The Killers

by

Ernest Hemingway

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Max Character Analysis

Max is one of the hitmen who take over Henry’s diner and hold George, Nick, and Sam hostage. While Al guards Nick and Sam in the kitchen, Max stays in the front of the diner and talks to George. Max is more aggressive and talkative than his partner, Al, and Al frequently scolds him for talking “silly” or “too much.” Max is the one who tells George about the plan to kill Ole and reveals that they are only doing it “to oblige a friend,” providing a major clue about why Ole is being targeted. Max also takes on a leadership role, determining how long he and Al should wait for Ole and deciding what to do with their hostages when they finally leave.

Max Quotes in The Killers

The The Killers quotes below are all either spoken by Max or refer to Max. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Innocence and Experience Theme Icon
).
The Killers Quotes

“I’ll have a roast pork tenderloin with apple sauce and mashed potatoes,” the first man said.

“It isn’t ready yet.”

“What the hell do you put it on the card for?”

“That’s the dinner,” George explained. “You can get that at six o’clock.”

George looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter.

“It’s five o’clock.”

“The clock says it’s twenty minutes past five,” the second man said.

“It’s twenty minutes fast.”

“Oh, to hell with the clock,” the first man said. “What have you got to eat?”

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Al (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Diner Clock
Page Number: 215
Explanation and Analysis:

“You’re a pretty bright boy, aren’t you?”

“Sure,” said George.

“Well, you’re not,” said the other little man. “Is he Al?”

“He’s dumb,” said Al.

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Al
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 216
Explanation and Analysis:

“Where do you think you are?”

“We know damn well where we are,” the man called Max said. “Do we look silly?”

“You talk silly,” Al said to him.

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Al (speaker)
Page Number: 217
Explanation and Analysis:

“What are you going to kill Ole Andreson for? What did he ever do to you?”

“He never had a chance to do anything to us. He never even seen us.”

“And he’s only going to see us once,” Al said from the kitchen.

“What are you going to kill him for, then?” George asked.

“We’re killing him for a friend. Just to oblige a friend, bright boy.”

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Ole Andreson
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:

“In their tight overcoats and derby hats they looked like a vaudeville team.”

Related Characters: Max, Al
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 219
Explanation and Analysis:

“They put us out in the kitchen,” Nick went on. “They were going to shoot you when you came in to supper.”

Ole Andreson looked at the wall and did not say anything.

“George thought I better come and tell you about it.”

“There isn’t anything I can do about it,” Ole Andreson said.

Related Characters: Nick Adams (speaker), Ole Andreson (speaker), Sam, Max, Al
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 221
Explanation and Analysis:
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Max Quotes in The Killers

The The Killers quotes below are all either spoken by Max or refer to Max. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
Innocence and Experience Theme Icon
).
The Killers Quotes

“I’ll have a roast pork tenderloin with apple sauce and mashed potatoes,” the first man said.

“It isn’t ready yet.”

“What the hell do you put it on the card for?”

“That’s the dinner,” George explained. “You can get that at six o’clock.”

George looked at the clock on the wall behind the counter.

“It’s five o’clock.”

“The clock says it’s twenty minutes past five,” the second man said.

“It’s twenty minutes fast.”

“Oh, to hell with the clock,” the first man said. “What have you got to eat?”

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Al (speaker)
Related Symbols: The Diner Clock
Page Number: 215
Explanation and Analysis:

“You’re a pretty bright boy, aren’t you?”

“Sure,” said George.

“Well, you’re not,” said the other little man. “Is he Al?”

“He’s dumb,” said Al.

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Al
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 216
Explanation and Analysis:

“Where do you think you are?”

“We know damn well where we are,” the man called Max said. “Do we look silly?”

“You talk silly,” Al said to him.

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Al (speaker)
Page Number: 217
Explanation and Analysis:

“What are you going to kill Ole Andreson for? What did he ever do to you?”

“He never had a chance to do anything to us. He never even seen us.”

“And he’s only going to see us once,” Al said from the kitchen.

“What are you going to kill him for, then?” George asked.

“We’re killing him for a friend. Just to oblige a friend, bright boy.”

Related Characters: George (speaker), Max (speaker), Ole Andreson
Page Number: 218
Explanation and Analysis:

“In their tight overcoats and derby hats they looked like a vaudeville team.”

Related Characters: Max, Al
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 219
Explanation and Analysis:

“They put us out in the kitchen,” Nick went on. “They were going to shoot you when you came in to supper.”

Ole Andreson looked at the wall and did not say anything.

“George thought I better come and tell you about it.”

“There isn’t anything I can do about it,” Ole Andreson said.

Related Characters: Nick Adams (speaker), Ole Andreson (speaker), Sam, Max, Al
Related Literary Devices:
Page Number: 221
Explanation and Analysis: