Esmé Squalor is one of the more extravagant and memorable characters in A Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket. Introduced partway through the series, Esmé is glamorous, obsessed with trends, and unapologetically self-centered. But while her fashion sense and flair for the dramatic are amusing, many readers find themselves wondering: is Esmé Squalor truly bad? Her actions, motivations, and alliances suggest that there’s more to her than just being fashionable. To answer this question, we must explore her behavior, loyalty, and the choices she makes throughout the series.
Who Is Esmé Squalor?
Esmé Squalor first appears in The Ersatz Elevator, the sixth book in the series. She lives in a luxurious penthouse apartment with her husband, Jerome, and is obsessed with whatever is considered in at the moment. Whether it’s elevatorless buildings, pinstripe suits, or imported salmon, Esmé blindly follows trends to maintain her status as the city’s sixth most important financial advisor.
Her character is a satire of materialism and social climbing, often choosing style over substance. Despite her elegant appearance, Esmé is deeply superficial, valuing status above morality. Her fixation on being fashionable blinds her to the suffering of others, including the Baudelaire orphans, whom she quickly dismisses as inconvenient.
Initial Role as a Caretaker
When the Baudelaire children are sent to live with the Squalors, it becomes immediately clear that Jerome is passive and indifferent, while Esmé is actively unkind. Though they are technically under her care, she shows little interest in their well-being and quickly conspires with Count Olaf, the series’ main villain, to help him continue his schemes.
This early betrayal is one of the key reasons readers label Esmé as a villain. She chooses to support Olaf, knowing full well that he’s a criminal who endangers children. Her reasons are shallow he promises to make her even more fashionable and keep her on trend. This demonstrates that Esmé places her social status above the safety and lives of others.
Alliances and Actions
Esmé Squalor becomes a recurring villain after her introduction, joining Count Olaf’s troupe and helping him execute increasingly outrageous plans. She disguises herself, commits acts of deception, and assists in schemes that involve kidnapping, identity theft, and arson.
Crimes and Complicity
While she may not be the mastermind behind Olaf’s plans, Esmé is undeniably complicit. She plays an active role in:
- Attempting to murder the Baudelaires by pushing them down an elevator shaft.
- Helping Olaf disguise himself and hide from authorities.
- Participating in the kidnapping of the Quagmire triplets.
- Attending the auction of illegal and stolen items disguised as In Auction.
- Sabotaging rescue attempts and spreading misinformation.
These are not the actions of someone who is simply shallow they are criminal acts. Esmé not only follows Olaf’s lead but often brings her own level of cruelty to the plans. Her willingness to push children down an elevator shaft is particularly chilling and shows a clear lack of empathy.
Is Esmé Evil or Just Selfish?
The question of whether Esmé Squalor is bad depends largely on how one defines bad. If bad means evil, calculating, and sadistic, then Esmé may not fully qualify. She lacks the deep malice and long-term vision that characterizes Count Olaf. However, if bad means harmful, selfish, and indifferent to suffering, then she certainly fits the bill.
Esmé’s actions are motivated by selfish desires: fashion, status, popularity, and control. She rarely reflects on the consequences of her behavior, and when she does, she chooses self-interest every time. Her vanity is more than just annoying it actively causes harm to those around her.
Comparison with Other Villains
In A Series of Unfortunate Events, villains are often portrayed in shades of gray. While Olaf is clearly evil, others like Mr. Poe or Jerome Squalor are enablers through negligence. Esmé exists somewhere in the middle. She is worse than the oblivious adults who fail to protect the Baudelaires but not as evil as Olaf, who actively seeks to destroy lives.
What makes Esmé unique is that she enjoys her role as a villain. She delights in being cruel, as long as it’s fashionable. This makes her stand out from passive antagonists and highlights her as a dangerous force in the lives of the orphans.
Does Esmé Ever Redeem Herself?
Throughout the series, Esmé shows little to no remorse. Unlike other characters who begin to question their roles, such as Fiona or the man with a beard but no hair, Esmé remains committed to her image and ambition. Even when faced with danger or exposure, she prioritizes appearance over morality.
There are moments where she shows intelligence and leadership, but they are always directed toward selfish goals. Esmé has opportunities to help others but never takes them. Her loyalty is to Olaf and herself, never to justice or kindness.
The Lack of Redemption
In many stories, villains are given a chance to change. Esmé is presented with these chances but chooses not to. This lack of character growth reinforces her role as an antagonist. Her final appearances show her still concerned with being in, still scheming, and still uninterested in doing what’s right.
The Satirical Role of Esmé Squalor
To understand Esmé fully, it’s important to recognize her function within the narrative. Lemony Snicket’s series is filled with satire, and Esmé represents a critique of consumer culture and trend obsession. Her exaggerated behavior serves as a warning about the dangers of caring too much about image and too little about substance.
Her villainy is not just in her crimes but in what she symbolizes: a society that values appearance over ethics, trendiness over truth, and self-promotion over compassion. In this sense, Esmé is a bad character not only in her personal actions but as a broader metaphor for real-world issues.
Why Readers Remember Esmé
Despite her flaws or perhaps because of them Esmé Squalor is a memorable character. Her dramatic outfits, comical obsession with what’s in, and over-the-top personality make her stand out. She’s entertaining in a dark, ridiculous way, and serves as a foil to the seriousness of the Baudelaire children.
She adds flair and unpredictability to the story, proving that evil doesn’t always come in black cloaks and sharp teeth. Sometimes, it wears stiletto heels and designer sunglasses.
So, is Esmé Squalor bad? Yes by any reasonable definition. She is selfish, complicit in criminal activity, and actively tries to harm children. Her obsession with trends does not excuse her actions, and her refusal to reflect or change reinforces her position as a villain in the story.
However, her badness is wrapped in satire and style, making her both detestable and entertaining. Esmé Squalor is not evil in the traditional sense, but she represents a kind of everyday villainy rooted in selfishness and vanity. And in the world of A Series of Unfortunate Events, that kind of villainy is often the most dangerous of all.