Comparing Nurture In The Flowers And The Destructors, By Graham Greene

The Nurtured Psyche: A look into the effects of significant events on youth "All things truly wicked start from innocence," (Ernest Hemingway) In this lies the profound truth that our earliest experiences, shaped by nurture, sculpt the contours of our psyche. Throughout our youth, the environment we are immersed in, and the experiences we face, lay the groundwork for our personalities and choices. The Destructors, by Graham Greene, tells the story of a young gang member, and his transition from docility to destruction. The Flowers, by Alice Walker, demonstrates a young girl's traumatic experience that widens her perspective on the world's darkness. These works comparatively depict that abnormal, even perverse psychological states, result from

T. and Myop both begin calm and silent before their lives take significant turns. In The Destructors, T. seems peaceful and respectful to his gang, rarely speaking except to vote. Even when he mentions his love for architecture, it's with childlike wonder. Myop in The Flowers lives a simple life, unaware of anything beyond the beauty of nature. Both characters show innocence and vulnerability, unaware of the challenges ahead. This suggests that abnormal or perverse psychological states stem from upbringing, particularly through impactful events experienced during one's formative years. The traumatic events nurture T and Myop to become altered and more perverse versions of their previous selves. Soon after his inexplicable visit to Old Misery’s house, T’s psychological state shifts dramatically. “He continued to stare at his feet, not meeting anybody’s eye.” (Greene, 4) Avoiding the eyes of his gang-mates, he briefly shows shame, before developing a newfound aura of power and leadership. The events he experiences at Old Misery's, while unknown, alter his state of mind

crosses the line of usual troublemaking, instead acting in the spirit of perverseness. The illusion of Old Misery’s outwardly beautiful house is now an aspect of shame and anger. The details of T.’s event are unbeknownst to readers, however, we can witness the aftermath and its significance. Comparatively, we can grasp an understanding of what occurred during Myop’s event, yet not a full look at the aftermath of the trauma she experienced. Myop’s abrupt discovery of human remains instantly broadens her worldview, diminishing her childlike innocence. She “..laid down her flowers, and the summer was over.” (Walker, 120) Placing the flowers onto the dirt below her symbolizes Myop’s newfound awareness of death. Her childish illusion of a flawless world is torn down by the trauma she experiences, altering her psyche into a darker, more perverse form. Losing her innocence, she is struck down into the depths of reality, brought on by the knowledge of death. After their significant events, each character is left with a psychological state that differs extremely from their previous psyche. The dramatic event nurtures each character into an abnormal, even perverse psychological