We're sorry to tell you, but the theme in The Bad Beginning that you're about to read about is a total bummer. It will make you think of all sorts of miserable things that you would be much happier just forgetting about, like the deaths of two beloved parents, finding out a greedy villain is your new father, and being forced to wear ugly clothing. Ugh. You'll definitely go through a box of tissues by the time you're done with this section. Then again, maybe you won't—after all, this book is written with a healthy dose of humor despite its grim topics.
Questions About Sadness
- Why do you think the author warns us not to read this book? Is it a clever ploy? Or is there something more here? Support your answer with evidence from the book.
- Why do so many upsetting things happen to the Baudelaires? Would the plot hold up just fine minus a tragedy or two? If yes, what do you think can be cut? If no, why not?
- What do you think is the saddest part of the whole book? How about the funniest?
Chew on This
The Bad Beginning isn't actually a sad book because, while it is dark, it's also comic.
Readers like to feel sad while reading stories because it offers them an outlet for those feelings of misery.