Personal Evil

I managed to read 'Pahuus' (Evil) by Jan Guillou on my way back to England. I thought that instead of doing a normal book review I would rather discuss the feelings and thoughts the book raised after reading it. It is not really simple for me to do this, for the subject matter of the book hits far too close to home.

Even though I felt the translation to Finnish was rather poor, it did little to diminish the power of the book. It is finely crafted work, with a seemingly straightforward story that manages to study a very sensitive subject matter of physical bullying without preaching. Book is very convincing in its brutality and realism, as it is based on the real life of the author.

This book tells the story of Erik, a troubled fourteen-year old boy. He is enrolled into a traditional swedish boys school where the rule of the older students, or 'The Council' is backed up by the school authorities. The Council has a right to physically abuse younger boys, with no fear of reprisal -by the school rules the younger students are not even allowed to fight back or they are expulsed from the school.

Though brilliant at sports, Erik soon becomes the target of bullying due his unwillingness to take orders from the older boys. He starts to fight back using any means possible, finally resorting to ever more extreme violence as the war against the Council escalates. His only friend at the school is Pierre, fat bookworm who act as the philosophical companion to Erik.

The deeper layer of the book behind the story examines the reasons why apparently normal youngsters behave in an appalling manner towards others. How much does the culture or peer pressure influence the actions of bullies? Or do the bullies feel that their hideous actions are justified in the same way as the priests of Inquisition felt that the ends justified their means? Are bullies simply acting on a kind of instinct, which comes naturally to the human race? And what about the teachers? Is their yearning for orderly society with a strict hierarchy an excuse for bullies to lord it over the 'losers' of the schools, since the bullies are born winners in the society?

It was gratifying, though very surprising to see that the author has drawn the same conclusion as I did, all those years ago at school. Bullies are acting on their free will. Unlike their victims, they are making a choice. Therefore, they are commiting an act of evil. Any of the reasons given for their actions are wholly insufficient excuses for the misery they cause to others.

Unlike the current prevailent thinking dictates, I feel that the bullies don't need counselling, more money for their hobbies to draw their attention away from bullying, or deep understanding of their mental anguish which 'forces' them to beat up other people. Instead, they too need to feel how much fun it is to be physically hurt by your peers ganging up on you, how much sense it makes to be attacked by people you have never hurt or offended.

The strongest feeling after reading this book, the one thought on the top of my my mind is that I wish I would have read this book as a kid. I would have enrolled into a martial arts school much sooner, started lifting weights earlier, and much more importantly, fought back much sooner. Each step you back off from bullies is a step towards the grave.

Though Erik solves his problems with the bullies by using violence, I find myself, to some extent with horror, agreeing with him. Sometimes you are given no choice. Sometimes you have to fight.

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