Kaz Brekker’s Cruelty in the Six of Crows Duology as a Form of Governmental Failure

cr: Dani.I

            Full of cruelty and vengeance. That is how Kaz Brekker is known in Ketterdam, a city noted for its violence and cruelty, as featured in The Six of Crows duology. The people of Ketterdam live in misery and poverty, making it difficult for them to survive. Violence is their answer. A government that does not care about its people has resulted in a population that must determine its own fate. Therefore, the city of Ketterdam is full of thieves who steal money from their fellow citizens.

            The government in Ketterdam is money-centered. They only develop their government to benefit themselves, thereby harming their people. They deprive citizens of their rights. Corruption and bribery are normalized to justify all forms of violence. The structural violence perpetrated by the government against the citizens of Ketterdam causes the people to resort to violence as a means of survival. In fact, they themselves also use violence to get what they want. It all stems from a system that has become the norm.

            Kaz Brekker's existence in The Six of Crows duology represents the result of the government's failure to improve the welfare of its people. Little Kaz Brekker came to Kerch City with the hope of becoming rich. In the end, he was cheated out of all his money in an investment. He was left alone after the government failed to overcome the Queen's Lady Plague, which was rampant and almost killed an entire city. The bodies were simply dumped on the edge of the harbor. Kaz, who was still alive, had to swim across the city to reach Ketterdam.

            An innocent boy who originally wanted to save himself in Ketterdam had to adapt to a city full of violence. The abundance of criminals, robbers, murderers, and street thugs forced Kaz Brekker to adapt in order to survive. Therefore, he joined a gang at the age of 12. This proves how cruel the Ketterdam government is, failing even to protect children. Since then, he has known no mercy. His job is only to commit violence for money.

            Kaz Brekker is a reflection of a government that perpetrates structural violence against its people. A city full of cruelty can be prevented with strict rules and high awareness from the community itself. The violence in Ketterdam is a habit of its citizens that is difficult to change. Therefore, the government needs to enhance the welfare of its people before violence becomes a common occurrence among its citizens. These contagious habits of the people can spread to other areas, causing even more social damage.