Nearly all the problems the Baudelaires encounter in The Bad Beginning happen because they are children. They can't inherit their fortune until Violet is old enough; they can't choose whom they would like to live with because their parents have decided for them; they have to wear ugly clothes because that's what Mrs. Poe bought. Not one single adult in this book ever seems to really think about what's best for these kids; they're too caught up in their own lives. Here's hoping these kids can hold down the fort until Violet comes of age.
Questions About Youth
- Why is Mr. Poe such a terrible executor for the Baudelaires' will?
- Do the children truly have no options? Can you think of anything else they might do to escape their miserable situation?
- Can you think of other books or movies with incompetent adults and heroic kids? Pick a favorite, and then compare and contrast it to this book.
Chew on This
Even though Justice Strauss tries to help the children and Count Olaf tries to kill them, all the adults in this story are pretty darn negligent and incompetent when it comes to navigating the Baudelaires.
This book makes one argument loud and clear: Thanks to adults, it ain't easy being a kid.