7 thoughts on “Chapter 3: And a Stick to Beat the Devil With, page 32”

    1. Actually, been thinking about that. It could have something to do with keeping disease down, or something along those lines.

      The Jakes seem to be a survivalist cult, and consider the Victorian era where most high-status men/women were bald and wore wigs in order to combat certain parasites, like head lice.

      1. It is a function of suppresion of identity. Removal of cosmetic differences (as much as possible) helps break individual identity and reinforce group identity. It is used in all facets of teambuilding (though to a much lesser extent than seen here and amongst other cults).

  1. In some ways Jake’s kin seem to do what Epiphany was doing earlier – taking a few good ideas (ecology, self-reliance, the search for deeper meaning) and twisting them into a harmful philosophy. Of course, Pippi was trying to get out of school rather than start a dangerous cult, but same principle.

    1. here, she makes sense, ok. but somewhere in her reasoning this turns into naked, bald children playing with knives, a handicapped son who could have been saved and now relies on the generosity of others (Sunny) to make a living.
      It’s not only the idea but where you take it.

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