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Todd Bowden (1961-1978) is the villain protagonist from Apt Pupil.
Apt Pupil: Novel[]
In 1974, Todd Bowden confronts local resident Arthur Denker with knowledge of his real name and identity, and uses this to force Dussander to tell him stories of his days in the Schutzstaffel (SS) as a commissioned officer at one of the concentration camps. Dussander reluctantly and resentfully complies, and Todd becomes increasingly fascinated by the dark, brutal acts that Dussander was a part of as his visits continue.
When Todd's grades begin to fail due to his growing disinterest in anything besides Dussander's stories, Dussander uses Todd's association with a war criminal and forging of his report cards to counter-blackmail Todd, compelling him to address his faltering grades. Todd eventually does so, but also uses Dussander, posing as his grandfather, to keep knowledge of his dropping GPA from his parents.
Eventually, feeling that he has addressed his troubles at school and run out of uses for Dussander, Todd resolves to kill the old man, but Dussander realizes what the teenager means to do bluffs him out of it, saying he has a letter prepared in a safe deposit box that will reveal Todd's association with a Nazi war criminal if Dussander should die unexpectedly. Todd claims he has also written a similar letter about Dussander, ensuring that the two continue to keep the other's secrets.
Haunted by nightmares of the graphic stories that Dussander has told him, Todd begins to murder vagrants in the area, using their homelessness to assist him in getting away with the crimes. As the years go on, Todd loses some of his interest in Dussander and visits him less often. He loses his virginity to his Jewish girlfriend, but finds sex much less satisfying than the thrill of committing murder. Todd blames his lack of sexual satisfaction on his girlfriend's religion, losing interest in her as well.
Unable to continue his killings for a time, Todd resorts to driving out to a concealed spot overlooking a highway, where he aims at passing cars with his bolt-action rifle. Dussander calls him one night, having experienced a heart attack while digging a grave for his latest victim. Todd finishes the job, cleans up the mess, and calls an ambulance. At the hospital, Dussander reveals that he knows both of them bluffed about the letters they wrote, and further tells Todd "we are quits." They never see one another again, as Dussander soon after commits suicide after being discovered by a former concentration camp inmate and confronted by an Israeli Nazi hunter.
After this news about Dussander identity come out and Todd's parents learn that '' Arthur Danker'' was actually a Nazi war criminal. Todd acts suprised and baffled by this and acts as if he hadn't known. Todd's parents beleive him. Police start to investigate and question Todd. One of the dedectives suspects Todd to have known Dussander was a Nazi and was an accomplice in Dussander's recent killings. Meanwhile, a friend of one of Todd's victims reports Todd to a police station.
Ed French, school counsel advisor whom Todd and Dussander manipulated by Dussander acting like Todd's grandfather, finds out that the person he saw wasn't Todd's grandfather but Dussander. He goes confront Todd but Todd murders him. Todd later goes to the top looking the highway and starts killing the drivers.
Five hours later he gets taken down by the police.
Personality[]
Todd started the novella as already someone who easily and remorselessly manipulated and stalked people. He found the terrible acts committed by the Nazis fascinating and amazing rather than horrifying. He even looked down on the people who found the acts terrible. He was self- centered and callous, he didn't care Dussander was a Nazi or not as long it entertained him. He took plesaure of control and power. As the novella progressed he got crazier and more violent because of Dussander's stories. He started to have violent urges and fantasies of rape and murder. He started murder homeless people to feed his urges, not feeling any kind of remorse or guilt. He looked down on his victims, viewing them as not even people. He got more anxious angry, having desires to kill anyone who inconvienced him. He always wore a kind and loving facade to his family, even though deep down he hated them and wanted to kill them.