Beginning of Essay
“The Curse” by Andre Dubus is about Mitchell Hayes, a forty-nine year old bartender who is witness to a rape. The rape occurs right before closing when five bikers rape a young woman while holding Mitchell at bay. After the rape, Mitchell is distraugh ....

Middle of Essay
.... His thoughts and actions are crucial to the story and are described in great detail. He is dynamic because he changes from a relatively carefree, self-assured man into an impetuous man who feels old and becomes consumed with guilt. After witnessing the rape: “He did not know what it was like to be very old … but he assumed it was like this: fatigue beyond relieving by rest, by sleep.” Dubus uses all three methods of indirect characterization in describing Mitchell; he uses words, actions, and thoughts. An example of his words is “I should have stopped it. I think I could have stopped it.” An example of his actions ....