Disparity and Destruction Theme: Lawrence and Greene - Literature review Example

I. INTRODUCTION
The Destructor as the title suggests illustrates a tale of the after-effects of World War Two and the manner in which the bombing, bloodshed, and destruction have made an ever-lasting mind of the young generation. While on the other hand, Lawrence deals with a story of a young boy who is ensnared in the marathon of greed because according to Lawrence materialism has escalated to the heights of insanity where money is a basic necessity to survive and is the second most important prerequisite after breathing.

II. THEME OF DISILLUSIONMENT AND DESTRUCTION
Greene states in the text, “Streaks of light came in through the closed shutters where they worked with the seriousness of creators - and destruction, after all, is a form of creation.” Hence the writer rather than projecting a peaceful and harmonious atmosphere depicts the destructive side of human nature as this aspect reflects on the damage that war has done to human beings and their psyche i.e. destruction and damage give them joy and they see it as a form of art and creation.

On the other hand, Lawrence’s idea and understanding of disillusionment are illustrated in terms of weakening or lacking family ties. He depicts the idea that lack of communication and bonding in every human relationship is the basic cause of disillusionment and discontentment in life. As it is mentioned in the text, “She married for love, and the love turned to dust. She had bonny children, yet she felt they had been thrust upon her, and she could not love them. They looked at her coldly, as if they were finding fault with her. And hurriedly she felt she must cover up some fault in herself. Yet what it was that she must cover up she never knew”

III. SOLITARY AND HOLLOW EXISTENCE OF MAN
Another common theme that both the writers incorporate is the theme of human existence that is hollow and solitary. The concept of hollow existence is extensively used in Greene’s story as he also says, “There'd be no fun if I hated him…'All this hate and love,' he said, 'it's soft, its hooey. There are only things, Blackie…” Hence this comment explains the fact that all the pain and suffering of war have rendered human beings devoid of all emotions and has left them hollow on the inside. Moreover, this has further resulted in the solitary existence of man i.e. every individual has his share of problems and misery that he has to suffer alone. As it is mentioned about the lorry driver, “He was vaguely aware of a voice shouting, but it didn't concern him”.

On the contrary, Lawrence demonstrates this hollow existence through the use of the concept of ‘echo’ the echo “There must be more money! There must be more money!” reflects on the materialistic and insecure existence of human beings. Moreover, this hollowness is also projected through the lack of love and mutual affection amongst the character as suggested in the text about the mother, “Only she herself knew that at the center of her heart was a hard little place that could not feel love, no, not for anybody. Everybody else said of her: "She is such a good mother. She adores her children." Only she herself, and her children themselves, knew it was not so”.

IV. THEME OF MATERIALISM AND DEGENERATION
Greene states about money in the story, “'We'll burn them,' he said, 'one by one,' and taking it in turns they held a note upwards and lit the top corner… The grey ash floated above them and fell on their heads like age”. This statement again reiterates that nothing in life is important to human beings not even money even though it is a major necessity to survive. This further highlights the degeneration of man because according to Greene’s perspective after facing the misery of war nothing holds any interest for his fellow human beings.

However, Lawrence depicts a very contrasting interpretation of the importance of money in the life of human beings. According to his point of view, money is the only concern of the modern man and he is blinded by the greed to attain more and more as it is also mentioned in the prose, “Oh, now, now-w! Now-w-w - there must be more money! - More than ever! More than ever!” Also, Lawrence illustrates the degeneration of human beings through this greed and lust for money.