What Is The Climax Of 'Killing Mr. Griffin'?

The climax of 'Killing Mr. Griffin' is a heart-pounding sequence where the students' prank spirals into irreversible tragedy. What starts as a plan to scare their strict English teacher goes horrifically wrong when Mr. Griffin dies of a heart attack during their kidnapping scheme. The tension peaks when Susan realizes the gravity of their actions, especially after discovering Mr. Griffin's medication in his car—proof they could've prevented his death. The group fractures under guilt and paranoia, with Dave becoming increasingly unhinged. The final confrontation occurs at the lake where they dumped the body, with Susan trying to stop Dave from escalating the cover-up. The raw panic and moral unraveling make this climax unforgettable, showing how one bad decision can destroy lives.

The climax of 'Killing Mr. Griffin' isn’t just about the physical death—it’s the psychological collapse of the students involved. The pivotal scene unfolds in the woods where they’ve hidden Mr. Griffin’s body. Susan, the most morally grounded character, reaches her breaking point when Dave suggests killing Mark to tie up loose ends. The freezing rain and howling wind mirror the group’s disintegration.

What makes this climax exceptional is how it subverts typical thriller tropes. There’s no heroic intervention or last-minute save. Instead, the characters confront their own complicity in real time. Susan’s frantic attempt to call the police while Dave smashes her phone is visceral. The imagery of Mr. Griffin’s glasses sinking into the lake mud symbolizes the loss of clarity and justice.

Lois Duncan masterfully escalates the tension through small details—the mud-stained homework assignments, the way Susan’s hands shake too much to dial 911. The climax lingers because it forces readers to ask: 'Would I have walked away sooner?' If you like morally complex YA, try 'The Liar’s Daughter' by Megan Cooley Peterson for another look at unintended consequences.

Duncan crafts the climax of 'Killing Mr. Griffin' as a slow-motion car crash of accountability. The real peak isn’t the moment Mr. Griffin dies—it’s when Susan finds his asthma inhaler in his abandoned car. That’s the turning point where a 'harmless' prank becomes manslaughter. The group’s dynamic explodes into chaos: Dave’s violent desperation, Mark’s pathetic pleading, and Betsy’s eerie detachment create a powder keg.

The lake scene is where everything crystallizes. Susan’s internal monologue reveals her dawning horror—she lists the clues they ignored, like Mr. Griffin’s labored breathing during the kidnapping. Dave’s decision to weigh down the body with rocks contrasts sharply with Susan vomiting from guilt. Duncan doesn’t offer easy redemption; even the 'good' characters are culpable.

For those intrigued by ethical dilemmas in YA fiction, 'Damage' by A.M. Jenkins explores similar themes of peer pressure spiraling out of control. What elevates 'Killing Mr. Griffin' is its refusal to villainize any single character—the true antagonist is their collective poor judgment.