From: Karen L. Simonetti <karensue>
Date: Wed, 06 Aug 1997 12:21:06 -0500

At 03:09 PM 8/5/97 00, Carrie Schadle wrote:


thought

aware

were




Unfortunately, I do not have the book in front of me, so I cannot refer to specific passages or what was told first. However, I do believe that Eric was a victim of some type of incest. This is based upon the below:


1/Current psychological development theories: There need not be actual incest (ie, sexual intercourse or other foreplay) for a child to feel that certain types of touching are inappropriate. I don't remember (that is I cannot find them in this four drawer filing cabinet of papers) but there are a number of studies concluding that what may seem and intend on the parent's behalf as innocent physical gestures of affection CAN and ARE interrupted as an invasion of the child's personal space. The child's reaction will differ. These, sometimes even preverbal, feelings are implanted and carried with the child for life. In terms of psychological development, it is not so critical as to what actually happened, but recognizing that this is the "truth" as to how the child experienced it and the child's fear/anger will not be "solved" without psychological intervention. A parallel example may be an autistic child who cringes at all physical contact: not that the child nor the parent is experiencing or engaging in incest, but any contact is just too painful, awful and intrusive for the autistic child. Hence, a common behavior of autistic children is biting when someone approaches.


2/My "gestalt" reading (and recollection here) is that certainly Eric's mother did engage in physical contact that Eric found revolting, intrusive and threatening. Why else would he kill his parents? I mean, why else were his parents his victims at such an early age (in his life).
 Also, remember his relationship with his aunt: while Eric deceives her, I don't remember there being any physical threat by Eric towards her.


If I had the book in front of me, I know I would be looking very carefully at the language Eric uses to describe his interactions with his parents and where they were placed in the narrative. If anyone has the book with them & is following my line of thought, I would appreciate supporting passages of this part of Eric's character development.

 

In no way do I mean to defend Eric (or any other incest victim who would then kill), but he felt assaulted by these interactions. He is not an emotionally healthy individual and eventually all intimate "tenderness" ended in death. Again, this pattern of repeating the behavior (incest victims getting close & committing incest themselves) is pretty well documented. Eric's rage and intolerance just took it one horrible step further.


Of course, then there is the irony in Lori's death...and I, too, really didn't feel bad for Eric at all. I actually didn't even think about it until Carrie brought it up. And now, even though it goes against the American criminal justice system (for whatever that is worth), I am
"relieved" that Eric got caught: beyond what he did in the past, his potential for murdering in the future is no longer there.


I think my dime's up! Karen






Karen L. Simonetti

email: karensue at mcs.net

phone: 312.337.7114

        

"Walk gently, breathe peacefully, laugh hysterically."

        Nelson Mandela, 1994 Inaugural Speech
Received on Wed 06 Aug 1997 12:21:06 PM CDT