Theme Of The Intruder By Andre Dubus

Andre Dubus II was born on August 11, 1936, in Lake Charles, Louisiana, and died on February 24, 1999. After graduating from college, he served six years in the marine corps. His mother, Katherine Dubus, and two older sisters, helped him gain inspiration for many of his literary works. A very prevalent theme present in the majority of his later works consists of different components of Roman Catholicism. In 1986, Dubus faced a severe tragedy that vastly impacted his literature, and life as a whole. After stopping to help a stranded motorist, Dubus was hit by a car, rendering him wheelchair bound. He produced inspiration and creativity from the struggles he endured. “The Intruder” by Andre Dubus is valuable to society because it informs people

He uses his vast imagination to create an ideal reality in his mind. When Kenneth’s parents are leaving for the evening to attend a party, his dad leaves him in charge of the house. Subsequently, his sister Connie invites her boyfriend Douglas over, who severely intimidates Kenneth. Throughout the story, Kenneth struggles with his faith, and one night he is tempted to look at explicit images in a magazine. After overcoming this temptation, he is startled by a noise outside and instinctively grabs his rifle. Kenneth fires out of the window. his sister’s screams, he realizes that he has accidentally shot her boyfriend, Douglas (Dubus

Many humans struggle with the misconception that being tempted and having doubts about their faith are unacceptable. Moreover, when Kenneth is tempted to look at explicit images in a magazine, “he closed the magazine and raised his eyes to the ceiling, then closed them and said three Hail Mary’s” (Dubus 278). By putting the magazine down and deciding to pray, he conveys to the reader that it is not wrong to have doubts or face temptation . Kenneth’s devotion to his religion results in him having the instinctual reaction to pray in the face of temptation. Overcoming temptation and asking God for help is not a sign of weakness; it demonstrates strength and