Talk:The Death-Ray

"black nursemaid Delia"

Is it really neccessary to specify that this character is black? What relevence does it have to the plot summary? — Preceding unsigned comment added by 2001:8003:889A:1300:A056:E537:2FAA:45BC (talk) 11:28, 13 April 2018 (UTC)

I suppose there are social implications. In the 70s, and even now, it makes her more likely to be poorer, to be working in a low-ranking poorly-paid subservient role. Though of course Andy and his grandfather respect her. It makes her family more likely to be involved in crime (daughter, drugs). These are socioeconomic facts, not moral judgements, btw. It's not supremely relevant but why not mention it? It's not harmful or disrespectful. If a black American wants to contribute to this, and say otherwise, I would of course take their opinion with a bit more weight, having personal experience.

84.67.73.190 (talk) 18:46, 2 December 2020 (UTC)

Not a forum

Corrections and additions

Hi,

First of all this article is full of the dreaded Original Research but I'll let that pass cos I'm in control of my Asperger's, it doesn't control me, and through me, Wikipedia.

Second though...

Louie doesn't try to steal the Death Ray from Andy. It's already been shown, when they first test it out on the poor squirrel, that the gun does nothing in Louie's hands. It only apparently works for Andy. As you see from pages before Louie tries to kill Andy, Louie is wracked with guilt over what they've done. Louie ironically is the one who first goes mad with power, attempting to set up "crimes" so Andy can beat the shit out of the "criminal". But then he regrets it, particularly in the bit when he gets a girlfriend.

Louie has a horrible realisation and, wracked by guilt but still no smarter than before, he decides he has to kill Andy to end the "legacy" of the Death Ray. Of course he has to do this by tricking him, by surprise, Andy having every advantage in a fight otherwise.

You also may not notice until you've read it a few times, but it's likely, not shown but implied by the tone and the way the story is shown and told, that Andy actually kills nearly everybody he meets and gets angry with. Read the bit about Stoob being "a real solid citizen" sarcastically. Then the "He couldn't fool me" / "Nobody ever changes" makes a different sort of sense. He pops Stoob over a stupid schoolyard grudge.

Andy's gone mad with power and, obviously, doesn't know it. There are no consequences, not even ashes, of using the gun. So once he gets a taste his "justice" has no limits upon it. The "Excuse me" guy on the bench, page 39, makes some comment, or Andy thinks he does. He dies. No consequences, as long as nobody else is around to see. If they are, I'm sure he can justify disappearing them, too. "The United States Of Andy" implies that, Andy owns the world now.

As for the ending? I don't think C, though it's the most fleshed-out and normal one, because he can't let the Death Ray go now, it's way too late. More like A. Although hopefully he doesn't kill quickly enough to finish off the entire world before he dies of old age. B seems unlikely cos remorse never seems to have really visited him.

Anyway... point is Louie isn't trying to steal the gun. They both know he can't use it. Killing him both gets him out of the story, since he'd be a hindrance to how the plot goes later. And it's a Rubicon for Andy to cross, even accidentally.

84.67.73.190 (talk) 18:41, 2 December 2020 (UTC)