Masaryk University Faculty of Arts Department of English and American Studies

3.4Eustace

When it comes to Eustace’s attitude towards his tutor, Brenda Leonides tells Charles that “Eustace is always sneering at [Laurence]” (Crooked House 99), which would suggest that he dislikes him. However, later in the novel the reader finds out Eustace’s view from his own lips.

“Do you like him, Eustace?”

“Oh! he’s all right. An awful ass of course.”

“But not a bad teacher?”

“No, as a matter of fact he’s quite interesting. He knows an awful lot. He makes you see things from a different angle. […]” (Crooked House 194).

Therefore, what may be seen as dislike is probably just teenage revolt against authorities. “Behind Eustace’s scornful and rather ill-tempered manner there was, I perceived, an inquiring and able mind.” (Crooked House 195). Another reason for Eustace to not be entirely happy with his tutor might be that he is forced to be taught at home, when he would rather be in school. He expresses it himself when he says: “It’s pretty thick to have to stop at home and do lessons with a rotten kid like Josephine.” (Crooked House 195). Concerning his attitude to Josephine, Eustace does not seem to care much about her. He says she is “[j]ust a silly kid” (Crooked House 195) and when asked if he would not miss her if she went to school in Switzerland, Eustace replies: “Miss a kid of that age? […] Of course not.” (Crooked House 196).

Eustace reveals his impression of his whole family to Charles when they are talking to each other. He is frustrated with his mother and father (“I don’t see why I should have to be burdened with such peculiar parents.”), about his uncle Roger he says that he is “so hearty it makes you shudder”, Clemency, according to him, is “a bit batty”, Edith is “not too bad but she’s old” and Sophia “can be pretty sharp sometimes”. The fact that his step-grandmother Brenda is only a few years younger than him “makes [him] feel an awful ass” (Crooked House 196). This is typical teenage perception of the world, he feels like no one understands him, like no one is really worth of his praise. Charles feels this is typical as well, when he remembers his teenage years. “I had some comprehension of his feelings. I remembered (very dimly) my own supersensitiveness at Eustace’s age. My horror of appearing in any way unusual or of my near relatives departing from the normal.” (Crooked House 196).

Eustace’s temper is seen when he learns that his grandfather left all his money to Sophia. He “[trembled] with some violent emotion” and cried in front of the whole family: “How dare grandfather do this to me? How dare he? I was his only grandson. […] It’s not fair. I hate him. […] I wanted him to die. […] I wish I was dead…” (Crooked House 243). This, again, is typical teenage perception of the world, where nothing is fair and nobody understands. However, when he says that he wanted his grandfather to die, it shows a certain lability and unstableness in Eustace’s character. He is also a person who “broods terribly”, according to Sophia. (Crooked House 244). On another occasion, Sophia says about Eustace that “[s]ometimes he seems to hate us all.” (Crooked House 180). This, again, is probably just a natural feeling of a teenager towards the outer world.

3.5Other childlike characters

Another childish character in the novel is Roger, the eldest son of Aristide Leonides. He is in charge of the family business Associated Catering and makes a complete mess out of it, to the extent that the company is going bankrupt. Roger does not want help from his father, but he is terrified of what Aristide will think of him when he finds out. Roger lives in the shadow of his father, afraid of what he might think if Roger and Clemency moved out of the house and started a new life without Aristide. Roger loves his father unconditionally, just like a young child loves its parents. “Roger, I thought, had loved his father better than he would ever love anyone else, better even than his wife, devoted though he was to her.” (Crooked House 255). According to Charles, “it’s a relief to be with Roger because he’s simple and positive, and hasn’t any reservations in the back of his mind.” (Crooked House 267). Another childish characteristics of Roger is his clumsiness: he stumbles over chairs and his movements are described as ones of “a large amiable bear” (Crooked House 238) or “a large friendly dog”. (Crooked House 132). The inability to disagree with his father makes Roger seem like a weak man who always needs someone to take care of him and make his decisions for him. After the death of his father, the person in charge of Roger is his wife Clemency.

The portrayal of children in Crooked House is a disturbing one, which makes the reader realise that there is evil in everyone. Josephine Leonides is a cleverly plotting murderess who does not hesitate to get rid of anyone who stands in her way. Her brother Eustace is portrayed as a fairly regular teenager but for his fits of rage. And other characters, such as the children’s mother, are so incapable of acting like adults that they cause harm to other people. Not only is there a bit of evil in everyone, according to this novel there is also a bit of a child in every person.