Revenge: Is It Justified With the Characters in the Short Story “Killings”

First, Matt grows up by accepting his identity. In this book Matt faces a bunch of problems that have to deal with him being a clone. Everybody besides a select few, discriminate against him for

Matt strongly does not put up with Jamie’s family’s thoughts of selling the lake house. He becomes irritated with Linda and tells her “Me and Jamie do not owe you anything.” Linda’s reply of “you owe us everything, if Charlton had not taken you on you would never have been able to make a down payment on that lake house”. This only strengthens Matt’s decision to follow his dreams with Jamie. It is astounding that Matt and Jamie are looked down upon because their life together is

Uncle Matt, the main character in the story as previously mentioned, is described as somewhat of a loner. He rarely spent time with any of the children, and never displayed any sort of an emotional connection to them— that is, until that tragic event occurred (Saunders 77). The moment his emotions were agitated, he begins to take on several key roles that Dr. Bonn describes in his article. In the beginning, Uncle Matt asserts himself as a law enforcement official as he goes throughout the town searching for, and exterminating, the animals who were responsible for the death of Emily. However, this wasn’t enough. Uncle Matt wanted to completely eradicate the possibility of this ever happening again, so he set out on a campaign to destroy all of the infected animals, including those he suspects of having come in contact with the illness (Saunders 74). A method very similar to what law enforcement refers to as Criminal Profiling.

In the book, Mattie starts out as a lazy teenager who needs to be told what to do by her over controlling mother, but throughout the story, she becomes more responsible and adult-like. For

Matt Fowler is a store owner with some sort of prior education. He is a father of not only Frank, but Cathleen and Steve as well, and is married to Ruth. Frank was going to school to earn a degree during the time when he was viciously and senselessly killed by a man who is older, but definitely not wiser. Richard Strout, on the other hand, dropped out of school at UMass due to grades and is currently a bartender. His priorities weren’t as well laid-out as Frank’s were, and Matt appears to resent two main characters, Richard and Mary-Ann Strout. Matt resents Richard for not only taking away Frank’s chance to live his life the way he was meant to, but also resents Mary-Ann for getting involved with Frank, knowing that Richard has violent tendencies and would get jealous. Matt has changed after the murder of his son, and Richard and Mary-Ann are to blame.

Mattie is there for others when the going gets tough, whether or not they think

Anderson teaches many lessons in her novel but among the most important is taught by showing the many steps Mattie took to reach full independence. She began as a bratty teenager with her head in the clouds, and ended as an independent woman with dreams and aspirations. She discovers her identity and while her situation is out of the ordinary, she proves that aging and revealing your true personality can make the difference between life and death. In the beginning of the novel, Mattie feels that she should be praised whenever she does something for someone else. For example, in the beginning of the book on page 3 it says, “I made a face at the doorway. I had just saved her precious quilt from disaster, but would she appreciate it? Of course not.” This demonstrates that Mattie wants perpetual praise from others, an expectation that children often possess. Mattie is also too young to understand the responsibilities that come with adulthood. This is evident in the novel when Mattie is dreaming of a future with no responsibility. Mattie

When Matt is finally needed for organs, he manages a narrow escape with the help of Tam Lin, but the danger isn't left behind in Opium. Near death awaits him at the border of Aztlan, luckily Matt is able to hop the border, and land right in the arms of the Keepers. Conformity was the key to surviving with the lost boys, but Matt did not conform easily. Had he been ignorant to the ways of the world –like the other lost boys- Matt would've been like a sheep following a shepherd. However, Matt was not a sheep, he had seen more of the world than the orphans could dream of, and could not be easily brainwashed. In the end, Matt's individualism caused a lot of trouble, almost killing the frail Fidelito and himself. If Matt had compromised his integrity, nobody would've been hurt. On the other hand,

Matt is a middle class man who becomes obsessed with the need to get revenge on his son’s death. His son Frank is killed by a man named Richard. He is the husband and dads father of the women his son is in love with. This is what leads Matt into killing someone he wants pay back for his son death. Matt kills because he loves.

Between the roles of the two woman, it is apparent that Ruth’s role is more favorable in the eyes of characters

Ending in death most foul, “The Cask of Amontillado” and “The Tell-Tale Heart” feature revenge and a painstaking cruelty. Pushed to the point of insanity and retribution sought over trivialities, the narrators tell each story by their own personal account. The delivery of their confessions gives a chilling depth to the crimes they have committed and to the men themselves. Both men are motivated by their egos and their obsessions with their offenders. Prompted by their own delusions, each man seeks a violent vengeance against his opposition in the form of precise, premeditated homicide.

“‘I suppose it is a bit cruel,’ Ruth said, ‘the way they always work him up like that. But it’s his own fault. If he learnt to keep his cool, they’d leave him alone’… I suppose the truth was, by that stage, each of us was secretly wishing a guardian would come from the house and take him away. And although we hadn’t had any part in this latest plan… we had taken out ringside seats, and we were starting to feel guilty” (10).

In Edger Allen Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado the narrator, Montresor, seeks revenge against his friend Fortunato who he claims had cause him many injuries. The story takes place during carnival time and many are celebrating even Fortunato who was dressed as a clown and wore a colorful hat with bells. Fortunato had been drinking which made him even less aware of any sort of plot against him. Montresor lures him into his wine vaults and easily chains him to a wall deep inside a small crypt. Fortunato is too drunk to even comprehend what is happening or even resist. Finally Montresor builds a stone wall confining Fortunato inside to die. In the story we can distinguish many notable characteristics of Montresor. He may be perceived as heatless

Revenge as a theme is cleverly built upon throughout Hamlet; with it being the driving force behind three of the key characters in the play. Revenge is a frighteningly vicious emotion, which causes people to act blindly and without reason. In Poe’s, “The Cask of Amontillado”, Montresor enacts revenge for reasons unknown. Hamlet in contrast, has all the motive in the world to complete his task; yet he constantly hesitates. The text reveals that the need for revenge creates a stranglehold on the genuine emotions, thoughts, and actions of three characters: Hamlet, Prince of Denmark, Laertes; son of Polonius, and Fortinbras; Prince of Norway. This hold makes the characters act beyond their standard ethical positions and makes them helpless to

Ruth is a very strong woman with morals and a belief in God. Ruth loves her husband and her son and does her very best to take care of them. She is always putting the needs and desires of her family above her own. Ruth has always been supportive of Walter, but recently they have not been communicating well. Ruth tries to convince Mama to allow Walter the chance to invest in the liquor store by saying, “something is happening