Violence Quotes in The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph)

Quote #1

"His injuries seem to be similar to those of a car crash victim – it's hardly credible that anyone could do such damage with his bare hands." (2.134)

Niedermann can, and does, do incredible violence with his bare hands. Here the victim is a policeman who tries to arrest him.

Quote #2

"This is all bulls***. Her mother was a whore. It was probably one of her johns who beat her up. I just happened to be passing by." (3.84)

Zalachenko is, of course, lying, which can be a type of violence in and of itself. The truth is that Zalachenko beat Salander's mother so badly she suffered strokes, was unable to care for herself or her daughter, and eventually died prematurely. And for the record, she wasn't a prostitute.

Quote #3

I was shot in the head. I could stick my finger in the entry wound and touch my brain. (3.91)

When Salander wakes up in the hospital, she starts to remember the violence against her.