A Kind of History, or the Nature of the Mess
Like many school administrators, Ledroptha Curtain hates children. Part of this is because of how easily angered he is; children are not prone to being particularly considerate of one’s feelings. However, early on in the story, we learn the heart of the reason for his hatred toward kids. Curtain was bullied as a child.
Unlike his counterpart, we do not get a book about Curtain’s childhood. (The book I’m referencing is, of course, The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict by Trenton Lee Stewart, the author of The Mysterious Benedict Society series.) We can still glean a bit of backstory from the information we receive in book one. Curtain says to Reynie, “I was born in Holland, you see- an orphan like yourself. I spent my childhood there, too, and a terrible childhood it was. Taunted and bullied, ridiculed and abused by the other children. I don’t miss my childhood”.
It’s fairly easy to guess why Curtain would have been teased. For one thing, he was a genius and stood out from other children. A recurring theme in the series is children being bullied for their differences, specifically their intelligence and the way it makes them act. Another reason was indubitably his narcolepsy. There is a reason he covers it up so intensely and punishes people who ridicule him for it. For proof of this, look at book three, The Mysterious Benedict Society and The Prisoner’s Dilemma. After Curtain is angered into falling asleep, the scene proceeds as follows. “‘Don’t move,’ ordered McCracken in a wary tone, as if they had blundered into a den of hibernating grizzlies. ‘For that matter, don’t speak. And if you value your little legs, don’t smile or smirk or any such thing. I would prefer not to have to drag you out afterward. I’ve had to drag out more than my share of men who smiled at moments like these.'” (Note: McCracken is a guard/hired criminal who works for Curtain.) Curtain’s past made him very defensive of himself. It played into his need for control and his desire to take over the world.
Benedict, meanwhile, seems to have gone through similar experiences. I don’t have time to dive into the aforementioned book The Extraordinary Education of Nicholas Benedict, a prequel about Benedict’s childhood, but he was also bullied. He was a much more optimistic child, and he made friends and the best of his situation. This experience also affected his worldview, but in the opposite way. It made him more empathetic and sincere, listening to others and living life to the fullest.
It’s intriguing how two people can go through a very similar situation and turn out remarkably differently. Both geniuses, both narcoleptic, both wanting to change the world. Only one of them was destined to succeed.
The Mysterious Benedict Society may not be the first thing to come to mind when someone mentions doppelgängers, but it has proved to be a fascinating exploration of character doubles. I hope you found it most agreeable as well. Thank you for joining me on this perilous journey!