Black Mass: Whitey Bulger, the FBI, and a Devil's Deal Theme of Violence

Whitey Bulger loves portraying himself as a good-natured anti-hero, but the dude is actually a mass murderer. He doesn't just kill as a means to an end, either; he seems to get a rush from inflicting violence. Yikes. Someone needs therapy.

To make things worse, Bulger's brutality throughout Black Mass is basically sanctioned by the FBI, who've long had Bulger on their payroll as an informant and have protected him from prosecution—even when accused of murder. As you can imagine, this one is not going to be pretty.

Questions About Violence

  1. Is Connolly responsible for Brian Halloran's death? Explain.
  2. Does Whitey love violence? Defend your position with specific examples.
  3. How does Whitey justify his use of violence with himself?
  4. In what ways does Whitey's upbringing contribute to his use of violence?