Part 1 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 distraught over his decision of not making a stronger attempt to help ....

Part 2 of Essay
.... the story revolves around him. 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 M ....