“How many instruments of murder do you suppose there are in this room?”

 

Ian Brady has always interested me. Everyone knows his letters and mannerisms are all about control and manipulation however we still let him have 'one up on us'. I find his letters very carefully crafted, the way he uses language to create power over his reader. He uses French and Latinate lexis within his letters to appear more educated and therefore gain authority. He also uses extremely complex language, language that isn't used in people's everyday vocabulary. This is an example of Goffman's divergence theory. Brady also tends to uses passives in his letters to shift the blame or hide what's happened.

Brendan Pittaway is in regular contact with Ian. He has noticed when exchanging letters just how orderly his messages were, each one was sent in an envelope with his initials 'ISB' beneath the seal. His style of handwriting never varied, neatly joined up with a slight slant to the right. However, in mostly all of Ian letters there would be spelling mistakes suggesting his highly educated persona wasn't true. Brendan was trying to gather fresh information out of Brady in particular as to where Keith Bennett's body is hidden. On the other hand Brady was trying to use Brendan to reshape his face in the media.

Whilst Brady has been inside, he is still trying to gain control over authorities, the families of his victims and Myra Hindley. When Brady confessed to his crimes, it wasn't out of remorse but revenge. This clearly shows he has no guilt. Brady's playing a power game; he won't say where Keith's body is. "Keith Bennett's unfound body is very important to Ian Brady. He has one actual murder which he can consider to be perfect." Spoken by Dr David Holmes, Criminal Psychologist. Brady believes Keith's killing was 'perfect' and therefore would only hurt himself if he was to confess as to where it is. He has however written a letter that can only be opened when he dies, researchers believe this withholds information as to where Keith's body is located. The fact he has put a condition as to when the letter can be opened is another attempt to gain power and also have power when he dies.

In 1999 Ian Brady decided to go on hunger strike as he wanted to die. His commands to die were refused by the judge and he was force fed through a tube. They concluded that his wish to die through starvation was an 'obsessive need to exercise control.' However, you might find the force feeding unnecessary as every morning he eats toast and soup. Poor Brady is too embarrassed to admit this though, so everyone morning the nurses knock before entering his room so he has time to clear away his food.

Abi Millen