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Character Comparison

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Fiction Essay

ENGL 102: Literature and Composition

Summer B 2012

MLA WRITING STYLE

Fiction Essay Thesis and Outline

Thesis:
Money, class and values affect the story as well as the reader.

Outline: I. Introduction-“The Destructors” by Graham Greene vs. “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence. II. Characterization a. Character Qualities/Status 1. Paul vs. T 2. Uncle vs. Blackie 3. Hester vs. Old Misery “Thomas” b. Emotions and Behaviors 1. Paul vs. T 2. Uncle vs. Blackie 3. Hester vs. Old Misery ”Thomas” III. Closing- overall effect on story and reader

Character Comparison of “The Destructors” and “The Rocking-Horse Winner”
In “The Destructors” by Graham Greene and “The Rocking-Horse Winner” by D.H. Lawrence there are many differences and similarities. The reader sees the most emphasis placed on money, class and values. “The Destructors” takes place in Great Britain after World War I and most of the population has been taken from upper class to middle class due to the bombings. Where “The Rocking-Horse Winner” in situated in a suburban area of Baltimore, Maryland and the population is in the upper class, at least most are in appearance
The characters have similarities and differences as well, take the protagonists in each story are young boys. Paul in “The Rocking-Horse Winner” is a young innocent boy that knows in his heart his mother , Hester does not love him or his two sisters but he has an over whelming sense to help her with her bill deficit. While “T”, Trevor in “The Destructors” is a somewhat older boy who has figured out that life in not so sweet and sometimes it must be handled in other rebellious ways. Paul starts out his quest by asking his mother why they have no money and she informs him it is his father that has no luck when truly the author tells in the start of the story it is her that marries for love and has no luck. Trevor starts out in a well-to-do family and because of the war ends up dropped down to middle class and feels he needs to get even with the world. Other characters in the stories are Uncle Oscar in “The Rocking-Horse Winner” who gives Paul the lucky money to start his life long quest to get his mother out of debt and settle the haunting of the house down. Blackie in “The Destructors” is the character that feeds into Trevor’s destructive nature after getting to know his cunning and wisdom. The final two characters the authors use to incite the values in each story are Hester, Paul’s Mother and Old Misery “Thomas” in “The Destructors”. Hester starts out a very beautiful woman with many advantages but marries for Love and loses that love as her husband is not a great provider as she thought he was. D.H. Lawrence uses a perfect symbol to show the lack of happiness in the house as everyone in it can hear echoes and murmurs of “There must be more money” in the creeks and noises of the house. And Thomas is the kind old grumpy man of which the boys in “The Destructors” demolish his home for no other reason than to do it. The emotions and the behaviors of the boys in both stories shows that values are learned however, the authors’ uses rather unconventional ways to show these values exist. Paul for example disobeys his mother and nurse at every turn just to get to ride his rocking horse to gain the winning horse knowledge; he even pushes it to the ultimate limit in the end. And Trevor is very methodical and uses some real skill in the destruction of Thomas house but shows he knows right from wrong by locking him up for the demolition, so he does not get hurt. Uncle Oscar is aware of the family history of gambling but does not do anything to stop Paul from the behavior only used it to his advantage. Blackie is unaware of the talents Trevor has and just wants to lead the gang as he always has not pushing the limits of the law. In “The Rocking-Horse Winner” Hester seems to be very confused with the right and wrong issues of life but she does try her best to show Paul the correct path and as he made her a rich, in money, women at the end; the reader is left in the end with a feeling of wonderment if she realized what she lost through it all. Both authors use wonderful symbols and themes to carry out the overall plots. These symbols range from a rocking horse to precision destruction of a home and life, and the loss of a life to the saving of another. Whether having no home or lots of money both stories show that money, class and values affect the story as well as the reader.

Works Cited
Greene, Graham. “The Destructors.” Twenty-One Stories, Penguin Books, 1973 reprint, 181-197
Lawrence, D.H. “The Rocking-Horse Winner.” Literature: An Introduction to Fiction, Poetry, Drama, and Writing. X.J. Kennedy and Dana Gioia. 6th Compact edition. New York: Longman, 2010 365-375 Print.

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