wasp factory 9

Wasp Factory

Eric and violence

Eric, Frank's older half brother's behaviour is seriously disturbed and violent involving torturing dogs and sheep by burning them alive. As narrator Frank is responsible for all we know about Eric. At the beginning of the book we learn that Eric has absconded from the psychiatric institution. Eric makes a number of phone calls to the house, which Frank intercepts. Eric acts aggressively and 'crazy' on the phone, taking exception to everything Frank says.

Asked how he is, he says that he is 'mad'. Asked where he is, he says 'here'.

He is roaming through the countryside travelling towards home killing dogs and shoplifting as he goes.

Frank considers that there are four causative factors for Eric's state; being allowed to dress in dresses as an infant; the dog Saul supposedly castrating Frank; being jilted by a girl friend and seeing a live disabled child with maggots in his skull.

Frank seems to be calculating and cold blooded in his acts of violence. Eric on the contrary is impulsive and uncontrolled. Frank's acts are ritualized but Eric's are reckless. Eric appears to be psychopathic.