Graham Greene's "The Destructors" is a short story that takes place in London nine years after the conclusion of World War II. Post-war conflict had struck after that ("the last bomb of the first blitz") and because of this, situations such as the destruction of Old Misery's house occurred. The story uniquely conveys the boys' desire to destory, gain power and to gain acknowledgement ("The fame of the Wormsley Commen car-park gang would surely be …showed first 75 words of 249 total…

…showed last 75 words of 249 total…past that the destruction of the house was merely a small piece belonging to a big puzzle. Destructions equal power, becoming the destructor means becoming powerful. The need for power had started it all. Beginning with the German's blitz because they wanted to become more powerful and rule which then led to other destructions. The struggle to gain power is once just a blurred image, a story within a story that can't be simply told.