Violence In Beatrice And Virgil

The novel Beatrice and Virgil is full of many representations and symbolisms. These devices all work together to produce a story that is quite rich and profound and represents the “Holocaust as allegory.” One theme that is used throughout the novel through the use of these devices is that of violence. Violence accompanies many of the ideas that the book represents. The real nature and essence of evil is explored intently to find the source of violence and how best to overcome it. Violence is an essential part of the novel because of the novels huge symbolism of the Holocaust. While evil and violence leave scars that cannot be removed, the characters demonstrate that these remnants can be diminished in a sense. One topic that is very profound

The book mentions that once one has been acquainted with violence, “[they] acquire companions that never leave [them] entirely: Suspicion, Fear, Anxiety, Despair, Joylessness.” Violence is a force that leaves nothing but negative affects in it’s wake. Victims of violence live in constant suspicion of others and are paranoid of their surroundings. This suspicion gives way to fear, which which leaves them even more afraid of other people harming them. Fear and suspicion give way to anxiety through always being stressed. These factors lead to despair, which guides them to slowly lose their sense of purpose. Gaining all these traits gives way to joylessness, which is at the point of breaking down. These five “companions” lead their victim down the path of no return if allowed. Just as a disease slowly breaks down the body, so is the body and mind in ruin when exposed to

I believe this story is about the taxidermist, in which the taxidermist is Julian. Is seems that the taxidermist was that little boy who grew up around loving parents and church masses. Then one day everything changed, when the taxidermist became the little devil that he clearly was not before. Except I believe this story is backward in the case of the taxidermist. In the story, Julian is a man who has killed many animals (and humans), but is trying to find atonement for what he has done through helping a man with leprosy. With the taxidermist, I believe he killed many people and maybe even found “tumultuous joy” in doing it, and now he is seeking atonement through the preserving of animals and the writing of his play and story.

Both the play Beatrice and Virgil and the story The Legend of Saint Julian Hospitator are ways in which the taxidermist is trying to finally rid himself of his past. That is why the taxidermist is taking the time to vividly explain these two stories to Henry. He finally feels like he has someone who he is able to relate his story to. He is trying to show Henry that even perpetrators of violence can seek an atonement for what they have done if they are willing to move on in