Previous
Symbols
Count Olaf is obsessed with eye imagery—the eyes represent the intense surveillance to which he submits the three Baudelaire children. From the eye painted on the front door to the eye tattooed on his ankle, Count Olaf’s house is literally covered in eyes. Though he is never in the house, Violet, Klaus, and Sunny always feel like he is watching them, paranoia that is justified by Count Olaf’s uncanny ability to always be one step ahead of them. For instance, by the time Klaus confronts Count Olaf about his plot to steal the children’s fortune, Olaf has already kidnapped Sunny––as though he had been monitoring Klaus’s every move. Similarly, when Violet uses a grappling hook to save Sunny from the tower, she finds that Olaf has already stationed one of his henchmen there to stop her. Thus, eyes in The Bad Beginning symbolize Count Olaf’s malevolent and ever-present gaze over Violet, Klaus, and Sunny.
Eyes Quotes in The Bad Beginning
The The Bad Beginning quotes below all refer to the symbol of Eyes. For each quote, you can also see the other characters and themes related to it (each theme is indicated by its own dot and icon, like this one:
).
Chapter 2
Quotes
They could see, in the space of pale skin between his tattered trouser cuff and his black shoe, that Count Olaf had an image of an eye tattooed on his ankle, matching the eye on his front door. They wondered how many other eyes were in Count Olaf’s house, and whether, for the rest of their lives, they would always feel as though Count Olaf were watching them even when he wasn’t nearby.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Chapter 4
Quotes
“Come on, friends,” Count Olaf said to his comrades. “We’ll be late for our own performance.”
“If I know you, Olaf,” said the man with the hook-hands, “you’ll figure out a way to get at that Baudelaire money.”
“We’ll see,” Count Olaf said, but his eyes were shining bright as if he already had an idea.
Related Characters:
Related Symbols:
Page Number and Citation:
Explanation and Analysis:
Get the entire The Bad Beginning LitChart as a printable PDF.
Eyes Symbol Timeline in The Bad Beginning
The timeline below shows where the symbol Eyes appears in The Bad Beginning. The colored dots and icons indicate which themes are associated with that appearance.
Chapter 2
...look next door and see a dirty, ugly house with an ominous tower and an eye painted on the front door. Sunny shrieks her dislike for Count Olaf’s house, and Justice...
(full context)
...stained suit. The man, Count Olaf, says hello to the children, who notice that his eyes are shiny, making him look both “hungry and angry.” He invites them in but asks...
(full context)
...they could continue to live Mr. Poe house and notice that count Olaf has an eye tattooed on his ankle. They wonder how many more eyes are in the house—and if...
(full context)
Chapter 3
...note asking to them to prepare dinner for Count Olaf’s acting troupe, signed with an eye. The children think back to times they failed attempts at cooking in the past and...
(full context)
Chapter 4
...to steal the Baudelaire fortune. “We’ll see,” replies Count Olaf, an evil glint in his eyes. Then he leaves. The Baudelaire children console each other and go to bed crying.
(full context)
Chapter 6
...their complaints. He expresses regret that the children are unhappy, but the look in his eyes is that of someone telling a joke. He tells them he wants them to feel...
(full context)
Chapter 8
...the room but cannot find her anywhere. Finally, Count Olaf appears in the doorway, his eyes shining brightly and smiling like he just made a joke. He asks, rhetorically, “Where can...
(full context)
Chapter 11
...prized possessions, like evil notes, flickering candles, empty wine bottles, and lots of paintings of eyes.
(full context)
