Oskar as Jesus

Laura Ostrowski

4/7/2013

            If anyone was unsure as to Oskar’s God complex, it can certainly be put to rest in the section titled, “The Dusters.” The opening sentence reads, “Oskar was not cut out to follow in Christ’s footsteps.” Apparently, at least in Oskar’s case, the alternative to not following Christ is to believe that one is Christ. Within this chapter, he introduces himself to the Duster gang as Jesus. Another sentence admittedly confuses me, as he recalls, “The moment I repeated my confession as Christ’s follower…” One can certainly follow Christ, but would not say, especially to complete strangers, “I am Jesus.” This group of boys accepts him as Jesus, if only as his name on the surface, but then follows him into the chocolate factory, which is only the beginning. Disturbingly, he quotes what Jesus said to Oskar after the drumming incident in which Oskar becomes very angry with Jesus. The chapter ends with him shouting, “Follow thou me!” to the boys of the Dusters and leads them into the chocolate factory. To preface this chapter, Oskar tells the reader that this group of boys will become his “disciples,” which leaves little doubt to Oskar’s viewpoint that he is in fact God. The trait would also explain why he feels no guilt over Matzerath’s death. He does admit that it is his fault, but does not seem overly concerned. The same is true when Jan dies in the post office. While this may seem irrelevant, it remains true that serial killers often have this same “I am God” complex, and feel their acts are necessary. Oskar does not particularly express that these deaths are necessary or are even for a legitimate reason, but certainly does not seem even adequately guilty or upset by the occurrences. The most concrete evidence of Oskar’s absurd mental state is that after one of the Duster boys separates Jesus from the statue in the church, Oskar actually sits in his place. I remain undecided as to whether Oskar is consciously trying to be powerful and be Jesus, or if he really believes he is Jesus, or even something better.