Killings by Andre Dubus
"Killings" by Andre Dubus is a poignant narrative that delves into the depths of parental grief and the moral complexities of revenge. The story follows Matt and Ruth Fowler, who are plunged into despair after the murder of their son, Frank, by Richard, a troubled man with a history of violence. As Frank's death weighs heavily on their family, Matt grapples with his anger and protective instincts, especially as Richard remains free on bail, frequently crossing paths with Ruth.
The narrative unfolds as Matt, driven by his sorrow and a desire for justice, embarks on a dark journey. He confronts Richard with a friend and ultimately takes a tragic step to avenge his son’s death. The emotional turmoil faced by the Fowlers, particularly Matt's internal conflict, raises questions about justice, morality, and the impact of violence on family dynamics. The story captures a deeply human experience, exploring themes of loss and the lengths to which a parent may go in the face of unimaginable pain. This exploration encourages readers to reflect on the nature of vengeance and its consequences within the fabric of familial relationships.
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Killings by Andre Dubus
First published: 1980
Type of plot: Domestic realism
Time of work: The 1970's
Locale: A small town in Massachusetts
Principal Characters:
Matt Fowler , a fifty-five-year-old businesspersonRuth , his wifeFrank , their sonRichard Strout , the man who shot FrankMary Ann Strout , Richard's estranged wifeWillis Trottier , Matt's friend
The Story
In August, Matt and Ruth Fowler buried their twenty-one-year-old son, Frank, who had been murdered. The next month, Matt tells his friend Willis how distressed he is that his wife, Ruth, keeps running into Richard, the man who killed their son and is out on bail until the trial. Willis, who owns a restaurant, says that Richard has come there with a date and tends bar in a nearby town. Matt admits that he has started carrying a gun, hoping that Richard will do something that gives him an excuse to shoot him. Ruth knows about the gun and does not believe that he keeps it at his store because of crime in the area.
Richard, a spoiled, bad-tempered man, had married young and had two children. Frank, home from college for the summer, met and began dating Mary Ann Strout a month after she and Richard had separated. Shortly after Frank and Mary Ann had begun dating, Richard came to Mary Ann's house and assaulted Frank. Ruth already disapproved of her son dating an older woman with children, and her concerns were deepened by rumors that Mary Ann had been unfaithful to her husband. After the assault, Ruth became even more concerned that Frank was too involved with Mary Ann.
Matt enjoyed seeing Mary Ann with Frank, admiring her beauty and the couple's youth and passion. However, he knew that his son was planning to start graduate school in the fall and doubted that Frank was serious about Mary Ann. One night, when Frank was having dinner with Mary Ann and her sons, Richard came to the house and shot Frank in the face and chest.
After a lifetime of being protective of his three children, Matt's grief at his son's murder overwhelms him, and his anger that Richard walks through town where Ruth can see him becomes unbearable. One night, Matt and Willis wait outside the bar where Richard works. When the bar closes and Richard leaves, alone, Matt realizes that part of him has hoped that Richard would be with friends, and he and Willis would have to abandon their plan. They intercept Richard, aim guns at him, and order him into his car. Matt sits behind Richard, with his gun cocked and pointed at his head; Willis follows them in his car. Matt warns Richard to be silent and to drive so as not to attract attention. When they get to Richard's duplex, Willis parks away from the house, and Matt walks in with Richard. Matt observes the tidy home, the picture of Mary Ann and the children, and the neatly made bed, and thinks of Richard's new girlfriend. He instructs Richard to pack his suitcase with clothes for warm weather, saying Richard is going to jump bail. Richard is afraid and pleads with Matt, arguing that he was trying to reconcile with Mary Ann, but Frank was in the way. Richard insists that he will spend many years in jail, but Matt is convinced that Richard will be out in a few years if convicted. He tells Richard that the trial would be too much for Ruth to bear so they have bought him a plane ticket out of town, but he feels guilty for having given Richard this false hope.
Telling Richard that someone will pick him up and take him to the airport, Matt instructs Richard to drive into the woods, take his suitcase, and get out of the car. Richard drops the suitcase and runs, but Matt shoots him in the back. As Richard tries to crawl away, Matt kills him with a shot to the head. Willis and Matt drag the body to the grave they had dug earlier, bury Richard and his suitcase, cover their tracks, and toss the gun into the river. Matt drives Richard's car to Boston and leaves it on a busy street, throws the keys in the river, and returns home with Willis.
Matt has not discussed his plan with Ruth and hopes she will not wake up when he gets home. However, he finds her smoking a cigarette in their darkened bedroom, and she immediately asks him if he did it. She holds him while he tells her the whole story, and both agree that although it will hurt their other children to think that Richard has gotten away free, it is best not to tell them what happened.