“Killing” By: Andre Dubus

1. “Killing” By: Andre Dubus Breanna Andrews and Bruce Mosley

2. Andre Dubus • Andre Dubus was an American short story, essayist, and autobiographer. • Born on August 11,1936 in Lake Charles, LA • Died on February 24, 1999 in Haverhill, MA • His only child is Andre Dubus • Attended Christian Brothers School and McNeeses State College. • Many of his stories are written in Merrimack Valley N or Boston. • Served as an officer in the USMC for five years then taught at Bradford college in Massachusetts. • His stories earned him numerous awards • He published “Broken Vessels” a collection of autobiographical essays (1996)

3. Other works • "The Curse” • "The Colonel's Wife” • "Dancing After Hours" • The Lieutenant, in 1967 • Various stories in magazines such as The New Yorker and Playboy • Separate Flights (1975) • Adultery and Other Choices (1977) • Finding a Girl in America (1980) • The Times Are Never So Bad (1983) • Voices from the Moon (1984) • The Last Worthless Evening (1986) • Selected Stories (1988) • Broken Vessels (1991 • Dancing After Hours (1996)

4. précis The story “Killings” starts out at the burial site of Matt Fowlers youngest son Frank. The whole family is upset about the death, and a couple of the family members want to kill the person that killed Frank. A couple days after the funeral, Matt goes to Willis’s house to vent how he feels about Richard Strout. Richard Strout is the man who shot and killed Matt Fowlers son. As Matt is venting to Willis, he tells him how it’s killing his wife seeing Strout in stores. He also tells Willis that he carries around a gun just in case he sees Strout. One night Matt and Willis wait outside of a bar for Strout to come out so they can “take care of business”. Once Strout comes out and reaches his car Matt and Willis get out of their car and aim their guns at him, and they tell him to get into his car. As he does as he was told Matt gets into the car with him and tells him to drive to his house. When they get to Strouts house, they both go inside and Matt tells him get his suitcase and to pack clothes. While they are walking through the house Matt notices how clean the house is. After Strout packs the suitcase they go back to the car and drive to New Hampshire. Once they reach New Hampshire Matt tells Strout to turn onto a dirt road to an abandon gravel pit. Matt, Willis, and Strout all get out of the cars and they tell Strout to get his suitcase and walk up the road. Strout gets his case and takes a step and attempts to run for it, but gets shot. Matt walks over to him and shoots him again and kills him. After this Matt and Willis bury Strout and then they go home. When Matt gets home he tells his wife what he did, and with his cheek touching her chest, “he shuddered with a sob that he kept silent in his heart.

5. setting • Boston, Massachusetts • Frank’s grave site • Willis’s house • Mary Ann's House • The bar where Strout works • Strouts House • New Hampshire

6. Major characters • Richard Strout- was twenty-six years old. He was a high school athlete, and had a football scholarship to the University of Massachusetts where he lasted about two semesters. He was a bartender and married to Mary Ann Strout at one point. He killed Frank. • Matt Fowler-is the father of Frank. He is married to Ruth and has three children. Matt is determined to get rid of Richard Strout. • Ruth-is the mother of Frank. She worries that Strouts ex is not the lady for Frank. • Frank-the son of Matt Fowler. Frank is in love with Mary Ann. He is shot and killed by Strout.

7. Minor characters • Steve • Cathleen • Willis Trottier

8. Point of view • 3rd person omniscient. The author knows the characters thoughts.

9. Plot development • Story starts out at a burial sight. Matt Fowler is burying his youngest son Frank. • Matt goes to Willis's’ house and vents to him how he feels about Strout. He also tells Willis how he carries a gun around now just in case he sees Strout. • Matt and Willis wait outside the bar for Strout. They kidnap him and tell him to go to his house to get clothes. After they leave his house, they drive to New Hampshire and drive off the highway to an abandoned gravel pit so that nobody sees them kill Strout. • They tell Strout to get out of the car, and as he does he attempts to run but gets shoot. Fowler walks over to Strout and shoots again but this time he kills Strout. After Strout is killed Matt and Willis drag him to the hole and bury him.

10. Theme • Revenge isn’t always what it seems • Treat others the way you want to be treated.

11. Quote • “I’ll do twenty years, Mr. Fowler; at least. I’ll be forty-six years old.”

12. Special topic • Love story vs. Murder story • Discuss with a partner how “Killings” could be a love story or a murder story. Then on a sheet of paper write a short paragraph (3-4 sentences)