Suicide?

[Countess Mecilia]

I had a really odd thought/theory today...
What if the Baudalaire parents commited suicide? When you think about it, it makes sense. In TBB:RE, it says that the parents hurried their children out... and wouldn't you if you were burning down the house with you in it? Also, young parents that are perfectly healthy don't usually write you specific wills early in their lives. It makes all the more sense that they would have killed themselves.

Also, Mr.Poe [who may have been in on it], said they perished in a terrible fire. He explained to them that perished means killed, which we all know it does NOT. It means died. I used to think it was because of murder, instead of a slip of the tounge, but now I think it may have been that Mr.Poe was informed, or possibley guessed about the suicide.

Why they did it, however, is beyond me. My only guess is that maybe they knew Olaf or Esme or SOMEONE was coming, and they would have rather have killed themselves than watch their backs for the rest of their short lives. If their mother is, in fact, Beatrice, it makes even more sense. She already knew from Lemony that Olaf was after her, or she had an idea, anyway. That would make it clearer if you believe in my theory.

This theory may be somewhat of a longshot, but I believe that it may be true. So, what do you think?

[SnicketFires]

It actually is a plausible theory. It certainly explains the hurrying out of the house.

The Baudelaire parents might have had wills made out because being in VFD is a dangerous occupation, and it might be a requirement to have a will made out, since so many VFDers seem to die young.

[Antenora]

It seems unlikely at first, but in fact it is a possibility. Hopefully, there will be a clue in the next book that will give us more insight into the death of the parents.

VFDers would certainly write out their wills early; they are likely to die. Also, members of such a dangerous organization would be quite pessimistic, with good reason.

[kjlsnicket29]

That is an interesting theory, it could be possible if you think about it. Them having to get out of the house, and things. We can think about it...

[Packerfan]

Maybe Olaf or someone killed the parents while the Baudelaires were gone so they wouldn't be caught and burned the mansion and evidence down. They might have thought the Baudelaires were home and tried to burn them. The green wood might be more flamable.

[ineedyourhelp]

that could have very well been what happened. or maybe the parent that survived pretened to get killed so when the person who burnt the house came, saw he/she was dead so he set the house on fire and left. He/she got up and went to the VFD headquarters.

[Monkeysclient]

Yes that is very interesting, it could be that. NOO! you have got my mind running in circles now! aah!

[champ103]

G: I like the thoery-
C:-I hate it.
G: Well, you suck, so go figure. Anyway-
C: *blows raspberry*
G: *ignoring Coconut* However, I think the reason the children were hurried out of the house was becuase a VFD meeting was to be held at the Baudelaire house...I read something like that somewhere.
C: *rolls eyes*
G: Anyway, an idea just sprung to mind that perhaps the disucssion at the meeting was something important. So before they had a chance to discuss the important thing, Olaf/Esme snuck in through the secret passageway, and set the house on fire.
C: Thats a dumb theory...where's your evicdence...
G: I already said-I read it somewhere. The authors notes in TBB:RE are helpful with it.

[trish]

That actually would make sense, except for the fact that I doubt Handler would include suicide in a childrens book.


*apparently conveniently forgets about the feigned Aunt Josephine note*

Okay, so they mentioned it then. But it wasn't real! And...Stuff!

Agh, I'm not making much sense. But it is a good theory. I like it.

[Amphagorey]

Good theory. I'm a sap for the happy, and have a perfect little cloud of happiness in my mind which tells me that yes, they are alive. My mother is only 40, and she's written her will.

[Green]

My parents told me they wrote a will when they were about 30. They were going on vacation and leaving me with relatives. I was about 3.

[Antenora]

It seems that some people like to write out their wills early and prepare for the worst. Therefore, it's entirely concievable that the Baudelaires did so, especially in the dangerous world of Snicketania. Perhaps they wrote it out early because they heard news of Olaf being on the loose.

[jldmeyer]

When I reread TBB I thought it was rather odd that the parents got them out but perished themselves. After reading the TEE, I immediately believed that this was the tunnel to which Olaf and his troue entered and started the fire, but thinking about it more carefully, this tunnel could have led the Baudelaire parents out of the house. Afterall, if their parents did in fact die, why wasn't there a funeral? The tunnel may have led them to safety in secret.

[Antenora]

In my opinion, the survivor escaped into the passageway(which some say opened in the library), and somehow made it to the fountain, without anyone else finding out. However, the "experts" who suspect there's a survivor must have found out at some point. Maybe there's a network of passageways owned by VFD and leading to safe places, hiding places, and big piles of ashes.