Violence Quotes in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo

How we cite our quotes: Citations follow this format: (Chapter.Paragraph). We used Reg Keeland/a.k.a. Steven T. Murray's English language translation.

Quote #1

[Henrik:] "So, there's only one real possibility left, namely that Harriet disappeared against her will. Somebody killed her and got rid of the body." (5.48)

Henrik can't possibly figure out Harriet's disappearance on his own because he's too focused on what he thinks is the violent end of her life, and not enough on her life itself.

Quote #2

How much do you earn? I want a copy of your financial records. Who do you spend time with? Do you pay your rent on time. Do you drink? Did Palmgren approve of those rings you have on your face. Are you careful about hygiene? (9.60)

Bjurman inflicts verbal violence on Salander before he moves on to rape and physical brutality. We're reading it not as dialogue but as she's hearing it in her memory.

Quote #3

Finally the boy punched her in the face; it split open her lip and made her see stars. They left her on the ground behind the gym. She stayed home for two days. On the third day she waited for her tormenter with a baseball bat and whacked him over the ear with it. (12.124)

This is from Salander's grade school days. Nobody defends her when she's attacked repeatedly at school, but as soon as she fights back, she's branded a nut-job.