I am currently reading the second installment of A Series of Unfortunate Events: The Reptile Room and I do not completely agree with people saying that Montgomery Montgomery is a good guardian.
Of course, he is one of the best options, especially for the Baudelaires. He has a massive library and is accomodating to their needs and wants. In the Netflix series, which was the only material I used to have, he is perfect. We don't get a lot of negative information about him.
But in the book, a few things stood out to me.
He tells the Klaus not to interrupt and how rude of him it is. I do think that interrupting people is bad and that this is also a showcase of how important communication is for Montgomery, which is another good quality. But Klaus doesn't interrupt him because he doesn't have manners but because Montgomery was actively wrong. On top of that Montgomery also interrupts the Baudelaires often.
An excerpt from The Reptile Room, chapter 5: page 69 in my copy:
"I don't mean to be vainglorious," Uncle Monty began...
... "Of course you are," he (Klaus) said, "but—"
Page 70:
"I think so," Violet began, but Uncle Monty interrupted her.
...
"No," Violet said, "but—"
Page 72:
... "That way we can run a successful expedition in peace."
"But Uncle Monty—" Klaus said.
"How many times must I remind you it's not polite to interrupt?" Uncle Monty interrupted, shaking his head.
Page 58:
"This one contains a chemical called—"
"Uncle Monty," Klaus said, "what we have to tell you really can't wait."
"Klaus," Uncle Monty said, his eyebrows rising in surprise, "it's not polite to interrupt when your uncle is talking. Now, please help Stephano with the canoe, and we'll talk about anything you want in a few moments."
He also does not believe Klaus when he tells Montgomery that he keeps the brass lamp, that falls out of his room's window and onto him, in the aclove and not by the window.
Page 74:
"But where did it come from?" Violet asked.
"It must have fallen from the window," Uncle Monty said, pointing up to where Klaus's room was. "Whose room is that? Klaus, I believe it is yours. You must be more careful. You can't dangle heavy objects out the window like that. Look what happened."
"But the lamp wasn't anywhere near my window," Klaus said. "I keep it in the aclove, so I can read in that large chair."
"Really, Klaus," Uncle Monty said, standing up and handing him the lamp. "Do you honestly expect me to believe that the lamp danced over to the window and leaped onto my shoulder? Please put this back in your room, in a safe place, and we'll say no more about it."
I also understand that they enjoy making the traps and reading books about Peru for Montgomery but he does treat the children like workers. This is a bit more silly but what he expects of them is more than chores, especially if we include the fact that with Montgomery they would not attend public school and he would be responsible for their education. He expects them to work from early in the morning to late in the evening.
Page 64:
Finally the light in the house turned the pale blue-gray of early dawn, and the Baudelaire children walked blearily down the stairs to breakfast, tired and achy from their sleepless night.
...
"Come on, come on, you are moving very slowly this morning," Uncle Monty said, bursting into the room.
"Blue hour", which I assume is ehat is described here with "the light in the house turned the pale blue-gray of early dawn", is the time right before sunrise.
He is also clearly a bit self-obsessed and oblivious, like the other adults in these books.
Page 69:
"I don't mean to be vainglorious, Uncle Monty began, ... , "but I really am one of the world's most widely respected herpetologists in the world."
Page 58:
"Uncle Monty," Violet said, "we have something very important to tell you."
"I'm all ears," Uncle Monty said, "but first let me show you the wasp repellent I picked up. ..."
After this he praises Klaus for his work. I left this out because this post isn't about me praising Montgomery but at the same time I thought it would be dishonest to leave this out. Montgomery is a good person, he just has flaws like anyone else.
Page 59:
... "I can't remember what I was saying about the repellent," he said, a little crossly. "I hate losing my train of thought.
"What we have to tell you," Violet began, but she stopped when something caught her eye. Monty was facing away from the door, so he couldn't see what Stephano was doing, but Violet saw Stephano stop at the snake-shaped hedges, reach into his coast pocket, and take out the long knife.
For me Montgomery Montgomery is someone who at first seems like the perfect parent but, as you get to know him more, starts seeming like the perfect uncle. What I am trying to say with this is that Montgomery Montgomery would be the perfect person to go to during spring break but not to stay with permanently and depend on for your education.
Please leave your thoughts in the comments or reposts! I love talking about these books and I will be making more of these kinds of post the further I get into the series. Also I am currently at the sixth chapter so if I didn't mention anything after that, it's because I haven't read it. Still you are encouraged to add onto my arguments or refutate them.
Good reading, writing and thinking!
