When the House Falls
Graham Greene’s mordent short story “The Destructors” shows how the separation of classes, especially in crises, can bring out the worst in many people. Greene employs dialogue and irony to create suspense in the story.
Greene’s application of dialogue in the rising action generates the question of what the gang is going to do to the upper class. The gang is trying to decide what to do for the day when Trevor comes back. Trevor then tells the rest “‘I’ve been there [to Old Misery’s house]’” (Greene, 113). Since the boys don’t know why Trevor went over to Old Misery’s house it creates tension between the boys because this was not in the rules. In fact, Blackie thought that he would have to kick Trevor out of the gang. Old Misery’s house is seen as forbidden to anyone in the gang. Trevor further explains to the boys about how nice the house was inside. The boys immediately talk about what they would steal. “I don’t …show more content…
Thomas, would catch the lowly Wormsley Common Gang. When Mr. Thomas decides to come home earlier than expected, the gang creates a plan to ensure Mr. Thomas wouldn’t stop them. The boys convince Mr. Thomas to go into the lavatory by telling him “He’s stuck in your lav” (121). The irony is that Mr. Thomas built the lavatory to save money, but instead he will now have to repair the entire house. If he would have fixed this minor item, he wouldn’t be trapped in the lav while the boys destroy his home. The suspense is also produced when the reader is unaware of how he will escape and if he will be able to save his house. The boys bring him food and water and tell Mr. Thomas, “We don’t want you to starve, Mr. Thomas” (123). It creates an ironic situation because they claim to care about Mr. Thomas but they still want to completely destroy his home. The reader is again forced to wait to see what the boys will do to the