The Alienist by Caleb Carr is one of the most imperative works, not only of the author, but also in American History. It portrays the initial rough days of America. The novel basically presents the take of the author on the violence and grotesqueness which was then a common part of New York streets. A series of murders take place in the novel, description of which is heart wrenching. Moore along with Roosevelt and other young police officers try to find the serial killer without involving other government officials because they are aware of their lack of interest.
It is also said that this book is autobiographical in nature because many of the incidents took place in the author’s life. Mike Capuzzo, in Philadelphia Inquirer wrote:
“The novel is autobiographical; it allowed him to exorcise some of his demons, mostly centered on his relationship with his father, which was stormy and sometimes violent."
Capuzzo goes on to say:
“Carr was "fascinated with the psychology of killers, who were subliminally acting out the pain of being controlled by monstrous parents by controlling and killing victims, seeking a release that would never come.”
The Alienist basically refers to the psychologist, Kreizler. In those days People who were thought to be mentally unfit were alienated from the rest of society. They were looked down upon and were treated like some alien creatures. At that time, people who decided to go further into these topics and norms were considered as Alienists.
In the novel, a thirteen year old boy, Georgio "Gloria" Santorelli, is found murdered on a New York Street. The boy’s father used to beat him, and so he went in prostitution to escape from the violence shackles of home. Here he used to dress up a girl, so that he could act as a prostitute and earn money. When Roosevelt find him murdered, he is badly beaten, his eyes have been taken out and his hands are tied behind his back. Roosevelt then tells Moore that he had also found two other victims killed in the same way. From here begins the never ending journey of finding that serial killer. At that time, the technique of finger prints was not that common and neither was the criminal psychology. In this book, it has been explored that how these techniques were used to find the killer. The most interesting thing in the book was when Kreizler asks Roosevelt to find young people who would help them in investigation. The younger minds are more flexible and not so conservative. Therefore another point that can be raised is that whether the elite class was conservative or basically hiding the gruesome effects of the society instead of facing and fighting them.
The book is based on the real New York, what it used to be and how people used to deal with horrific situation and that is why it is a page turner. In one of his interviews with the newspaper, The Record he said that “he wanted to entertain the reader, while also staying faithful to the time period.” He wanted to tell the people that an era might change but sometimes the psyche of the people is transferred from one generation to another. He also said in the same interview:
"The one thing I wanted to show was that people back then are a lot more like people today than we realize. The biggest challenge was to study the psychological literature of that day, so that none of my characters would not know, more than they could have known, in terms of psychology. We're talking about a time when [Sigmund Freud] had just published his first book."
What was really amazing and impressive was the turn of events in the novel. Everything was bonded so perfectly that it was important to put down the book. The plot, the way different situations have been intermingled together, is appraisable. Furthermore, the work Roosevelt and rest of them do is mind boggling. Everything seems so real that you feel that everything is happening in front of you.
As already has been said that in those time criminal psychology was not given much thought to. Caleb Carr also said in The Record:
“The biggest challenge was to study the psychological literature of that day so that none of my characters would not know more than they could have known in terms of psychology.”
Everything was just accepted the way it was and if no one used to find any evidence, the case was closed and later, forgotten. When they find the body of the boy, the police officers commented like that like previous cases this case would also be soon forgotten.
If the essence of this book is captured in a movie, it would be great. An action movie is an all time favorite of the audience and when added with history and mystery, it effortlessly woos the heart of the audience. Moreover a topic such as criminal psychology and serial killing is quite addictive in today’s world, and also quite appropriate. In one of his interviews with Orange County Register, he said:
“I was always aware that if done correctly, this could end up being a great movie. I grew up with the movies. I've written scripts. Movies are something I've always loved.”
He was so overwhelmed by the idea of making a movie out of his book that he even suggested the name of the actors who would be suitable for the roles. He thought that Anthony Hopkins would do a great job of playing the role of Kreizler, the alienist, and Emma Thompson of Sara, the first ever woman police officer.
Moreover, the serious issue of rapes and prostitution is also relevant to the current era. Everyday, you find news of child molestation, physical abuse and prostitution. Carr very aptly said that this book can be related to any era because the traits of people pass from generation to generation. Therefore if this movie would be made in today’s time, it would not only sell like hot cakes but will also portray the political and social scenario. In the book, when the body of the thirteen year old boy is found, the whole team decides to investigate everything in private without letting the news surface. That is also quite similar to the callousness of the leaders today. But one of the strongest elements of the book was Roosevelt’s and Kreizler decision to carry on with the investigation. They could have also chosen the easy way out and left things the way they were. But they, in a way, put their jobs at risk and performed their duties.
Undoubtedly, the book also represents the prejudice between the elite class and lower class of New York in the late nineteenth century. . The elite class keeps itself away from the vulgarities of the society and keeps such happening hidden from the rest of the world. These also aspects can all be seen today as well so this movie can also represent the history as well as the present of every generation.
Works Cited
Capuzzo, Mike. "Author feeds his romantic, sinister image."Philadelphia Inquirer 25 Aug 1994, n. page. Print.
Chollet, Laurence. "We're talking about a time when [Sigmund Freud] had just published his first book."."Record [New Jersey] 10 April 1994. Print.
