“Bloom's psychopathic tendencies can be seen as a manifestation of society's apathy and obsession with violence and gruesomeness.”

“One pleasant surprise, given the gruesomeness of the murders, is that the first two-thirds of the novel are relatively non-violent.”

“The massacre stands out not only for its gruesomeness but also for the act of treachery that preceded it.”

“That Euripides' taste ran often to such gruesomenesses is indicated by the plots of some of his lost tragedies.”