By: Lemony Snicket
“Inside these letters, the eye will see
Lemony Snicket, A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Vile Village
Nearby are your friends, and VFD.”
*This post contains spoilers for The Vile Village and A Series of Unfortunate Events
For a discussion on the first six books in the series, see the linked posts bellow:
The Ersatz Elevator
Overview:
The story begins with the orphans being signed up for a program where orphans are raised by entire communities as opposed to one guardian as they have had in the past. The children are able to pick their community and quickly see one labeled the mysterious abbreviation the keep stumbling upon V.F.D.
As is the tragic pattern of their lives, the Baudelaires arrive in V.F.D. to live within the new Village, where they hope the citizens will provide them with safety and care. However, they soon discover that the village is a peculiar and inhospitable place.
In V.F.D., crows are revered by the villagers, and the orphans are appointed to complete all chores… for the entire community. They do get a small reprieve in the town handyman Hector who shelters them and gives them creative outlets for each of their interests.
However, their worst fears are once again realized when the town Elders announce that Count Olaf has been captured entering town. There’s just one problem, it’s not Count Olaf. Who is this strange man who shares the same tattoo as their nemesis? More importantly where is the real villain?
Themes Related to The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
The Baudelaire’s Entrance
How they enter the village is similar to Dorothy being swept into Oz by a tornado. As they walk down the road dust sweeps around them. The village appears and looks almost unreal to them like a movie set backdrop.
Both Have Catalystic Deaths
The scene where Jacques is found dead parallel the Munchkins finding the Wicked Witch of the East. Everyone in the village is gathered around wondering what happened. In the end both Dorothy and the Baudelaires are believed to be the perpetrators. While Dorothy is praised for killing this villain, the siblings are imprisoned. It’s almost like a warped version of it with Officer Luciana acting as a backwards version of The Good Witch of the North.
A Cowardly Companion
Hector is Cowardly Lion-esque. He can’t stand up for himself to any of the towns people. His fear is so strong that he can’t even speak to anyone in the town but the siblings. Just like the Cowardly Lion, Hector eventually finds his voice and rebels against the rules he knows to be ridiculous.
Hector saves the Quagmire triplets and would have saved the Baudelaires if it were not for that darn harpoon gun.
The Theme of Finding Home
In both The Vile Village and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, the theme of finding a true home is central to the story. Dorothy’s ultimate desire is to return to her beloved Kansas, while the Baudelaire orphans long for a safe and welcoming haven amidst their unfortunate events. This shared theme emphasizes the importance of family, belonging, and the longing for a place to call home. Snicket uses this reference to evoke a sense of longing and to explore the orphans’ search for stability and security in their tumultuous lives.
The Almost Escape
The self-sustaining hot air mobile home is reminiscent of the hot air balloon that the Wizard uses to leave Oz. The Wizard has the balloon stashed and offers a ride to Dorothy back to Kansas. Much like Dorothy, the orphans are left behind while Hector, Isadora and Duncan are able to make an escape.
Edgar Allen Poe
The Raven
Throughout the book there are small nods made to Edgar Allen Poe and his works. The most obvious reference is the ravens that the villagers have made their town around. If you had to conjure up one image that speaks to Poe’s works, it would be a raven.
…I mean, Baltimore, where he was found mysteriously dead, named their NFL football team after his association with ravens.
Nevermore
The village ravens nestle down for the night in a large tree by Hector’s house. This tree is called nevermore tree, a reference to the raven saying “Nevermore” in Edgar Allen Poe’s The Raven.
Mr. Poe… Our Unsung Narrator?
Mr. Poe has played a large role in the Baudelaires’ lives and is a prominent character at the beginning and the end of all previous books. He does not give off the same energy that we would expect from Edgar Allen Poe but it is not a mistake that he is named this literary reference.
Something that is a bit of a stretch with Mr. Poe is that the villagers believe his description of Count Olaf so much that they are willing to execute someone who fits the description.
“The usual punishment for breaking a rule is burning at the stake.”
Lemony Snicket, The Vile Village
They believe their narrator, or author if you will, because he creates their reality. Again, it is a stretch to connect this but I could not ignore that the villagers were so quick to take his word.
A Turning Point
The Vile Village is a crucial turning point in the series
In this book, the orphans become even more proactive and resourceful, as they try to unravel the mysteries surrounding the secret of V.F.D., the clandestine organization that has ties to their parents’ past.
Ultimately, The Vile Village propels the series forward, marking a turning point where the Baudelaires become more involved in the overarching mystery. It sets the stage for further challenges, as the orphans inch closer to uncovering the truth while continuing to evade the clutches of Count Olaf, the ever-present antagonist.
The book lays the foundation for the twists and turns that lie ahead.
Memorable Quotes
The very first page of this book encapsulates my anxieties and my overthinking brain so well.
“When you are traveling by bus, it is always difficult to decide whether you should sit in a seat by the window, a seat on the aisle, or a seat in the middle. If you take an aisle seat, you have the advantage of being able to stretch your legs whenever you like, but you have the disadvantage of people walking by you and they can accidentally step on your toes or spill something on your clothing. If you take a window seat, you have the advantage of getting a clear view of the scenery, but you have the disadvantage of watching insects die as they hit the glass. If you take a middle seat, you have neither of these advantages, and you have the added disadvantage of people leaning all over you when they fall asleep. You can see at once why you should always arrange to hire a limousine or rent a mule rather than take the bus to your destination.”
Lemony Snicket, The Vile Village
I am a chronic over-thinker and I would be the one that analyzed which seat I sat in and how it could affect my journey. You should see me picking out an airplane seat. Has to be an aisle, in the front half of the plane and preferably on the left hand side.
My ideal seat is 12C in case you were wondering.
This one I’m just going to leave right here.
“Rule #4,561 clearly states that citizens are not allowed to use their mouths for recreation.”
Lemony Snicket, The Vile Village
One of the best quotes in the whole series and I cannot believe it made it into a children’s book.
The Council of Elders really wants to control the citizens with this one.
Overall,
The bleak and unsettling journey through The Vile Village by Lemony Snicket comes to a haunting conclusion. As the dark clouds lingered above the village, the Baudelaire orphans found themselves entangled in a web of mysteries and misfortunes.
As the curtains close on this dark chapter of their lives, the Baudelaire orphans embark on the next leg of their unsettling journey, resolved to confront the looming darkness that shadows their every step.
The Gothic imagery with the ravens and the town in the middle of nowhere is a great setting for the series.
I like the second half of these books much more than the first and it is a great start to the more mystery driven side of the series. From here in out the siblings are not getting placed with guardians and are on the run as fugitives. They must now not only evade Count Olaf but try to figure out what really happened to their parents and what the heck is V.F.D.?
Rating: 4/5 stars
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