Mastermind Traits Stick

After discussing the shocking ending when we find out George acts as a force behind the downfall of the other characters, we all realized George’s role as the mastermind in this story. I completely agree with this idea and agree that he does not depict a villain (evil characters with more brawn and rage than actual brains), but really more of the character that causes the entire unravelling of the plot without ever becoming directly involved in Clive and Vernon’s demise. His intelligence helps him pull the strings of the other character's live and act as a puppet master in the novel.

After realizing his role, I started thinking about all the masterminds in books and movies and realized that almost all of them have some hilariously ridiculous physical trait that should hint their evil to the audience from the very beginning. George’s weird dress clothes-robe combination probably should have been a dead giveaway of his feigned ignorance and actual brilliance when using Vernon to get the pictures printed in the newspaper. Unfortunately, I fell into the trap and ignored this mastermind clue. Here are some other mastermind characters that all have a characteristic that should really give away their evil intentions:

1.Scar(Lion King)-crazy scar and abnormal black mane…we should see past his act of kindness towards Simba from the start and notice his evil mastermind traits. 

2.Cruella De Ville(101 Dalmatians)-crazy hair that looks like a skunk…a perfect example of an odd giveaway characteristic.

3.Wicked Witch of the West(Wizard of Oz)-she is green…if that doesn’t say secret evil mastermind, then I do not know what does.

4.Voldemort(Harry Potter)-no nose and pretty funky looking…obvious mastermind qualities.

5.Stewie(Family Guy)-Has a head that looks like a football and is a talking infant…clearly mastermind traits.

6.The Joker(Batman)-someone who dresses like a joker and wears facepaint.... mastermind tendency giveaway.

7.Darth Vader(Star Wars)-wears that huge suit and talks through a voice changer…mastermind material.

8.Jigsaw(Saw)-wears a scary clown type mask…mastermind written all over him.

9.

 Captain Hook(Peter Pan)-has a hand missing that is somehow replaced with a metal hook…for sure an evil mastermind appendage.

The list could go on and on, but basically I am upset that I missed the “mastermind clue” that McEwan gave us as he dressed this character strangely and hinted at his eventual importance in the downfall of the other characters through his master plan. Oh well…maybe we will catch on next time.