Assignments

Chapter 7 - Subplots

A History of Violence

The only true subplot involves Tom’s son, Jack, battling a bully from high school.

Character – Tom’s aversion to violence is seen when he berates his son for beating up on the bully. 

Plot – Through his battle with the bully, Jack gets in touch with his violent streak, which enables him to kill Fogarty at the moment Fogarty is about to kill Tom.

Theme – The movie explores the duality in all of us—violent and peaceful. Jack is an extremely non-violent person, greatly averse to getting sucked into a fight with the bully who constantly antagonizes him. But, when pushed far enough, his capacity for violence explodes with brutal force.