(no subject)

[rowana.livejournal.com]

cheezluva pointed me in the direction of this page:

http://webcontent.harpercollins.com/text/teachers_guides/pdf/006083577X.pdf

Most of the questions seem designed to get the reader to understand the more obscure parts of the book, which means we've already discussed a lot of it. But I thought these were interesting:

8. Speaking with the traitor Relius, Eugenides says,“You must hate [Attolia] now.” Relius replies,“If I were [imprisoned] for fifty years . . . and she released me, I would crawl, if that was all I could do, to her feet to serve her” (p. 247). What has Attolia done to command and retain this kind of loyalty?

I remember a bit in The Queen of Attolia where Irene points out that she hires mercenaries and has no family as Eddis does for her army. Is it purely money that keeps people loyal to Irene?

Comments

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Well, the okloi liked her because she gave them opportunities they otherwise would never have, for example the army she pays, and Aris who otherwise would be tanning hides or dying as a foot soldier. But Eugenides and Relius must see something in her that is not obvious to everyone.

In QoA, when people heard she was going to marry Eugenides, Attolia's attendants rallied around her and supported her, to her surprise. More of the "you couldn't possibly love ME" syndrome, as Megan called it.

She didn't command that type of feeling in most of the the barons and patronoi, but more so in the common people who appreciated what she had done for the country. She was always fair with people and hanged only traitors. She always did what was best for the country, no matter the cost to her.

But something about her commanded tremendous loyalty (Relius) and love (Eugenides). Those who knew her well felt that, and most Attolians, too.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

Well, the okloi liked her because she gave them opportunities they otherwise would never have, for example the army she pays, and Aris who otherwise would be tanning hides or dying as a foot soldier.

Good point. I'd forgotten about that.

More of the "you couldn't possibly love ME" syndrome, as Megan called it.

:D That makes sense. And I guess you're right - she'd got the loyalty of the okloi through her fairness, but could only unite her Barons if she married.

I guess what I wasn't sure about was why she failed to recognise the loyalty and love a lot of people felt - for herself as a queen if not herself as a person. In Relius, as you said, and other members of the guard. But I suppose she also failed to recognise Dite's feelings. :) It was interesting that such a point was made of their losing the right to call her 'My Queen' if they failed.