Suburban Gothic
Many readers might think of New England as the setting for "A Series of Unfortunate Events", as the Baudelaire orphans live on houses that have Gothic features. Furthermore, some of the characters have allusions to authors and/or fictional characters with macabre connections. For instance, Mr. Poe, who handles the children's affairs, can be a reference to Edgar Allan Poe. They are right, as the Baudelaires once lived in a mansion in Boston.
The sad tale of Violet, Klaus, and Sunny can be classified as Children's literature, but Absurdist fiction may be more like it. The improbable storyline is told in solemn manner, and the narrator, who goes by the name of Lemony Snicket, breaks the ice when he describes a word or phrase. Readers can learn from it. Take the case of this one:
"If you follow suit, it means you do the same thing somebody else has just done. If all of your friends decided to jump off a bridge into the icy waters of an ocean or river, for instance, and you jumped in right after them, you would be following suit."
Snicket's tone is despondent, even cynical, which perfectly describes the plight of Violet and her siblings. There should be a light at the end of the tunnel, as the children will inherit an enormous fortune when Violet turns 18. (This is what their parents left them.) But Count Olaf wants to get it first. He has a cohort to help him. Those who have seen the big-screen version, "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events", might think of a dull, predictable series. They have a point, as the first chapter of each book chronicles the children's meeting with their new guardian. If they only know.
It's a small, if not less sneaky, world
"The Miserable Mill", the fourth book in the series, finds Violet, Klaus, and Sunny in Lucky Smells Lumbermill, in remote Paltryville. Sir, their new guardian, oversees the mill. He tells them that hard work will keep them away from Olaf, unaware that the new foreman is Olaf's associate. In "The Austere Academy", the fifth book, the children are relieved to learn that they will be in the company of other children. Alas, Prufrock Preparatory School is governed by Vice Principal Nero. (Anyone familiar with Roman history would sense the infamy.) The Baudelaire children befriend the Quagmire triplets. An arson fire killed their parents. They become allies. They also uncover a piece of information on Olaf, which might change the Boudelaires' fortune for the better.
Daniel Handler, the author of the series, describes the deplorable conditions with wry humor. It's not a sorry state at all, as the children are still lucky to be alive. But readers can't help but notice the ghastly surroundings. This turns Gothic fiction into a distinctive genre. It's also an entertaining side of Children's literature.
After readers are through with the final chapter, they'll find a letter to the editor. Snicket provides details on his location. It would hint a bigger picture. There's more to the fortune, and it's quite a pity that the producers of "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" overlook it.
