Every girl likes a man in uniform," said Ernst. "Every girl, perhaps," remarked Beatrix. "But not every uniform." "You know why people wear uniforms, don't you, Pierrot?" continued the chauffeur. The boy shook his head. "Because a person who wears one believes he can do anything he likes." "Ernst," said Beatrix quietly. "He can treat others in a way he never would while wearing normal clothes. Collars, trench coats, or jackboots, uniforms allow us to exercise our cruelty without ever feeling guilt.
"Every girl likes a man in uniform," said Ernst, highlighting a common perception. Beatrix responded thoughtfully, suggesting that not every uniform is attractive, implying that the appeal depends on the person wearing it. The chauffeur explained that uniforms give the wearer a sense of limitless power, enabling them to act without remorse, reflecting how uniforms can mask true character and foster cruelty.
Beatrix quietly pointed out the darker side of uniforms, emphasizing that they can be used as a shield for inappropriate behavior. The quote from John Boyne's "The Boy at the Top of the Mountain" underlines how uniforms symbolize authority and power, but also how they can hide underlying malevolence, encouraging individuals to act cruelly without feeling guilt.
