Final answer:
Characters in the provided texts generally express regret and self-reproach after acts of violence or killing, demonstrating the heavy moral and emotional toll such actions carry.
Step-by-step explanation:
The views on violence and killing across the provided excerpts vary, but a general distaste and remorse are apparent in characters who have killed or are contemplating killing.
For instance, the feeling of self-reproach in Venters for virtually murdering a girl showcases the inner turmoil someone experiences after a violent act (“A thousand excuses he invented for himself, yet not one made any difference in his act or his self-reproach”).
This highlights how characters in these narratives struggle with the moral implications of their actions. Similarly, the character who killed out of a jealous rage ("I did, Bess, and I hate myself for it") immediately reflects with hatred towards themselves, emphasizing the heavy emotional toll that taking a life exacts. The common thread is that violence, especially when life is lost, is not glorified but rather shown as a source of lasting anguish and regret.