Is David Sumner a villain? (Warning: Spoiler Alert)

In the controversial 1971 film Straw Dogs, Dustin Hoffman played the character David Sumner. David is a quiet American mathematician who has left his home in America to escape violence. He takes his English wife Amy (played by Susan George) to her hometown in Cornwall, England, where he believes they'll be safe. David tries to make friends with the locals, despite being different. The young men who David hired to work on his house bully David because they think he's spineless. They play cruel pranks on him like killing the cat and luring him out the house to rape Amy. Eventually, David accidentally hits the town idiot, Henry Niles, while driving. Henry Niles was on the run from the locals The locals arrive at David's house and demand to see Henry Niles. David refuses and tries to tell them to leave. They smash his windows and break in so David goes in to a murderous rampage to protect himself, Amy and Henry Niles. Some people believe David is the true villain because he deliberately provoked the locals and his murderous rampage is his true self. Some believe that David killed the cat that caused the whole fiasco. I don't believe he did. Personally, I don't think David is a villain. He tried to make friends with the locals but they hated him for being different. I do feel David is to blame for not giving Amy enough attention but he needed to devote time for his work. David was shocked by the way the locals treated Henry Niles badly. David tried to empathise with the locals when they start attacking his house - "I would feel the same if it was my kid who was missing" I believe that the locals like Norman Scutt were more evil because he raped Amy up her bottom and took part in destroying David's house. Another evil man was Tom because he was constantly drunk which made him act aggressive and he wanted to kill Henry Niles. Baring this in mind, I believe that David is an anti-hero and not a villain. That is my opinion but you may have your own.

This poll was created on 2008-08-19 20:29:25 by Rubber Duck 08