In "The Destructors," what is the most likely reason the
boys take care of Mr. Thomas yet destroy his house?
(1 point)
They resent the beauty of Mr. Thomas's house but
respect Mr. Thomas.
They are simply not interested in physically harming
people, only things.
They want to witness Mr. Thomas's reaction to the
destruction of his property.
They understand the laws against hurting others but
believe that there is no law against breaking things
"The Destructors" is a short story by Graham Greene, where a gang of boys, part of a group called the Wormsley Common Gang, led by a character named Trevor (T.), sets about to systematically destroy the inside of an old man named Mr. Thomas's house. While they are extremely thorough in their destruction of the house, they make a point of ensuring Mr. Thomas's physical safety.
The boys' behavior can be interpreted in various ways, but the most likely reason they take care of Mr. Thomas yet destroy his house could be that they are simply not interested in physically harming people, only things. This could suggest a distinction in their minds between violence against individuals, which they perceive as wrong or carrying more significant consequences, and the destruction of property, which they may rationalize as less severe or more justifiable within their moral framework.
The suggestion that they want to witness Mr. Thomas's reaction implies a certain level of malice and personal engagement with Mr. Thomas, which is less supported by the context of the story. Similarly, the idea that they respect Mr. Thomas but resent the beauty of his house also doesn't quite capture their motives as displayed in the story.
Finally, the notion that they understand the laws against hurting others but believe there is no law against breaking things might be partially correct in that they may indeed recognize that physical violence against Mr. Thomas would result in more severe repercussions than property damage. However, their understanding of the law is likely not as sophisticated or developed as this interpretation implies.
Therefore, based on the nuances in Greene's narrative, the most likely reason for the boys' behavior is that they have drawn a moral line between violence against a person and the destruction of things, and they choose to carry out their destructive impulses on material objects rather than inflicting physical harm on a person. This choice might also highlight the impersonal nature of their destructive act—it is against the old world Mr. Thomas represents rather than against Mr. Thomas as an individual.