By: Lemony Snicket
“The table of elements does not contain one of the most powerful elements that make up our world, and that is the element of surprise.”
Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Ersatz Elevator
*This post contains spoilers for The Ersatz Elevator and A Series of Unfortunate Events
For a discussion on the first five books in the series, see the linked posts bellow:
Overview:
The Ersatz Elevator continues the gripping tale of the Baudelaire orphans’ unfortunate existence. In this installment of A Series of Unfortunate Events, the orphans face yet another treacherous turn of events as they navigate through a world filled with deception and despair.
In this installment, the Baudelaires are placed under the care of the wealthy Squalors Esmé and Jerome, who reside in a penthouse apartment of 667 Dark Avenue.
However, perception can be deceiving and things are never as they seem. The Baudelaires once again come face to face with their previous and devious guardian Count Olaf.
As the Baudelaires uncover more about the treacherous plans of Count Olaf, they find themselves entangled in a dangerous and complicated web of deception.
Themes of False Appearances
Throughout The Ersatz Elevator, false appearances create suspense, confusion, and contribute to the overall mystery of the plot. They remind the readers that things are not always what they seem and highlight the importance of looking beyond surface appearances.
Their new guardians have the last name of Squalor which one would think, would indicate that they live a very modest lifestyle. However, they live in the best apartment and have access to everything that they could possibly ever want.
Esmé Squalor, appears to be stylish, fashionable, and caring. However, it becomes apparent that her appearance is deceptive. She is actually a villainous and selfish person who is only interested in furthering her own successes.
The address of the Squalor high rise is 667 Dark Avenue. This is a reference to the number 666 which is seen as evil and a bad omen. It would be too obvious to have the address be spot on so it being one off is a cheeky nod to the danger being so close.
A reoccurring false appearance is Count Olaf’s Disguises. Count Olaf, the main antagonist, frequently disguises himself to deceive others. He adopts various false appearances, such as posing as a foreign auctioneer, a sailor, or a nurse. These disguises allow him to manipulate and trick the characters, perpetuating the theme of false appearances.
One of the funnier examples of false appearances is Cafe Salmonella. I would simply decline that dinner invitation if someone suggested this restaurant. Salmonella is of course a food borne illness that is quite unpleasant to have. It is not very appetizing to think of illness while you are eating. However, the cafe appears to be very successful and while the food is very one note given that everything is salmon, it is completely safe to consume.
References to The Giver
Every book in the series borrows its main theme from another popular book. The Ersatz Elevator is no exception.
The overall theme of societal conformity can be compared to The Giver. No one in the Squalor’s social circle does anything for joy or excitement. When you look upon the residence of 667 Dark Avenue you would think it was idyllic but really everyone is conforming. They are all suffering from “sameness” just like the citizens in The Giver. No one has a real sense of identity and everyone fears not being “in”.
For example, to speak on Cafe Salmonella once again. Because it is “in” the people of Dark Avenue overlook this stomach churning name and consider it one of the best restaurants in the neighborhood. If anyone was thinking for themselves and not concerned about conforming, they would not patronize such an establishment.
The residents are also willing to live in complete darkness and climb dozens of flights of stairs everyday just because they are told that it is the thing to do.
No one in either story has feelings towards their daily lives as well. The members of the community just accept the daily changes and don’t decorate their apartments or dress the way they want because they have someone making those decisions for them. In The Giver, the citizens do the same and follow the pattern of daily life that has been selected for them.
Both stories highlight the negative aspects of conformity, emphasizing the importance of individuality, freedom of choice, and the need for genuine human experiences.
Overall, The Giver and The Ersatz Elevator share a thematic connection as they explore the consequences and challenges of living in a conformist society. They remind us of the significance of embracing our uniqueness and the value of genuine connections with others.
Red Herring
A red herring is a literary and rhetorical device that is often used in storytelling and argumentation. It refers to a piece of information or a clue that is intentionally misleading or distracting, steering the reader or listener away from the main point or issue.
In literature, a red herring is used to create suspense and mislead readers by presenting them with a false lead or a seemingly important detail that later turns out to be irrelevant. This technique keeps the readers guessing and adds complexity to the plot.
In The Ersatz Elevator, the red herring is the box labeled V.F.D. which is actually distracting them from a literal red herring statue that holds the Quagmires.
“This box of doilies was a red herring!”
“But the red herring was Lot #48,” someone in the crowd said.”
Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator
Big Discovery
When the children are trying to find the exit to the tunnel at the bottom of the elevator shaft, they come across a trap door that rains ashes on them. As soon as I heard the word ashes my heart sank. I knew immediately that they were bellow their old house where their parents died in a house fire. How sad is that? To accidentally stumble upon your old life completely destroyed. Not to mention that is where their parents died. That is such and awful surprise to come to.
Also, this alludes to the fact that the Baudelaire’s parents were using this tunnel. The siblings now have to deal with the realization that they may not have known their parents very well and they never will.
Random Realization
The Baudelaires are in crazy good shape. In The Austere Academy they run laps all night long and in this book they constantly climb a 66 floor building and manage to climb down a fake elevator shaft for three hours. Not to mention that Sunny is a literal infant who is able to scale half of the elevator shaft by her teeth.
These little tidbits of fantasy add some whimsy to an otherwise unfortunate story.
Overall,
The book’s visuals were wonderful. From the vivid descriptions of the city and the intricate details of the apartment complex, I couldn’t help but immerse myself in the world the author created. The illustrations throughout the book quickly became my favorites in the entire series.
Admittedly, it took me a while to establish the connection between this book and The Giver. However, once I made that connection, everything fell into place, and I found great pleasure in discovering the intricate ties that bound the two stories together.
Speaking of connections, one aspect of the book left me slightly unsatisfied – the storyline involving the Quagmire Triplets. It felt as if their significance to the story should have been either more pronounced or not included at all. The limited exploration of their narrative didn’t quite match the deep emotional bond shared between the characters.
Rating: 3/5 stars
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