crooked killer

1Tim Barnes

Crooked Killer, Crooked Killer

2Tim Barnes

In the novel Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, the author Tom Franklin makes references to fictional and real serial killers.Two serial killers mentioned are Norman Bates and John Wayne Gacy.Without the forehand knowledge of these notorious murderers, readers would lose the depth of the reference.

Crooked Killer, Crooked Killer

3Tim Barnes

Norman Bates

4Tim Barnes

Norman Bates

Norman Bates is

the main

antagonist in the

novel Psycho by

Robert Bloch. He

is later reprised

in the film

adaption by

Alfred Hitchcock.

Norman Bates ‘s

outer appearance

is a mild

mannered

caretaker of the

Bates Motel.

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The Dark Side of Norman BatesNorman Bates’s darker inner persona is a split-personality serial killer. He is so strongly attached to his dead mother’s will that he keeps her remains in the house. Bates’s psychological issues are so extensive, he assumes his mother as his alter personality. Taking on this personality usually occurs during times when Norman has moral dilemmas and the end result is murder.

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Norman Bates

Norman Bates

was a fictional

character but was

portrayed after a

real murderer.

Bates shared his

real life

counterpart’s

psychosis, but the

real killer was

more deviant.

7Tim Barnes

The Real Norman Bates

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Ed Gein

Ed Gein was a serial killer and body snatcher from Plainfield, Wisconsin.Gein would rob graves for trophies and keepsakes of skin and bones.After Gein was arrested in 1957 for having body parts in his home, he confessed to the murders of two local women.Ed Gein was convicted and sentenced to a mental hospital for the rest of his life.

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Ed Gein had a strong

love/hate relationship with his

mother. His mother read to

him from the Bible, usually

selecting graphic verses

dealing with death, murder,

and divine retribution. Her

main topics of discussion were

immoralities of the world like

the evil of drinking, and the

belief that all women

(excluding herself) were

instruments of the devil. She

was mentally and physically

abusive.

Ed Gein

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Sins of GeinAfter Gein’s mother's death, he

decided he wanted a sex change and

began to create a "woman suit" so he

could pretend to be a female. Gein

would tan the skins for better wear

ability. Gein always denied having

sex with the bodies he exhumed.

Ed Gein later died of cancer in 1984

while still locked up in a mental

institute.

Gein’s notorious life will not be

remembered for the truth of his

crimes but by the pop culture stories

produced from the tragedies.

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Buffalo Bill from Silence of the Lambs

Leatherface from Texas Chainsaw Massacre

Others Character Portrayalsof Ed Gein

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James Gumbaka

Buffalo Bill

James Gumb

(better known as

Buffalo Bill) is a

fictional

character from

the novel Silence

of the Lambs by

Thomas Harris.

His similarity to

Ed Gein is that he

also wants to be a

woman and

tailors a “woman

suit” for himself.

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Leatherface

Leatherface is a

fictional serial killer

that attacks his

victims with a

chainsaw. His

similarity to Ed Gein

is that he too takes

skin trophies and

tailors them as masks.

Leatherface’s story is

far from that of Ed

Gein’s. This character

is very loosely based

on Gein’s life.

14Tim Barnes

Norman Bates and Larry are mild mannered.Both men live alone in seclusion.Larry and Norman both single-handedly run a family

owned business.Larry was suspected of the kidnap and murder of a

young girl while Bates did kidnap and murder a young woman.

In relating Larry to Norman Bates, the book provided a very strong description of Larry. This appearance made it conceivable that Larry may have been guilty of a crime to the residents and the law of Cabot, Mississippi.

Norman Bates compared to Larry Ott

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John Wayne Gacy

16Tim Barnes

The Killer Clown John Wayne Gacy was an infamous

serial killer of Chicago in the 1970’s. He is known to have raped, brutally

tortured, and killed 33 young men. He would dispose of the bodies by

burying them in the backyard and under his home in Des Plaines, Illinois.

After many attempts, he was finally arrested and sentenced to death.

Gacy was found to be a psychopath with no remorse.

Gacy died by lethal injection on May 9th, 1994.

17Tim Barnes

John Wayne Gacy

As usual…Gacy claimed to be physically and mentally abused by his father. He was desperate to please his fatherbut failed. He also claimed that he was molested by a family friend but would not tell in fear his father would blame him.

Gacy was not suspected throughouthis reign of murders because of his presence in the community. He participated at fundraising events, parades and children's parties wherehe would dress as "Pogo the Clown.”

18Tim Barnes

8213 Gacy House

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Inspiration

In the novel Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, John Wayne Gacy is the name that Wallace Stringfellow gives to his Pit Bull. Though the dog is named after Gacy, Wallace is the true psychopath. Wallace resembles the real Gacy with his brutal murdering and sexual deviance. Wallace naming his dog John Wayne Gacy is a reflection of his dark personality and is a strong symbol from the author.

Wallace Stringfellow’s Dog

20Tim Barnes

Tom Franklin’s use of Norman Bates (Ed Gein) and John Wayne Gacy in his novel, Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter was very clever. These infamous murderers served well for the setting and theme of the novel.

Conclusion

21Tim Barnes

Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter Cover. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Silence of the Lambs Cover. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Psycho Cover. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Bates Mansion Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre Poster. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Norman Bates Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Ed Gein Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

James Gumb Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Leatherface Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

John Wayne Gacy Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Pogo the Clown Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Gacy Crime Scene Diagram. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Pit Bull Photograph. Google images. n.d. Web. 22 Mar 2012.

Franklin, Tom. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter, New York, New York: Harper Perennial, 2010.

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Works Cited