The main characters in the short story “The Destructors” by Graham Greene are Trevor, the newest recruit of the Wormsley Common gang, and Blackie, the leader of the gang. There is a brief conflict between Trevor and Blackie, when Trevor replaces him as the leader of the gang. Other members of the gang include Mike, a nine-year-old boy who alerts the gang of Mr. Thomas’ early return, and Summers, a boy who challenges Trevor’s authority in a critical moment.
Mr. Thomas, an elderly man who lives near the gang’s meeting place, is also a central character to the story. The boys see him as a symbol of the upper class, which is why they plan to destroy his house while he is away.
The driver who unknowingly finishes the destruction of Mr. Thomas’ house is also a noteworthy character. He laughs when he discovers what he has done, although he assures Mr. Thomas that “ ‘There’s nothing personal’ “ but he just finds the situation funny.
Extract
Here, you can read an extract from our character analyses:
Inner characterization
Mr. Thomas is proud of his beautiful home. He worked as a decorator and uses his skill to fix his house after it is damaged during the war. However, he does not pay someone to fix the plumbing of his house so he resorts to using a toilet in a shed in his garden. This shows he cares more about appearances than about practicality. He wishes to cling to his social status from before the war, stuck in the past and unable to accept the present. Instead of using the destruction brought about by the war to advance into a better society, he regresses even further into the old ways, as shown by his use of a long-outdated toilet without plumbing.
Mr. Thomas proves to be a kind and understanding man. He offers the boys some chocolates because he says he does not like them. He also tells Trevor he is understanding and would let the boys use his toilet if only they asked nicely and came through the house instead of jumping over his wall. He does not hesitate to help when he finds out a boy is trapped in his toilet even though he is surprised by the fact that the boys had been in his garden.
