The last part of this novel is intensely violent. Hemon doesn't skimp on the graphic, gory details of this violence either, and I believe this helps to create a more emotional response within the reader. At least, it did for me. The scene in which Lazarus' family is beaten nearly to death while their house is ransacked and raided filled me with disgust and anger. It is disturbing how sick these people are. They are like animals. Olga even refers to one of them as "the swine," a fitting, if not too complimentary, name.
There are similarities and differences between the raw violence in this scene, and the raw violence in the scene in which Brick and Rora assault the driver, Seryozha, in the bathroom of the train station. This similarity is in the graphic violence that is illustrated. The following is a quote from Brick after breaking his hand breaking Seryozha's jaw.
"My hand was throbbing with beastly, thrilling pain."
The word "swine" from the first scene and the word "beastly" from the second scene give rise to thoughts concerning the animalistic nature of violence. During their moments of violence, these people are, in a way, subhuman.
The difference between these two scenes is that, while reading the first scene, I was filled with anger and disgust. But while reading the second scene, I was filled with different emotions. The violence of Brick and Rora was righteous violence. Seryozha deserved what he got, both for what he had done in the past, and for what he would have done to Elena had they not acted.
I'm not trying to say that violence is sometimes the answer, but I'm not saying the opposite either. All I am saying is that, sometimes, it certainly feels right. Though often, it certainly feels very, very wrong.
No comments:
Post a Comment