Darkly Dreaming Dexter is the first in a series of thriller novels written by Jeff Lindsay about a vigilante serial killer named Dexter. Dexter Morgan is a blood splatter analysis expert in Miami Metro Police Department forensics division, who also happens to be a serial killer (Lindsay, 2004). He only targets murderers that may slip through the justice system and get away with their crimes. Dexter witnessed his mother’s brutal murder as a child and when his adoptive father Harry Morgan recognized his psychopathic tendencies, he trained him to channel them towards killing guilty murderers that were not caught by the police (Lindsay, 2004). Darkly Dreaming Dexter is an exemplary piece of literature and it can be analyzed both literally and psychologically as it presents themes that question morality and a curious psychological profile for a serial killer.
A Literary Analysis
The novel is narrated in the first person by Dexter Morgan. He does this in gruesome detail, even going ahead to involve the reader in two of his murders. This point of view allows the reader to enter Dexter’s mind and understand his motives thus enhancing his role as the protagonist of the story. Even though a serial killer would typically not be presented as a protagonist, Lindsay is able to make Dexter likeable by presenting him as a vigilante. Dexter’s character is devoid of human emotion and emotion but he learns how to mimic it to allow him to blend in and in essence draw suspicion away from him as a possible serial killer. This is the reason why he dates Rita and he cares for Deborah because their father asked him to look out for her before his death (Lindsay, 2004).
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Lindsay utilizes different literary devices to enhance the story and make it more interesting to the reader. For instance, he uses dark humor in Dexter's narration, which serves to amplify his psychopathic nature while making the character more fascinating and the story enjoyable. The author’s use of alliteration as a literary device is seen throughout the book with phrases that are similar to the title such as Darkly Dreaming Dexter or Dear Dreaming Dexter.
The issues presented in the book bleed into the real world. Lindsay uses the story to expose the flaws of the criminal justice system which allow criminals to get away with their crimes. While the system is designed to remove dangerous people from society, there are instances where the guilty are not convicted. Dexter’s killing ritual requires him to confirm a person’s guilt before murdering them. Therefore, the fact that Dexter has people to kill shows the failure of the criminal justice system. This enhances Dexter’s role as the protagonist as his acts present him as a sort of hero.
Dexter’s vigilantism questions the reader’s sense of morality as it becomes harder to see the protagonist as the bad guy as the novel progresses. While most people believe that murder is wrong despite the circumstances, this novel questions this. Is it okay to murder serial killers if this protects potential victims from future harm, especially when the criminal justice system has failed to achieve this in a lawful manner? Dexter’s actions are not influenced by personal bias so unlike most people, he does not care who the victims are, he only cares that the perpetrator is guilty of the murder (Lindsay, 2004). Therefore in a way, Dexter appears to have a higher moral sense that is guided by reason and his kills become more acceptable.
A Psychological Analysis
Darkly Dreaming Dexter presents an opportunity for a psychological analysis of serial killers. Serial killers are usually normal people often described as being “average Joes” who seem socially adjusted and harmless (Robins, 2018). In his role as a forensics analysts for the police, Dexter appears to be a regular person leading a regular life. There are several psychological disorders that underlie a serial killer’s character including psychopathy, schizophrenia, antisocial personality disorder, dissociative personality disorder, and borderline personality disorder among others (LaBrode, 2007; Robins, 2018). In this case, Dexter suffers from antisocial personality disorder which is characterized by his lack of empathy and disregard for other people. People with this condition are also able to effectively mimic typical human reactions to avoid drawing attention to themselves. People with psychopathy exhibit similar characteristics because they are born this way, but those with antisocial personality acquire them as a result of their nurturing (LaBrode, 2007). Dexter appears to have acquired his behavior after experiencing a traumatic event as a child.
Serial killers are often victims of abuse or neglect in their childhood and their dissociation from social reality results as a defense mechanism to avoid the trauma of their experiences (Robins, 2018). Dexter experiences psychological trauma when he watches his mother cut to pieces with a chainsaw by drug dealers (Lindsay, 2004). His father notices his psychopathic tendencies as a child and rather than seek psychological help, he teaches him to channel this into hunting down other serial killers that escape the law.
Serial killers are not mentally deficient such that they do not understand the law. They are fully aware of the law and what is right and wrong, but they just don’t care (LaBrode, 2007). Dexter exhibits this where even when he is meant to be part of the police force that enforces the law, he breaks it. In fact, he uses the guidelines provided in the law to cover his tracks. He is aware of his fate if he got caught but his need to kill overrides all morality.
Serial killers are also exhibit calm predatory aggression where they kill to satisfy a need rather than because they are provoked (Robins, 2018). Dexter has no personal relationship with most of his victims but he feels like it is his duty to permanently remove them from society. Serial killers are sadistic and their kills follow a ritual that involves enjoying the torture they inflict on their victims as it allows them to feel power (Robins, 2018). Dexter restrains his victims and talks to them as he tortures them (Lindsay, 2004). He also has a meticulous ritual that he strictly follows during his kills.
References
LaBrode, R. T. (2007). Etiology of the Psychopathic Serial Killer: An Analysis of Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathy, and Serial Killer Personality and Crime Scene Characteristics. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention , 7 (2), 151-160. doi:10.1093/brief-treatment/mhm004
Lindsay, J. P. (2004). Darkly Dreaming Dexter . New York, NY: Vintage Books.
Robins, B. (2018, February 21). Traits most serial killers eerily have in common. Retrieved from https://www.grunge.com/110562/traits-serial-killers-eerily-common/
