Summary Of Killings By Andre Dubus

Killings is a short story written by Andre Dubus. It was first published in, The Sewanee Review, in 1979. The story was also later turned into a film called, The Bedroom, by Todd Field in 2001. The story is based on love, murder, revenge and morality with an interesting twist. Dubus tells the tale in a flat, calm way.
The setting of the story takes place in a small blue - collar town in Massachusetts. It opens with a gloomy August morning with the burial of twenty-one year old, Frank Fowler. Frank is the son of Matt and Ruth Fowler, he is a graduate student from a local university. He is dating Mary An Strout, the ex-wife of Richard Strout. He had been having some trouble with his relationship with Mary Ann due to Richard intercepting and causing trouble. Frank is shot in the face and chest and murdered by Richard one Saturday night in front of his two sons. Along to grief at the funeral were Frank’s siblings, Steve and Cathleen. Richard was known for his hot temper and indecent attitude. It was his very attitude that caused his divorce of six years with, Mary Ann. He was a twenty-six year old football scholar who dropped out and worked as a bartender. …show more content…
They became very fond of one another and Frank gave her the piece of her relationship she was missing with Richard. She was very vulnerable and fresh out of divorce, she fell in love right away. Matt and Ruth Fowler weren’t too pleased with Franks decision to date Mary Ann especially knowing the reputation of her ex-husband. They were uneasy about the two but gave Frank their support for the relationship. Strout on the other hand was enraged by the situation and whether it was his pride or love for Mary Ann, it’s was drove him to murder