The Destructors

            "The Destructors" is a great example of a good kid gone bad. The main character displays knowledge and leadership skills but does not have an opportunity to put them to good use. For this reason, Trevor is a victim of society. The story takes place in London shortly after the end of World War II.
             The protagonist in the story is Trevor. His father lost his job as an architect in the high class society where his family has lived all of their life. The family was forced to move into less expensive housing. His son Trevor had troubles adapting to the change. Trevor soon made friends around his neighborhood and became a member of the Wormsley Common Gang. .
             Early on, the other boys could tell that he did not fit in. The gang made fun of his name, Trevor, because it was typically an upper class name and unheard of where they lived. Trevor adapted and demanded that they call him "T." Trevor gained the favor of the other gang members when he told them his plan to tear down Mr. Thomas" house. Trevor had been inside the house before and used his knowledge of architecture that he learned from his father to devise a plan to tear the house down from the inside out. The gang was successful and build a reputation for themselves.
             Revenge against the upperclass is the underlying theme of the story. To understand why, we must first make an important distinction between the upper and lower class. The upper class have better education and are given the opportunity to create, whereas the lower class do not have these norms, which causes anomie and results in an adverse affect of a child's development. It is easier for the upper class to strive because their lifestyle encompasses opportunities that gives them the ability to create a positive environment for their family. The children are nurtured in this environment and are given a chance to grow. However, the lower class children are not born into such an environment.