A CRIMINAL HISTORY OF MANKIND

would instantly, and without hesitation, order the execution of anyone who challenges his authority.
Van Vogt was creating the type from observation of men like Hitler and Stalin. And, as he thought
about the murderous behaviour of the commandant, he found himself wondering: ‘What could
motivate a man like that?’ Why is it that some men believe that anyone who contradicts them is
either dishonest or downright wicked? Do they really believe, in their heart of hearts, that they are
gods who are incapable of being fallible? If so, are they in some sense insane, like a man who
thinks he is Julius Caesar?
Looking around for examples, it struck Van Vogt that male authoritarian behaviour is far too
commonplace to be regarded as insanity. Newspaper headlines tell their own story:
HUSBAND INVADES CHRISTMAS PARTY AND SHOOTS WIFE
Grief stricken when she refuses to return to him, he claims.
ENTERTAINER STABS WIFE TO DEATH - UNFAITHFUL HE SAYS
Amazed friends say he was unfaithful, not she.
WIFE RUN OVER IN STREET
Accident says divorced husband held on suspicion of murder.
WIFE BADLY BEATEN BY FORMER HUSBAND
‘Unfit mother,’ he accuses. Neighbours refute charge, call him a troublemaker.
HUSBAND FOILED IN ATTEMPT TO PUSH WIFE OVER CLIFF
Wife reconciles, convinced husband loves her.
Marriage seems to bring out the ‘authoritarian’ personality in many males, according to Van Vogt’s
observation. He brought up the question with a psychologist friend and asked him whether he could
offer any examples. The psychologist told him of an interesting case of a husband who had brought
his wife along for psychotherapy. He had set her up in a suburban house, and supported her on
condition that she had no male friends. Her role, as he saw it, was simply to be a good mother to
their son.
The story of their marriage was as follows. She had been a nurse, and when her future husband
proposed to her she had felt she ought to admit to previous affairs with two doctors. The man went
almost insane with jealousy, and she was convinced that was the end of it. But the next day he
appeared with a legal document, which he insisted she should sign if the marriage was to go ahead.
He would not allow her to read it. Van Vogt speculates that it contained a ‘confession’ that she was
an immoral woman, and that as he was virtually raising her from the gutter by marrying her, she
had no legal rights...
They married, and she soon became aware of her mistake. Her husband’s business involved
travelling, so she never knew where he was. He visited women employees in their apartments for
hours and spent an unconscionable amount of time driving secretaries home. If she tried to question
him about this he would fly into a rage and often knock her about. In fact, he was likely to respond
to questions he regarded as ‘impertinent’ by knocking her down. The following day he might call
her long distance and beg her forgiveness, promising never to do it again.