The grappling hook symbolizes Violet’s inventiveness and her loyalty to her siblings. When Count Olaf locks Sunny away in a birdcage at the top of his tower, Violet builds a grappling hook to save her sister. With her limited time frame and supplies, she builds it out of materials found around the house, like old clothes and a curtain rod. This showcases not only Violet’s inventiveness, but her commitment to family, and the responsibility she feels for her siblings as the eldest Baudelaire child. Even though the climb up the tower is dangerous, Violet persists, putting her life on the line for Sunny and Klaus.
Grappling Hook Quotes in The Bad Beginning
As she worked, she remembered something her parents had said to her when Klaus was born, and again when they brought Sunny home from the hospital. “You are the eldest Baudelaire child,” they had said, kindly but firmly. “And as the eldest, it will always be your responsibility to look after your younger siblings. Promise us that you will always watch out for them and make sure they don’t get into trouble.” Violet remembered her promise, and thought of Klaus whose bruised face still looked sore, and Sunny, dangling from the top of the flower like a flag, and began working even faster. Even though Count Olaf was of course the cause of all this misery, Violet as though she had broken her promise to her parents, and vowed to make it right.