The Bad Beginning - Rocks
Throughout the Series of Unfortunate Events series, it’s pretty often implied that all bad people are stupid and dislike books (Olaf for example, not knowing how to use a atlas directory, the hook handed man referring to Justice Strauss’s library as “this musty old room” p. 89). Because it’s a essentially written as a kids series and it’s easy to tell kids that all bad people smell bad and hate books.
However there’s also mention of Count Olaf having formerly been a good part of VFD.
AT the very beginning of The Bad Beginning the Baudelaires are on the beach, and Violet is skipping rocks, as Mr Poe comes down the beach towards the siblings, she briefly considers throwing the rock in her hand at him because of the mist making him look intimidating, and the fact that the siblings are alone on a beach.
Not too long after, Count Olaf provides the children a box of rocks to play with in their new room. This is obviously portrayed as something a bad person would give to children to play with (which is true, don’t give your kids rocks to play with), but the parallel between Violet and Olaf is interesting.
Implying that the despite many comments that all bad people are ill-read, it’s our choices that make the difference and even someone like Violet can slip up, it isn't difficult.
