Thoughts I've Been Chewing On
Mar. 27th, 2009 01:11 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefSomething has been niggling at me since I first finished The King of Attolia, and as I'm not sure that I've been able to answer myself after my recent reread, I figured I would cast this question out to everyone. So:
Is Gen and Attolia's relationship an entirely healthy one?
As a disclaimer, I do not mean to undermine the strength or purity of their love; it is entirely obvious that Gen and Attolia are excellently suited for each other and happy together. What concerns me is the quantity of fear that has existed, and still seems to exist between them. A few demonstrative quotes:
She lifted her hand and laid it on the side of his face. It was all she needed to do. Though his expression didn't change, she could feel the tremor that went through him at her touch. He was afraid of her. Some part of him would always be afraid of her. That fear was her weapon, and she would encourage it if she wanted to maintain her authority as queen. (QoA p.373)
This quote is not as indicative as it might be, obviously, as Attolia hasn't allowed herself to fully commit to Gen and the relationship yet. The Attolia of KoA would not manipulate Gen this way, and as we know, she actually wants for him to increase his exercise of power. However, I think Gen's reaction to her touch is telling-- his fear of her is real, and he does not seem to be something he can entirely ignore or suppress, and it seems to continue.
"Just a nightmare," he said, his voice still rough.
The queen's voice was cool. "How embarrassing," she said, looking at his maimed arm.
The king looked up then, and followed her gaze. If it was embarrassing to wake like a child screaming from a nightmare, how much more embarrassing to be the reason your husband woke screaming. (KoA p. 208)
This seems rather ominous to me, and it's followed by another nightmare which we learn the exact subject of:
...the king said shakily, "Tell me you won't cut out my lying tongue, tell me you won't blind me, you won't drive red-hot wires into my ears." (KoA p. 218)
Tellingly, Gen and Attolia have a very touching moment after this; again, we clearly aren't meant to doubt their love, but the fact remains that Gen's nightmares directly concern his wife. Nor does Gen seem to expect to be relieved of this burden.
"Dite, I don't need quinalums to give me nightmares; they come on their own. The gods send them to keep me humble." (KoA p. 235) I feel I should say that, as a reader, I am glad that MWT has embedded this confusing element into Gen and Attolia's marriage, as it is highly realistic and makes for even deeper and more complex characters and situations than we already enjoyed. (And, though this is a subject for another post, I must say how impressed I am at how Megan handles the vast and continuous waves created when Attolia cut Gen's hand off.) However, analyzing this subject as objectively as I can leaves me to wonder how healthy a relationship can be if an individual suffers from such an intense level of (possibly) subconscious fear of their spouse that it causes consistent nightmares.
What do you all think?
Is Gen and Attolia's relationship an entirely healthy one?
As a disclaimer, I do not mean to undermine the strength or purity of their love; it is entirely obvious that Gen and Attolia are excellently suited for each other and happy together. What concerns me is the quantity of fear that has existed, and still seems to exist between them. A few demonstrative quotes:
She lifted her hand and laid it on the side of his face. It was all she needed to do. Though his expression didn't change, she could feel the tremor that went through him at her touch. He was afraid of her. Some part of him would always be afraid of her. That fear was her weapon, and she would encourage it if she wanted to maintain her authority as queen. (QoA p.373)
"Just a nightmare," he said, his voice still rough.
The queen's voice was cool. "How embarrassing," she said, looking at his maimed arm.
The king looked up then, and followed her gaze. If it was embarrassing to wake like a child screaming from a nightmare, how much more embarrassing to be the reason your husband woke screaming. (KoA p. 208)
This seems rather ominous to me, and it's followed by another nightmare which we learn the exact subject of:
...the king said shakily, "Tell me you won't cut out my lying tongue, tell me you won't blind me, you won't drive red-hot wires into my ears." (KoA p. 218)
Tellingly, Gen and Attolia have a very touching moment after this; again, we clearly aren't meant to doubt their love, but the fact remains that Gen's nightmares directly concern his wife. Nor does Gen seem to expect to be relieved of this burden.
"Dite, I don't need quinalums to give me nightmares; they come on their own. The gods send them to keep me humble." (KoA p. 235)
What do you all think?
no subject
Date: 3/31/09 02:54 am (UTC)*nods sagely*
*has no idea what she's talking about*
no subject
Date: 3/31/09 01:41 pm (UTC)mwt
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Date: 3/31/09 03:00 pm (UTC)How does that related to Attolia teaching her first husband table manners?
no subject
Date: 3/31/09 05:54 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 3/31/09 05:55 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4/1/09 03:57 am (UTC)*adds to overly long list of books to read*
no subject
Date: 3/31/09 05:53 pm (UTC)