NOTICE: (Updated March 5, 2010)

Beginning December 19, 2009, Books 'N Border Collies will be posting but only intermittently while I pursue personal goals. I plan to share some reading I'm doing, but there will be no reviews. I will, however, be sharing my exploration of vegetarian cooking and the cookbooks and websites I use to educate myself. I hope you enjoy it!

Lezlie



Monday, November 24, 2008

Short Story: THE DESTRUCTORS

by Graham Greene

A group of local hoodlums create a plan to completely destroy a man's home while he is out of town for the weekend.

The idea that stuck with me as I read this story was how sad I was that this home that just barely survived the war is now being completely demolished by these young boys, and their only motive is that the house is beautiful. They have nothing against the owner. They only want to make a name for their gang. And in the end, the lorry driver who unknowingly partakes in the final act of wreckage laughs as he stands next to the devastated homeowner and says, "You have to admit, it's pretty funny." I wanted to smack him.

A person could spend a lot of time mulling over this story and thinking about the things we do out of boredom or a need for attention. Or even simply for mindless entertainment. In our own search for meaning or importance in our own lives we can be completely oblivious to what it does to someone else. Or maybe we just don't care.



7 comments:

Tasha said...

Huh, this sounds thought-provoking.

Lezlie said...

Charley ~ It was definitely that.

Lezlie

Morgan the Muse said...

I read this in high school! It was very odd.

joanna said...

Timely thought... so many people nowadays don't seem to have the ability to put themselves in other people's shoes. Everyone is so centered on themselves.

Lezlie said...

Morgan ~ It was very odd. It was uncomfortable to read, too. I wanted to stop them.

Joanna ~ Exactly my thoughts. I know there is a lot more to this story than what I wrote, but that was the point that jumped out at me, probably because of all the issues we're dealing with currently.

Lezlie

SFP said...

Lezlie, have you seen the movie Donnie Darko? If not, you really really need to. This story has a starring role in the movie. . .

Lezlie said...

SFP ~ I have not. I'll have to Netflix it! Thanks for the suggestion!

Lezlie