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Post by R. on May 26, 2022 13:44:24 GMT -5
I was recently having a debate with Resemblance about whether S. Theodora Markson or Lemony Snicket was ruder to the other. We decided to settle it democratically.
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rtech
Bewildered Beginner
What is Snicket's favorite game?
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Post by rtech on Jun 17, 2022 10:35:39 GMT -5
I read an interesting theory saying that the only reason Markson is so rude to Snicket, is because she knows he is lying to her from the very beginning. She knew about his plans with Kit and the museum, and when he doesn't discuss it with her at all, she grows disdainful of Snicket, uncomfortable with the fact that he's already being rebellious and secretive.
Snicket is precocious, sarcastic, and a smart-alek. But he cares a lot, and has very concerted feelings about things. He works very hard and he gets frustrated by the incompetence of others. His quips at her expense throughout the series are often coming from a feeling of exasperation, very rarely from a place of cruelty or vindictiveness.
In contrast, Theodora seems to wield her authority as his chaperone with a bit of dictating glee, commanding him to "make himself scarce" when she wants a night in without him, blaming him for everything that goes not according to her plan, and bashing his questions, no matter if they're right or wrong.
It's hard to sympathize with Markson, especially early on. Later in the series, after she is presumably struck by Sharon Haines and her pleading with Qwerty in his cell, she becomes a bit more pitiful, more emotional range is exhibited from her, and I began to feel bad for her. I no longer saw a bumbling, stubborn, mess of hair and wrong answers, but a woman who is trying really hard, wants to be a good chaperone to Lemony, but is still failing due to a lack of truthful courage and very little innate ability.
She means well.
I think overall Markson is another entry on a long list of useless adults in the Snicket-verse that don't listen to children and confidently believe in the wrong answers to the wrong questions despite what any minor tells them.
But Snicket is a bit of a short-horned grunkled belly-poker, a phrase which here means "adolescent", which is a word which here means "difficult".
In short, Markson is rude because she thinks it will somehow make Snicket a better apprentice, because she hates being second guessed, and probably because she was most likely treated the same way by her chaperone. Snicket is being rude because he is annoyed and frustrated with Markson.
But Stubborn Theodora Markson is ruder.
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