By: Lemony Snicket
“The Baudelaire orphans looked worriedly out the window. They weren’t very happy about just being dropped off in a strange place, as if they were a pizza being delivered instead of three children all alone in the world.”
Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill
*This post contains spoilers for The Miserable Mill and A Series of Unfortunate Events
For a discussion on the first three books in the series, see the linked posts bellow:
Overview:
Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire are sent to live with their newest guardian. A mysterious man only known by Sir who owns a lumber mill that the siblings must live and work for.
But safety issues and child labor laws aren’t the only things they have to worry about. Once again, the orphans must escape the dastardly plans of Count Olaf all while surviving off coupons and sticks of gum.
My thoughts:
It is the first book in the series that suggests that the eye symbol that Count Olaf has tattooed on his ankle is something other than just a moniker for the failed actor. It opens up an entirely new plot that is carried out through the rest of the books. Without this need to find out what really happened to their parents, what they were involved in and how Count Olaf fits into all this, the plot of the books would be completely driven by Count Olaf’s motivation. The orphans now have something else to focus on besides evading Olaf wherever they go.
“The building had been made to look like an eye.
The three children looked at one another, and then at the building, and then at each other again, shaking their heads. try as they might, they just couldn’t believe it was a coincidence that the town in which they were to live had a building that looked just like the tattoo of Count Olaf.”
Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill
Going over some of the disguises that we always expect to see from these books.
I like that the owner of the mill has a cloud of smoke around him at all times. You would assume that his identity would be revealed in some spectacular way later on in the story but the author immediately tells you that there is no point in speculating as no one ever sees him. The reader just has to go on not knowing what he looks like but it is safe to assume that he is not one of Count Olaf’s troupe.
Another disguise is foreman Flacutono. Let me just say, he was really ahead of his time with the surgical mask. He would have loved 2020 as it would have been an excellent opportunity to hide in plain sight.
I was a liittle suprise at just how violent the story gets. Phil has his leg maimed by a mechanical stamp and it is described as a ghastly sight. Dr. Orwell meets her fate when she steps back into a running saw blade. There is no way when Dr. Orwell is killed that the children didn’t see her get split in half with all of her insides now on her outside.
Symbolism & References:
Paltryville and Finite Forest: Paltry meaning inferior or meager. Finite meaning limited and will end soon. Paints the picture immediately that the mill is not going to be a place of exciting opportunities and unlimited possibilities.
1984: This book made me realize that the each entry in the series takes a page (*wink *wink) from a literary classic.
Dr. Georgina Orwell is of course a play off of George Orwell, the author of 1984. A dystopian future where the government is always watching and eliminating anyone who questions the “truths” that they create. The optometrist office being shaped as an eye is a nod to the book as “Big Brother” has cameras everywhere and always has an eye on every citizen. Dr. Orwell brainwashes Klaus just as the government brainwashes there citizens into blind submission. After Klaus is hypnotized, he is obedient and does not question what he is told to do even if it is dangerous.
It will be a very long time before a young reader reading this series is ready for Orwell’s writings but those that are familiar, can draw parallels throughout the story.
“Let’s not make trouble, Violet”
Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Miserable Mill
Phil is very similar to the citizens in 1984. Snicket spins his obedience as positivity. Phil believes what he is told and does not question the reality in front of him. Even if he is told that gum is a meal and coupons are just as good as money.
Him and the other workers are stuck in this made up society by Sir. He makes the rules and no one asks any questions. It doesn’t seem like they do this our of fear but that they just accept that this is the way things work.
Overall,
I enjoyed this entry into the series, especially because I came to the realization that the books mirror other literature. I love the fact that I can dig through all the names and places to find references.
As always, it is a very enjoyable series and an easy read that can be completed in a day or two.
Rating: 4/5 stars
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