Esmé Squalor
From ''The Lemony Snicket Wiki''
Esmé Gigi Genevieve Squalor is the lead villainess of A Series of Unfortunate Events, most famous for her obsession with fashions, or as she terms it, what is in and what is out.
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[edit] The Ersatz Elevator
Esmé was first introduced in Book the Sixth as the city's sixth most important financial advisor, wife to Jerome Squalor, and new guardian of the Baudelaire children. Esme's in obsession reveals itself immediately when she announces that she only took the Baudelaires into her home because orphans had just become in. She spends the majority of the story ignoring the children and preparing for an upcoming In Auction. When Count Olaf reappears in the Baudelaires' lives, disguised as Gunther the Auctioneer, the Baudelaires fear for Esmé's safety. However, when the Baudelaires discover his scheme, Esmé pushes them down an empty elevator shaft. It is revealed that Olaf is in fact her acting coach and boyfriend. When the Baudelaires still manage to foil Olaf's plot, Esmé runs off with Olaf, leaving Jerome alone.
[edit] The Vile Village
Esmé and Olaf, posing as Police Officer Luciana and Detective Dupin, follow the Baudelaires to the Village of Fowl Devotees. Olaf murders a man named Jauques Snicket, then the pair pin the crime on the Baudelaires. The children attempt to escape in a Hot Air Mobile Home, but Esmé shoots at it with a harpoon gun, preventing their departure. When Esmé accidentally kills a crow in the process, her cover is blown, and she and Olaf skip town on a motorcycle.
[edit] The Hostile Hospital
Esmé poses as a doctor and, along with members of Olaf's troupe, arranges a cranioectomy for Violet.
[edit] The Carnivorous Carnival
Esmé dons a variety of items, including a sash reading "I Love Freaks", in order to seem accepting of the people in the Carnival's freakshow. Simultaneously, she enjoys their degrading show and helps feed guests to lions.
[edit] The Slippery Slope
Esmé, Olaf, and the troupe escape to the Mortmain Mountains, where they force Sunny to do ridiculous chores, and discuss their plan of action with the Man With A Beard But No Hair and Woman WIth Hair But No Beard. In her latest "in" escapade, Esmé smokes Verdant Flammable Devices, which she thinks are cigarettes, and dons a dress that resembles a large fire. Hoping to trade Esmé for Sunny, the Baudelaires set a trap for Esmé, but then in a moment of conscience prevent her from falling into it. Esmé meets Carmelita Spats and decides to adopt her, much to Olaf's chagrin.
[edit] The Grim Grotto
Esme wears a large octopus costume and slaps children with a giant noodle, forcing them to power Olaf's submarine. She continues to fondle over Carmelita and insists that Olaf give in to the girl's every whim.
[edit] The Penultimate Peril
Esmé appears at the Hotel Denouemont wearing nothing but strategically placed lettuce leaves and strange telescopic glasses. She is followed by Geraldine Julienne, who continues to hang on her every word. When the Baudelaires set fire to the hotel, Esmé is inside. Whether or not she escapes is unknown; this is the last time she is seen in the series.
