

Thomas gave them three packets of Smarties and the gang was bewildered by this action and justified it by thinking that Mr. Thomas just found the packets and picked it up. It is a story that touches on themes of innocence and power and presents ironies of life. At their age, the gang is expected to be innocent but the times have hardened them that nothing surprises them anymore.

At the same time, the gradual loss of innocence is illustrated through young Mike's character as he learns what acceptable behaviors are and what are not by emulating the other members of the gang. Power, as a theme, cuts across the story. The shifts in the leadership of the gang, central to the story, are an analysis of shifting authority and its effect on people. Blackie was described as a just leader, who still had respect for authority.

He is portrayed as a good leader in the story, being able to lead and at the same time remaining fair. Meanwhile, T. was a different kind of leader. He wants his ideas to be followed and he led the gang to a dangerous and cruel mischief. The story also touches on the choice between good and bad as presented by Blackie's decision of whether or not join the destruction of Old Misery's house. Eventually, Blackie chose a purely egoistic choice basing his decision on the need for distinction.

Ironies are also presented in the story are numerous like how T. And Blackie burned the Old Misery's savings instead of dividing it among themselves during hard times when money is essential. Another example of an irony is how Old Misery takes care of his house not wanting to soil it and yet, in spite of his care, the gang destructed it. And towards the end of the story, it was ironic how the truck driver could laugh at Old Misery's misfortune.

Meanwhile, DH Lawrence's the Rocking-Horse Winner realistically portrays problems in life and communicates a moralistic message. The story is about a mother who feels inadequate and couldn't fully love her children. Contrast to Greene's story, it focuses on the middle class who lives beyond their means. While the young boys in the Destructors have already lost their innocence and have turned rebellious and cynical, the young boy, Paul, in the Rocking-Horse Winner shows innocence and exhibits understanding and generosity.

As their family lives beyond their means, Paul feels the weight of their growing need for more money. It is his kindness that pushes him to ride his rocking-horse where he finds the winner of the horse races. Paul is exceedingly generous, giving all his winnings to his mother. It was his innate generosity that brought him his death. Parallel to his generosity was his mother's greed. When she received the first money from Paul, she ended up wanting more. Instead of being satisfied, she ended up wanting more.

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