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1.
The Killers
(Ernest
Hemingway)
Summary
The story “The Killers” presents us the idea
that crime has to be disgraced in the long run. It brings hard consequences for
the committers. It brings about horror and distrust among the people. The story
also tells us many truths of life.
At five o’clock, two men named Al and Max
entered a restaurant called Henry’s Lunch-room. They were professional killers.
Henry’s Lunch-room is a small restaurant which is visited by middle and
lower-middle class people. The restaurant was almost empty at the time Al and
Max entered. They sat and ordered for heavy dinner. George, the man at the
counter told them that heavy dinner was not ready as it is offered from six
O’clock. They make fun of the restaurant rules. They were provided with the
available food. They ate with their gloves on. Their faces were different but
they were dressed like twins. They were wearing derby hats, tight over coats,
silk mufflers and gloves. They talked rudely to the members of the restaurant
staff.
Suddenly, they take out their guns point at
the members of the staff. Al takes Nick and Sam to the kitchen while keeping
them on gunpoint. Max sits with George at the counter to handle the situation.
He asks George to tell the customers that the cook is off. They declared that
they had come to kill a man named Ole Anderson who visited the restaurant at
that time regularly. They wait for him but, on that day, he does not come.
After waiting for almost two hours, they leave the restaurant.
After their departure, Nick goes to Ole’s
residence to tell him about the killers. However, Ole listens about the killers
very casually. He tells him that nothing can be done. He thanks Nick on his
coming and telling him about the killers. Nick returns and tells George about
Ole. Nick is afraid of and wants to leave the town. George agrees to it.
Q.1. Describe the scene in
Henry’s Lunchroom on the arrival of the Killers.
OR How do the Killers treat the members of the
staff of the restaurant?
The scene at the lunchroom during the
presence of the killers is not unusual. In the slums of all big cities scenes
of violence, drunken brawls and dacoaties are quite common. At the arrival of
the killers, Henry’s Lunch-room is almost empty. Only members of the staff are
present. They are preparing for the dinner. George is at the counter and Adam
is in the kitchen making food. Al and
Max enter the restaurant, look around, look at the menu board and sit on a
table. They ask for food items that are served as heavy dinner. George tells
them that heavy dinner was not ready at that time. They make fun of the
restaurant rules and menu. They are served with available food which they eat
silently.
Suddenly, they take out their guns point at
the members of the staff. Al takes Nick and Sam to the kitchen while keeping
them on gunpoint. Max sits with George and asks him to tell the customers that
the cook is off. They declared that they had come to kill a man named Ole
Anderson. There is an atmosphere of horror and fear in the restaurant. They
wait for Ole Anderson but he does not come. After waiting for almost two hours,
they leave the restaurant. (214 words)
Q.2. What does the story tell us about American society? OR The
story “The Killers” reflects some of the darkest aspects of the modern American
society. Discuss.
The story highlights many points about
American society. Story illustrates the materialism of the American
society. The story is a realistic
picture of American social life at the lower level of society. It is a movie
picture. We can see the characters in action and can hear what they say. We
learn a lot from what we see and hear. We learn that Americans are very
practical and business like. They are neither romantic nor emotional.
American
society of the present day is a purely materialistic society. The people have
lost their softer human side. They think only in terms of money and power.
Everybody lives for himself. Therefore nobody cares for what another does. People
do not hesitate from doing away with their rivals. They even hire killers to
take revenge from others. Even innocent people are helpless against the
killers. They cannot get help from the police either. The best they can do is
to leave towns.
This purely selfish attitude of individuals
results in the collapse of society. We see that crime is no longer a horror in
American society. For some people it is just business. This is, of course, the
bottom of moral decline. (199 words)
Q.3. What is the theme of the story “The Killers”? OR What kind of
understanding does “The Killers” impart to the reader?
The theme of the story “The Killers” imparts
a specific understanding to the reader. The story tells that crime does not
pay. Criminals try to escape the consequences of their crimes, but they have to
face them. Nobody can help them. They are alone and on their own.
Firstly, Ole’s present condition clearly
tells us that crime does not pay. Two professional killers are after him and
want to kill him. Perhaps he has double-crossed someone who has sent these
killers. His crime has put him in a horrible situation. He is alone in his room
and lying on his bed.
Secondly, he cannot escape the consequences
of his crime. The killers have been chasing him for a long time. Ole Anderson
has been doing everything to get rid of these killers. Now he has come to know
that he will have to face the consequences. That is why, he tells Nick, “I’m
through with all that running around.” He plainly says, “There isn’t anything
to do now.”
Thirdly, we see that nobody can help him. He
tells Nick that going to the police and getting out of the town will not do any
good. Nick cannot help Ole. (199 words)
Q.4. What was the reaction of Ole Anderson when he heard about the
killers who had come to kill him?
When we read the story “The Killers”
carefully, we find that the reaction of Ole was very casual when Nick told him
about the Killers. When Nick told Ole about the killers, he said nothing. Nick
told him that the killers wanted to shoot him, but still Ole said nothing. He
looked at the wall. His looking at the wall shows his indifference to the
serious situation. Nick told him that George had asked him to come to him and
tell him about the killers. Ole said, “There isn’t anything I can do about it.”
He also said that he did not want to know
what the killers were like. He told him that going to the police and running
out the town would not do any good. He knew that the killers would kill him and
it was not a bluff. He said to Nick, “There isn’t anything to do now.” He was
talking in the same flat voice. He was resigned to his fate. He knew that the
killers would kill him and there was no escape. (179 words)
Q.5. Discuss the elements of horror in the story “The Killers” by
Ernest Hemingway. OR “The Killers” is full of suspense and horror. Elaborate
The story “The Killers” is full of elements
of horror. When we read the story, we find that the elements of horror are very
dominant and the suspense in the story is at peak.
Firstly, we find horror when the killers make
the members of the staff of hostages. Al takes Nick and Sam to the kitchen at
the gunpoint. He ties them back-to-back. He gags them with towels. Max stays
with George at the counter. Al threatens George indirectly that he would blow
his head off.
Secondly, when the killers go back, Al asks
Max, “What about the two bright boys and the nigger?” Actually, he wants to
kill the members of the staff of the restaurant, but Max does not agree.
Thirdly, the helpless condition of Ole is
very fearful. He looks so much helpless that the reader takes pity on him.
Ole’s condition is very horrible. He is waiting for his death.
Fourthly, the talk between George and Nick
also creates horror. Nick is so much afraid that he wants to leave the town. He
says, “I’m going out of this town.” At this George says, “That’s good thing to
do.” Sam is so afraid that he does not want to listen to anything relating to
Ole and the killers. (213 words)
CHARACTER SKETCHES
Ole Anderson
Ole Anderson has been presented as a symbolic
character for many of the old men of his time. He has fought against the
hardships of life but now he has given up the struggle. Life and death were now
equal to him. Anderson’s life symbolizes some of the darkest aspects of
American life or of the advanced Western civilizations. Inner peace and
spiritual satisfactions are what religion alone can provide.
He may be a middle-aged fellow. He is a tall
man. He has been a heavyweight boxer. He is a polite fellow, and people like
him. Mrs. Bell, the housekeeper, likes him. When George comes to tell him about
the killers, he thanks him.
Two killers are after him and want to kill
him. He has been running from town to town, but now he is ready to die. He has
realized that nobody can help him and he will have to face his death. Nick asks
him, “Isn’t there something I could do?” He answers, “No. There isn’t anything
to do.” This answer shows his mental condition. (178 words)
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