In the novel The Girl Who Played With Fire, the reoccurring theme that the author portrays is that looks and appearances are often deceiving; one can only know the true nature of another’s character if they personally get to know that person. Consequently, if one judges another by observing just their appearance, or by taking into account what others have said, he or she may present a false interpretation of them that may form and lead to various assumptions that may tarnish one’s reputation. Within the novel Stieg Larsson uses this theme throughout the book to describe the predicament that Lisbeth Slander, a very distant and misunderstood girl, finds her-self in. As people dig into her past, the reports that the investigators discover present a negative and inaccurate view of Lisbeth; this leads to them judging her based on what others have said and her different and dark appearance. However, the only people who know the true and unique nature of Lisbeth are her close friends. The events that take place in the book and the discrimination that Lisbeth faces directly relates back to the theme about first appearances and how they may not be as reliable as some may think along with believing what others have said. …show more content…
As the investigation of the reporter’s death takes place, somehow Lisbeth Slander is linked to the crime. As the lead investigator, Jan Bublanski, digs into Lisbeth’s past, him and his team of officers find medical examinations and psychiatric reports that describe Lisbeth in a negative light. Based on these reports, people start to stereotype Lisbeth as a dangerous, insane, and unstable person. Once these reports are leaked to the press, everyone in Sweden has the false interpretation that Lisbeth is a chaotic killer who is somewhat mentally challenged. As a result, Lisbeth is discriminated against and judged by everyone who reads the