Howard describes him as both a fascinating and fascinated boy who was consumed by a childlike urgency to learn and educate himself. Indeed, the effects are quick and expected: a massive decrease in hostilities around the globe. Also the concept of the Bobby character’s intelligence outgrowing his level of maturity was a believable and captivating notion. Or is this far-fetched plan just a naive concept devised by a crazed genius?Like almost all of King’s works, I didn’t find the characters particularly likable in The End of the Whole Mess. While doing sociological research in Texas, Bobby used crime statistics to create a sort of At a time of international chaos suggestive of an approaching total nuclear war, Bobby and Howard, using the aid of a volcano in Borneo that is set to erupt and blow millions of tons of ash into the atmosphere, disperse a large quantity of this substance throughout the world, in the hope of preventing a catastrophe. When Bobby discovers an unknown chemical that diminishes anger and hostility, he believes he’s found the path to world peace. Perhaps the Howard character is supposed to be empathised with more, but I found him quite bitter despite the fact that he claimed not to be. It is narrated by writer Howard Fornoy, a man who has limited time on earth to type out his brother’s life story, Robert Fornoy, who he was forced to kill not moments before he began writing.
The End of the Whole Mess. Howard and Bobby It was collected in King's Nightmares & Dreamscapes in 1993 and in Wastelands: Stories of the Apocalypse in 2008. The basis of the short story was a fresh and interesting slant on the idea of friendly small towns in southern America, and the twist at the end was definitely in keeping with the stereotypical view of them. The story, narrated by Howard Fornoy in the form of a personal journal, recounts the life of his genius younger brother, Robert. Bobby, a child prodigy whose adult interests led him to study a variety of scientific disciplines, discovered a chemical that reduces the aggressive tendencies of humans and other organisms. Synopsis: Howard Forney’s journal recounts the intense promise and disastrous effects of his younger brother Bobby’s genius. The reader is given a great deal of background information on Bobby, who is an intelligent man oblivious to anything or anyone beyond his thirst for knowledge, but I never felt that he was anything more than an intellectual. Welcome lovers of oppression and societal strain!Copyright © dystopic.co.uk 2012-2016. The End of the Whole Mess is certainly one of the more enjoyable short stories King has written. The practical part of the thesis consists of my own translation of the short story. Her debut novel 'These Unnatural Men' was published in 2018.A site predominantly dedicated to reviewing and discussing dystopian literature and film.
Bobby demonstrated with the angry wasps in his hand that, after giving them this special tonic, the usually infuriated insects became incredibly calm – yet simultaneously alert and competent.Bobby requires Howard’s help with this water. If they placed the water in this volcano before it erupted, the calming effects of it would spread across the entirety of earth and potentially rid the planet of anger, destruction and violence. It’s not until years later that he shows up on Howard’s doorstep out of the blue, excitedly brandishing a bizarre wasp and bee experiment that he claims could help save the world.Bobby explains that the majority of Texas is consumed with anger and crime, but Waco is a very placid place. The prospect of zero suffering on earth is enthralling to the innocent-minded and hopeful Bobby.But will Howard agree to this?
However, this all changed at the age of sixteen when he returned from traveling in South America on an anthropological expedition; he matured and become deeply affected by humanity’s ability to self-destruct.After a few more years of traveling and fueling himself with scientific knowledge, Bobby eventually moves to Waco in Texas and cuts himself off from his family. After much investigation he deemed it was ‘something in the water’, and managed to create a potent concoction of this strange water that calmed and pacified the locals. Bobby came back after three years, he discovered a chemical that reduces the aggressive tendencies of humans and other organisms.