By: Lemony Snicket
“As I am sure you know, when people say ‘It’s my pleasure,’ they usually mean something along the lines of, ‘There’s nothing on Earth I would rather do less.’”
Lemony Snicket, The Penultimate Peril
*This post contains spoilers for The Penultimate Peril and A Series of Unfortunate Events
For a discussion on the first eleven books in the series, see the linked posts bellow:
Overview:
The Penultimate Peril is the twelfth novel in Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events series. The Baudelaire orphans, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny, find themselves at the enigmatic Hotel Denouement. Throughout their stay, they encounter familiar faces, including friends and foes, as they try to uncover the truth behind a dubious plot. As they navigate through the labyrinthine hotel and its perplexing occupants, they unravel the secrets that have plagued them since the beginning of their unfortunate adventure. The novel is filled with suspense, unexpected alliances, and shocking revelations, leading to a captivating and dramatic climax.
Hotel Denouement
Denouement is a term used in literature to refer to the final outcome or resolution of a complex sequence of events in a story or play. It typically occurs after the climax and serves to tie up any remaining loose ends, provide explanations, and bring closure to the narrative. The denouement is where the ultimate fate of the characters and the overall meaning of the plot become clear to the audience or reader. It is an essential element in storytelling, as it gives a sense of fulfillment and understanding, allowing the audience to grasp the full significance of the narrative.
The Importance of Being Earnest
Dewey, Ernest and Frank
The Denouement triples are named Dewey, Ernest and Frank. Each has there own meaning but the brother named Ernest is a nod the Oscar Wilde’s play The Importance of Being Earnest. In the play Ernest is a seemingly made up character who two gentlemen use and pretend to be for various reasons. They constantly trick those around them into thinking they are someone they are not.
In The Penultimate Peril, the Baudelaire siblings have a hard time distinguishing which brother is which. Because they are identical the siblings cannot fully trust any of them. It is very easy for the triplets to impersonate each other and commit unsavory acts.
Customer Service
If there is one subject that I am unfortunately extremely knowledgeable in, it is customer service.
This book is a satirical look at how ridiculous it can be to work in this field. Anything you could think of (or could never ever think of) will be asked of you at some point.
I once had a man ask me to call the police because he didn’t remember where he parked his car in a parking lot that could maybe fit 75 cars total. I asked him if he was concerned that his car was stolen and he said, no, he just didn’t want to look for it.
The orphans face just as unusual requests. If you remember that these books are filled with some pretty terrible characters that have no problem inconveniencing someone to get what they want. One that mirrors my experience, is when Sir asks to be escorted back from the sauna even though he knows how to get back to his room. He wants Klaus to stand outside and hold his cigar because he “can’t walk into a room full of steam with a head full of smoke!”
Overall,
This book is the one that I know the least about in terms of the subject matter that inspired it. I haven’t read or seen The Importance of Being Earnest so I can’t tie in as many little details as I can with other subject matter.
Also, the story is less about moving the story forward and more of a recap or greatest hits. Almost every character that the siblings have come in contact with are staying at the hotel all at once. It is a way to remind the reader of all that has happened before diving into the final act.
Rating: 3/5 stars
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