Review: The Bad Seed
Is it nature or is it nurture?
The author of this cult classic (book, then play, then 1955 movie) definitely believes it's nature all the way. Rhoda Penmark is the perfect child, lovely to look at, smart, quick, mature beyond her 8 years, dedicated to her studies — who couldn't love her? So why was she asked to leave her school? Why do the other children avoid her?
Although the "demon child" has been done and redone, this early portrayal of a sociopath and a psychotic killer is well done, suspenseful and has a few twists that still work. Some of the characters, in particular Mrs. Monica Breedlove, are a little over the top, but still serve to illustrate how a psychopath can be well regarded by "normal" people and blend in exceedingly well.
I think it would be interesting to read this quick novel and then have a look at The Corporation, a book and documentary written by Joel Bakan, a Professor of Law at the University of British Columbia. The documentary examines the modern-day corporation, considers its legal status as a person before the law and evaluates its behaviour towards society, and the world at large, as a psychiatrist might evaluate a patient. The conclusion seems to be that the Corporation often has all the characteristics of a psychopath.
Rhoda Penmark could be a CEO par excellence.
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