Red Harvest

With his opening words, the Op tells the audience that the true name for Personville is “Poisonville.” At first, he believed the name to be an absurd overstatement of local corruption. However, after spending time in the city, he realizes that the nickname is very appropriate. Poisonville as a name symbolizes The Poisonous Nature of Corruption, while the widespread use of the name and the failure to correct anyone who uses it demonstrates the apathy that affects the town. The city of Poisonville embodies the nature of human corruption, allowing every institution to be corrupted by immoral desires. The moniker removes the human “person” and replaces it with “poison,” a symbolic indication of how the town poisons everyone who visits. The Op recognizes this corrupting ambiance in the city and expands upon the metaphor, fearing that he is being poisoned by the city itself. 

After Elihu hires him, the Op succeeds in eliminating many of the most poisonous and corrupt figures in the city. Whisper, Reno, Pete the Finn, and Noonan are among the many who end up killed. The symbolic irony of the Op’s work is that the antidote looks a lot like the poison itself: These men may be criminals, but the war that has brought temporary peace to the city has also caused a great deal of pain and suffering.