We Need to Talk About Kevin Literary Elements

A novel

Eva Khatchadourian, a mother of mass murderer Kevin Khatchadourian, writes a series of letters to her husband, in which she tries to understand why her son did what he did and whether she is the one who is responsible for the tragedy. The mass murder happened in 1999, in the state of New York.

The story is told from the first point of view by Eva Khatchadourian.

Tone varies from sarcastic, self-mocking, sad, angry to calm and accepting, while mood is heartbroken.

Eva Khatchadourian is the protagonist of the story, while her son, Kevin Khatchadourian, is the antagonist.

Major conflicts are person vs. self and person vs. person. For many years, Eva Khatchadourian had been struggling to prove that something was wrong with their son. Kevin proved to be a cunning opponent, who could manipulate his father into believing him. When the tragedy happened, it was too late for Eva to do something. That fatal Thursday caused the second largest conflict of the story. Eva had to interrogate herself, answer the most uncomfortable questions possible in order to understand her role in the tragedy.

Franklin’s and Celia’s deaths are the climax of the story. Before that, a reader could have an illusion that Eva and Franklin are just separated, that he is alive, safe and sound, that he tries to restore his life away from Eva and Kevin. Then, Eva mentions that Franklyn and Celia are dead and that is the moment, when everything becomes clear.

Eva’s first letter to Franklin foreshadows the events of the story, for reader learns that this woman used to have a husband, but something bad has happened and they are not together anymore. Eva also mentions the trial.

You go through counties the way most folk go through socks.
Franklyn’s point is that Eva travels too often, that in spite of the fact that it is a part of her daily routine, it shouldn’t be so.

The story alludes to Kafka, The New York Times, The Post, O. Henry, George Orwell, the Republican and the Democratic Parties, Brenda Spencer and many other well-known celebrities, mass murderers, the movie stars, the cartoons, places and historical events.

The author uses imagery for different purposes. It helps to describe Eva’s feelings, the characters’ ways of life, Kevin’s behavior, and other matters.

I am much like mother.
The paradox of Eva’s statement is that Eva’s mother doesn’t leave her house at all, she is afraid of it, what is more, it is her biggest fear. And here we have Eva, who has visited almost every country in the world. The paradox is that Eva, being so much like her own mother, is eager to do everything possible in order not to be like her.

Old habits die hard.

Although I didn’t think I had a problem, a long draught of rich red at day’s end had long been emblematic to me of adulthood. Rich red is synecdoche which stands for red wine.
He’s even had a hand in setting the national agenda. A hand is metonymy which stands for a personal helper.

Surely all this tenderness that in the end I simply aped should have come knocking at the door uninvited.
This is Eva's statement about her expectation of the unconditional love that every mother is supposed to have for her child. The thing is that Eva didn’t feel it, so she had to pretend.