Why people insist that Eli is using Oskar

[TΛPETRVE]

Sure, if Oskar was nothing but a millstone 'round Eli's neck, she probably would choose leaving him back before she might regret it.

[Wolfchild]

Sure, if Oskar was nothing but a millstone 'round Eli's neck, she probably would choose leaving him back before she might regret it.

Ah - so now you believe that Eli was just using Oskar?

[TΛPETRVE]

Nope - but it might have been better for his own wellbeing. I don't think Eli would expose Oskar to the danger and trouble she has to cope with all the time if he wasn't capable of looking after himself.
I think Eli would never even think of exploiting Oskar, but a relationship has to be mutual in order to work properly. And we all shall rejoice, for Oskar and Eli really complement each other.

[lombano]

Oskar saved Eli almost by accident - with everything on the line, he didn't have the nerve to stab Lacke. Oskar's endurance of sunlight has its uses, but another kid is in many ways a hindrance - a single kid may pass unnoticed more easily. They don't even look like siblings. If Eli were just looking for a new helper, she'd at least tried to get an adult.

I have had this very discussion before at IMDB. It seems to me be exceedingly difficult to build an argument that Eli was not just using Oskar based upon the fact that Oskar was not the ideal helper. Nothing about Eli's life was ideal. Accidental or not, Osakr did save Eli's life. Even if he was capable of doing nothing else, that alone would make it worth vampire Eli's while to have him around.

It is easy to say that Eli would have instead gotten an adult, but this ignores the pragmatic aspects of the situation. It's not like she could go to the Renfield Section of the local market and choose one from a menu. How many of you reading this right now could stand up from your computer and go out and find a person who would kill for you on a continuous basis? How many of you could even find a person willing to aid you in one killing, let alone willing to dedicate their life to aiding you in living the life of a serial killer? Can you imagine the risk that you would be taking by simply approaching someone on such a topic? Opportunism is one of the defining characteristics of any predator. Realistically, the safest route for a vampire would be to be opportunistic and take whatever fate offered. In this case, fate was offering Oskar.

In and of itself, a bad lookout is better than no lookout, but you have to consider other things - it is vital for Eli to be as inconspicuous as possible. The authorities are surely going to be looking for Oskar - he's not just a missing kid, he's a missing kid connected with a gruesome, spectacular little massacre involving children. I would expect Oskar's photo to be all over the place. At least in the short term, Oskar's company puts Eli at risk and would seem to outweigh the benefits of him as a helper. The pool massacre itself contrasts with the more discreet earlier killings - it's a well-lit place, and Eli left live witnesses (an amoral Eli would surely have killed them all) - even if the police dismiss the Angel of Death flying down to save Oskar, I would think they'd figure Oskar had been kidnapped, or was at least connected, with the perpetrator, and they might not completely disregard the descriptions of Eli. They might ignore the wings and fangs, but they might take notes of the more human traits. Some sort of composite sketch may well end up in the papers - with a big risk for Eli of being seen with Oskar; Oskar is a net liability. In contrast, nobody was looking for Hakan, and his passing for Eli's dad made Eli less conspicuous than being alone, and that alone made his help a net gain.

On a separate note, Eli puts her life on the line when she walks in without permission - not exactly what you'd expect a purely selfish vampire to do.

Oskar will try to help Eli, and Eli will take whatever help he can give - what's wrong with that? Why shouldn't they help each other? Eli is in some sense using him, but so is Oskar. Like Tapetrve says, the relationship's mutual and they complement each other.

[lelkidoki]

I agree.

[stormbringer951]

She kept Oskar around for company - the scene where Oskar hitchhikes back has her forcing Oskar to stay because she's lonely.

[Wolfchild]

Like Tapetrve says, the relationship's mutual and they complement each other.

I agree, but Oskar must in some fashion compliment both aspects of Eli: the twelve year old and the vampire. That means that although she loves him, she must also be able to use him.

[lombano]

Like Tapetrve says, the relationship's mutual and they complement each other.

I agree, but Oskar must in some fashion compliment both aspects of Eli: the twelve year old and the vampire. That means that although she loves him, she must also be able to use him.

Yes, Oskar complements both. Not violent by nature, but driven to fantasising with becoming a serial killer by the circumstances, he complements Eli the vampire, who is not naturally evil and never wanted to kill, but is compelled to do so to survive. And Oskar the bullied, alienated, lonely child complements Eli the traumatised child and ultimate outsider.
Good relationships involve being there for one another; Oskar and Eli are rather extreme (depending one one another for not being murdered, etc) but fit this well. They use each other, but the relationship is not driven by self-interest.

[Wolfchild]

So ultimately the question that began this thread is answered, IMHO. People do not readily distinguish between "Eli is using Oskar" (which she is) and "Eli is just using Oskar" (which she is not). One person says "Eli is using Oskar", someone else reads it as "Eli is just using Oskar" and the battle ensues.

People think that Eli is using Oskar because she is. People who have not paid close enough attention or are predisposed to be cynical towards Eli find that Eli is just using Oskar.

Splitting this hair spawns a lot of forum traffic, so I don't really mind.

[a_contemplative_life]

Bump!