Disclaimer: I own nothing. Not even the dollar in my pocket.
Definitions were something that Klaus had depended upon his whole life. They gave him knowledge, and a firm understanding of the things around him. He could express enjoyment in a million manners it seemed, and it was thanks to definitions. They were like his pals, always gently guiding him and whispering new thoughts into his ears.
Maybe that was why this was so hard. Books, although not always true, had never betrayed him like this. He could always find the answer in a book, given time of course, and yet...
Fair:
Having or exhibiting a disposition that is free of favoritism or bias; impartial: a fair mediator.
Just to all parties; equitable: a compromise that is fair to both factions.
Yes, that was indeed true for what he wanted to find when he looked up the definition of fair, and yet it wasn't. Klaus kept the idea of "fair" on his mind for several weeks as he lived with Olaf. And often time while being reminded that life isn't fair; but that didn't make him think of the definition any less.
Surely even Count Olaf would have to understand that fair was fair. And yes life isn't always fair, but that doesn't mean it's always unfair either.
Unfair:
Not just or evenhanded; biased: an unfair call by an umpire.
He also thought about "unfair" for the weeks he spent at Olaf's. He thought of it as he chopped the never-ending pile of wood. He thought of it while he cleaned countless rooms. He thought about as he stitched things together. He thought of it while he patched the roof; but he thought of it most of all when Olaf had hit him.
People were reasonable creatures; creatures with compassion, and sympathy. People used logic and that was a fact, people always used some sort of logic.
Logic:
The study of the principles of reasoning, especially of the structure of propositions as distinguished from their content and of method and validity in deductive reasoning.
That made perfect sense to Klaus. It was logical! It was reasonable!
Reasonable:
Capable of reasoning; rational: a reasonable person.
Governed by or being in accordance with reason or sound thinking: a reasonable solution to the problem.
Being within the bounds of common sense: arrive home at a reasonable hour.
Not excessive or extreme; fair: reasonable prices.
Fair! Being fair was logical, which was reasonable, which by definition its own definition was fair!
He supposed that made more sense to him. If one link in the chain was broken, being fair for instance, then the whole chain was ruined. Olaf had broken the chain, and Olaf was meddling in one of the few things Klaus had been convinced he could not touch; the written word. It was there, it was old, and it was over with! It should be unchangeable and yet here was Count Olaf changing that which he had no right to touch.
Klaus began to wonder what the definition of evil was.
Evil:
Morally bad or wrong; wicked: an evil tyrant.
Causing ruin, injury, or pain; harmful: the evil effects of a poor diet.
Bad or blameworthy by report; infamous: an evil reputation.
Characterized by anger or spite; malicious: an evil temper.
Characterized by or indicating future misfortune; ominous
Then he thought of the two words that stuck out to him: future misfortunes. Evil was the indication of reoccurring misfortunes, but that wasn't fair. Olaf could be unfair, for he was an evil man. But life was no flawed human; life could not hold a grudge or be evil. Life was not one misfortune after another.
Sure someone could have multiple misfortunes, but an entire life of them? It seemed like the most horrible thought, maybe that's why he never wanted to believe it. Klaus was convinced that life was not biased and it was certainly not unfair all the time.
It couldn't be. It just couldn't…
Books had never been so cruel.