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A review by sueread2030
Apt Pupil by Stephen King
dark
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
If you are familiar with Stephen King, then you probably know his doctrine on "the influence of OTHER"
King believes that outer circumstances have a deep sway on how a human turns out to be. That a person is neither good nor bad, but a culmination of outside effects turn one into Good or Evil.
He has written such characters many times
But in my humble opinion, none is as chilling example as Todd Bowen
Todd Bowden, the central character of "Apt Pupil," is a scary portrayal of a young sociopath's descent into darkness.
Initially presented as an all-American boy, with his white skin and blond hair, Todd's true nature is gradually revealed as he becomes obsessed with the atrocities of the Holocaust. His encounter with Arthur Denker, a Nazi war criminal in hiding, ignites a perverse mentorship, with Todd forcing Denker to recount his horrific past.
Todd and Denker become the notion of the Arian Race.
This relationship corrupts Todd, leading him to commit heinous acts, reflecting his inner depravity. Todd's character is a study in the banality of evil, showing how a seemingly normal teenager can harbor a monstrous identity beneath a veneer of innocence.
Todd's journey is not just a personal descent but a broader commentary on the seductive nature of power and the ease with which one can be swayed by it, especially when hidden under the guise of curiosity and knowledge-seeking.
What would have happened if Todd hadn't met Denker? would he still continued on this path?
King believes that outer circumstances have a deep sway on how a human turns out to be. That a person is neither good nor bad, but a culmination of outside effects turn one into Good or Evil.
He has written such characters many times
But in my humble opinion, none is as chilling example as Todd Bowen
Todd Bowden, the central character of "Apt Pupil," is a scary portrayal of a young sociopath's descent into darkness.
Initially presented as an all-American boy, with his white skin and blond hair, Todd's true nature is gradually revealed as he becomes obsessed with the atrocities of the Holocaust. His encounter with Arthur Denker, a Nazi war criminal in hiding, ignites a perverse mentorship, with Todd forcing Denker to recount his horrific past.
Todd and Denker become the notion of the Arian Race.
This relationship corrupts Todd, leading him to commit heinous acts, reflecting his inner depravity. Todd's character is a study in the banality of evil, showing how a seemingly normal teenager can harbor a monstrous identity beneath a veneer of innocence.
Todd's journey is not just a personal descent but a broader commentary on the seductive nature of power and the ease with which one can be swayed by it, especially when hidden under the guise of curiosity and knowledge-seeking.
What would have happened if Todd hadn't met Denker? would he still continued on this path?