Conclusion

§19. None of the characters exerts violence. Violence comes from "the world". None of their answers to the conflict is valid: Harry dies emotionally and Leo's acceptance is futile struggle. Harry has not succeeded in his efforts because as an individual, he is powerless in a war situation putting demands on male citizens. As a son, he has not been able to get through to his parents. His parents have been unable to face the problem, probably out of extreme fear and hopelessness. Culturally, parents are put in the position of protecting their children. However, when society's interests are at odds with what they would need to do to protect their children, parents are left to fail and metaphorically die for them. They cannot tell a government to stop a war.

§20. Malamud's tragedy replaces the gods with the violent deeds of men and presents two of their victims who, while failing to escape their tragic end, fight from opposing sides- tragic awareness of reality and being unable to change the course of events (the Son's) versus refusing to see reality and tragic (useless) action (the Father's). This is a modern story on an old human problem: the destruction of any possibility of love and communication. Blindness is as useless as awareness. Pain and suffering preside over life. We killed the cruel gods, but still, we work for a tragic destiny.