True Enemy In Richard Greenberg's Take Me Out

In the novel, Take Me Out, by Richard Greenberg, I believe that the true enemy is Darren Lemming. Darren is very selfish and has a big ego. For example, “It’s only brave if ya think somethin’ bad’s gonna happen. They don’t … to me” (page 32). Darren’s accountant, Mason Marzac believes that his coming out was an act of heroism and bravery. Darren didn’t announce that he was gay because he had a boyfriend or in a relationship, he just did it because he knew that nothing would come of it. He believed that since he was in baseball and that God was there too, nothing bad would ever happen to him. Darren told Mason that God only existed in stupid situations, like baseball. Another example occurs when Shane Mungitt was doing his rituals for the game and Darren joins him, “An’ now I’m here beside you. Ya know what that means, don’tcha? Cleanliness is next to godliness, HA” (page 76). Shane’s ritual for the game included three showers before the game and two showers after the game. Every player on the team knew he …show more content…
While talking to Davey in the clubhouse before a game, he told Davey to “drop dead”. Shane had overheard this conversation while heading to complete his pre-game rituals. Shane, being the pitcher, threw a ball while Davey was at bat and it struck Davey in the head, causing his death. I believe this is Darren’s fault because he had told Davey to drop dead just before the game. Shane, after being attacked in the shower by Darren, probably wanted to get back at him, and thus killed his best friend. “I’m not s’pose ta talk! I’m s’pose ta throw! An’ now they won’ let me throw!” (pages 106-107). That quote was Shane’s reasoning as to why he threw the pitch that killed Davey. He had overheard Darren and Davey’s conversation and told Kippy that Darren wished it, he just executed it for him because he is supposed to throw. Shane is a pitcher and in his mind, the pitcher’s job is to throw the