No, I don't. But the principle is exactly the same. I don't know if you've watched In a Better World, but that is even a closer analogue to my workplace experience - as Christian says, if someone publicly bullies the new guy and the new guys does nothing, then everyone will do the same. But if the new guy fights back, esp. if that retaliation inflicts a cost on the bully, then the new guy will in most cases not be bullied further. Then again, my own pet theory is that while some bullies may be genuine psychopaths (like Jimmy) or otherwise disturbed, most do it simply because they can get away with it, and are used to getting away with it.Klesk wrote:But we are talking about hitting back hard physically and that is something you don't do at your workplace, I guess.lombano wrote: In my experience, it has worked, though not necessarily literally hitting back physically. It worked in grade school and it's worked in the workplace.
The first thing Eli could do is to kick Jonny into the pool and Oscar would be save.[/quote]lombano wrote: Yes, but if it doesn't work, and Oskar doesn't go with Eli, he's toast and why exactly would Eli take that risk? Deterrence has already failed, and ripping their heads off is a pretty effective way to neutralize the threat for good.
Safe for five minutes. Eli's actions ensure a permanent solution.
Yes, but Eli doesn't know that for a fact during the pool scene.Klesk wrote:Therefore it doesn't matter whether the bullies are dead or he hit back hard because he will never see them again.
Let's take it a bit further. Take the film's ending as Oskar's dying fantasy (a plausible interpretation if we do not appeal to the book or interviews). What would the authorities do, even if the police walked in on them as Oskar died? I doubt the younger kids would get anything worse than a stern talking to. Maybe a psychologist would ask them if they were upset while Jimmy murdered Oskar. Perhaps Jimmy would also be let off, threatened with a sterner lecture if he killed anyone else. I doubt he'd get anything worse than a few months at borstal, as he's a minor and so on. Now, I've never seen the inside of a prison or borstal anywhere, much less in Sweden. But, regarding those in Sweden, I wouldn't be surprised to learn I've stayed in worse hotels, in terms of the material conditions of the cells and so on.dongregg wrote: The school deals with the issue (arson/or Ávila getting beat up) by meting out the usual severe punishment--Jimmy is banned from coming onto school grounds and the other boys get a stern talking to.
We don't know how much of this Eli knows or suspects. But I'm guessing back in Eli's day they would all just have been hanged for murder, and so I'm guessing from Eli's POV Jimmy et al. have carte blanche from their society (parents, school, police) to do whatever they please to Oskar, up to and including murder. If Oskar can't deter them, then would it be surprising if Eli concluded killing them is the only effective, durable solution? Or, maybe, that even if Oskar escaped them (by running away) they'd just do the same to someone else? Could it be that Eli sees them as, essentially, rabid dogs that must be put down (and yes, I do see the huge irony of this).