Death Wish
Encyclopedia
Death Wish is a 1972 novel
by Brian Garfield
.
in New York and lifelong liberal
. However, his staid life is overturned when his daughter, Carol, and spouse, Esther, are attacked by muggers. His wife does not survive the attack, and his traumatized daughter is left in a vegetative state. Forced to reevaluate his views, Benjamin becomes paranoid and eager for vengeance
. After a trip to Arizona
, a friend gives him a revolver
as a gift. Benjamin shoots a mugger who accosts him. Benjamin continues to take justice into his own hands, drawing would-be muggers into traps by using himself as the bait. In one case, he rents a car, pulls it over to the side of the road, and writes an "Out of Gas" sign on the vehicle. He then hides, waiting for someone to steal the car. When some lawbreakers do so, he shoots them.
It is only within the last fifty pages of the first novel that Benjamin slays his first victim. The second novel, Death Sentence
, states that Benjamin murdered seventeen people over five weeks.
and directed by Michael Winner
.
Novel
A novel is a book of long narrative in literary prose. The genre has historical roots both in the fields of the medieval and early modern romance and in the tradition of the novella. The latter supplied the present generic term in the late 18th century....
by Brian Garfield
Brian Garfield
Brian Francis Wynne Garfield is an American novelist and screenwriter. He wrote his first published book at the age of eighteen and wrote several novels under such pen names as "Frank Wynne" and "'Brian Wynne" before gaining prominence when his book Hopscotch won the 1976 Edgar Award for Best Novel...
.
Plot
Paul Benjamin is a CPACertified Public Accountant
Certified Public Accountant is the statutory title of qualified accountants in the United States who have passed the Uniform Certified Public Accountant Examination and have met additional state education and experience requirements for certification as a CPA...
in New York and lifelong liberal
Liberalism
Liberalism is the belief in the importance of liberty and equal rights. Liberals espouse a wide array of views depending on their understanding of these principles, but generally, liberals support ideas such as constitutionalism, liberal democracy, free and fair elections, human rights,...
. However, his staid life is overturned when his daughter, Carol, and spouse, Esther, are attacked by muggers. His wife does not survive the attack, and his traumatized daughter is left in a vegetative state. Forced to reevaluate his views, Benjamin becomes paranoid and eager for vengeance
Vengeance
Vengeance may refer to:In publications:*Vengeance , a character in the 1859 novel by Charles Dickens*Vengeance , by Scott Ciencin and Dan Jolley*Vengeance , a character in the Marvel Universe...
. After a trip to Arizona
Arizona
Arizona ; is a state located in the southwestern region of the United States. It is also part of the western United States and the mountain west. The capital and largest city is Phoenix...
, a friend gives him a revolver
Revolver
A revolver is a repeating firearm that has a cylinder containing multiple chambers and at least one barrel for firing. The first revolver ever made was built by Elisha Collier in 1818. The percussion cap revolver was invented by Samuel Colt in 1836. This weapon became known as the Colt Paterson...
as a gift. Benjamin shoots a mugger who accosts him. Benjamin continues to take justice into his own hands, drawing would-be muggers into traps by using himself as the bait. In one case, he rents a car, pulls it over to the side of the road, and writes an "Out of Gas" sign on the vehicle. He then hides, waiting for someone to steal the car. When some lawbreakers do so, he shoots them.
It is only within the last fifty pages of the first novel that Benjamin slays his first victim. The second novel, Death Sentence
Death Sentence (novel)
For the film, see Death Sentence .Death Sentence is the 1975 sequel novel to Death Wish by Brian Garfield.-Plot introduction:...
, states that Benjamin murdered seventeen people over five weeks.
Film adaptation
In 1974, a film based on the novel was made, starring Charles BronsonCharles Bronson
Charles Bronson , born Charles Dennis Buchinsky was an American actor, best-known for such films as Once Upon a Time in the West, The Magnificent Seven, The Dirty Dozen, The Great Escape, Rider on the Rain, The Mechanic, and the popular Death Wish series...
and directed by Michael Winner
Michael Winner
Michael Robert Winner is a British film director and producer, active in both Europe and the United States, also known as a food critic for the Sunday Times.-Early life and early career :...
.
Characters
- Paul Benjamin- The protagonistProtagonistA protagonist is the main character of a literary, theatrical, cinematic, or musical narrative, around whom the events of the narrative's plot revolve and with whom the audience is intended to most identify...
of the story, Paul begins to slowly turn to vigilantism right after his family was brutally mugged. Note: In the film version that character's last name was changed to Kersey and works as an architectArchitectAn architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
, unlike the book. - Esther Benjamin- Deceased wife of Paul Benjamin, little is known about her except that she met Paul back in high school, she and her daughter were attacked offscreen from the book, unlike the movie where the scene is detailed
- Carol Benjamin Tobey- Paul and Esther's twenty-three year old daughter and wife of lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
Jack Tobey, after the beating from the muggers, her mental state begins to deteriorate throughout the book. - Jack Tobey- Paul's son-in-law, works as a lawyerLawyerA lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
. - Sam Kreutzer- Paul's best friend, he clearly does what he can to help Paul after the event that took his family and his life.
- Adele Kreutzer- Wife of Sam Kreutzer.
- Henry Ives- Paul's boss.
- Bill Dundee- One of Paul's co-workers.
- George Eng- One of Paul's co-workers.
- John Childress- one of Paul's co-workers.
- Lieutenant Malcolm Briggs- Detective who is under investigation on the home invasion of Paul's family.
- Inspector Frank Ochoa- Detective who is on the "Vigilante case" investigation.
- Officer Joe Charles- Officer who was the first at aid and response of Paul's daughter and wife after they were mugged.
- Ira Nermserman- One of Paul's clients who owns a big industry.
- Thomas Leroy Marston- The first mugger Paul kills.
- Ames Jainchill- One of Paul's clients that he visits in Tucson, Arizona to get away from New York a few weeks.
- Shirley Mackenzie- A short-lived girlfriend that Paul met and slept with one night in Tucson, it would be the next day after she left Paul, that he purchases a gun.