Analysis

The analysis of “Hostage” by Andrew Vachss reveals that the short story has a non-traditional structure, following a hostage situation and its outcome. The narrative also includes a backstory about the main character, which offers readers insight into his personality. 

The story has two important characters. Walker, a police negotiator, is also the narrator and presents the events as he experiences them. Another important character is Mark Weston, the young man who holds his mother at gunpoint and whom Walker eventually kills. 

The story is set somewhere in Brooklyn, specifically the building where Mark lives. The social setting of the story focuses on issues such as crime, abusive parents, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, gun control, and mental instability. 

The story is told by Walker, who is the first-person narrator. His backstory offers multiple hints that he is mentally unstable and, thus, unreliable. As the story’s ending shows, the initial suspicions about Walker’s unreliability are confirmed. 

The language used in the short story is straightforward. A good deal of the story contains dialogue, which is used to convey Walker’s negotiations with Mark and helps create a better understanding of the characters and their motives. The choice of words also helps create an authentic atmosphere typical for crime fiction stories. 

A full analysis of the story can be found in the following pages.