Gen and Irene's children

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

Hi everyone! I'm a long time MWT fan and was delighted to find this community. I haven't had time to read everything but have really enjoyed lots of your discussions.

I read King of Attolia a few weeks ago and loved it (my posts are here and here). One of my thoughts afterwards was that I have problems imagining Gen and Irene having children. I assume they will seeing as they are part of a hereditary monarchy, but still can't picture either their children or how they'd act as parents. From the comments on my personal journal it seems that other people don't have this problem and would love to see Gen and Irene's children. What do you think?

Comments

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

This is quite interesting, because my mum was hoping for, in her words, "news of an heir on the way" at the end of King of Attolia.

As for myself, I really don't know. They have to have an heir, obviously, but I can't see how Gen and Irene would make really great parents. I'm not saying they'd be horrible or anything, just... yeah. Plus, it's hard to rule a Kingdom and raise kids at the same time, or at least, I'd assume it is.

I actually just keep thinking of what an awful parent I would make, and comparing myself to Eugenides, because for better or for worse I think my personality is a lot like his (there should be one of those 'which character are you' tests for the Queen's Thief books! Anyone? Anyone? :P), buuuuut... like I said, they have to have an heir. And it could be interesting.

And, hooray, another new person! :D

[cyberskiver.livejournal.com]

Welcome, Emma!

I can't imagine Gen and Irene having children. I can't even imagine Irene being pregnant. And imagining Eugenides as a father just makes him seem so old. He's spent three book being regarded as young, practically a boy, I don't think readers should have to deal with him becoming a father when they've just come to terms with him being a man.

I think that at first Gen and Irene will have to work out some of their problems. They've made progress, but their relationship could still improve. I think it would be nice if it was more stable before they start becoming parents.

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

The problem with that is, they're married, they're obviously not celibate, so they're going to have kids unless they have fertility problems, or Attolia has advanced birth control methods.

But actually, your comment has made me think, how old does everyone think Eugenides is? Or any of the other characters for that matter? I think I might make a new post and ask this...

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Part of me would really hate the whole children thing in the books. However, I have perfect faith in Megan handling it admirably.

I can't decide whether Gen would be an indulgent father or a reincarnation of his own father. Remember at the end of KoA when he was shouting harsh instructions to Costis as they sparred? I kept hearing his father there. I wondered if he was repeating what he had heard as a kid when learning to swordfight.

If Gen had a little Attolia-like girl I think she would wrap him around her finger. I think they both would be very hard on a little boy, though. All those expectations of him being the future king.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Oh, and emmaco, welcome! I'm glad you came and posted this question. I've been wondering it, too.

[thnidu.livejournal.com]

"I wondered if he was repeating what he had heard as a kid when learning to swordfight."

Yeah, he was. At least, my lady dunkelpig found it obvious. I haven't read the first two books in years -- roughly, I guess, since shortly after QOA came out -- so she keeps telling me X, Y, or Z is obvious when I've forgotten what it refers back to. Gotta catch up. (But first, catch up on sleep.)

"Gen," she says, "will channel the best of what he knows, and certainly if he's going to teach Costis or his own children or anyone else to fence he'll channel his own father. That doesn't make him a bad teacher or parent. Just as the grandfather who trained him as Thief had to be a strict and exacting taskmaster, or he'd have been dead."

Smart lady.

-- I know our own daughter had me wrapped around her little finger from the day she was born. Literally. I walked her up and down the delivery room singing to her, and she was looking at me with those big eyes thinking, "Hmm, who is this and what can I do with him?"

[dh684.livejournal.com]

I think they would also be aware that the line of succession can change at any moment given that Eddis and Attolia both came into their respective thrones unexpectedly.

I think Irene would wish her daughters to have a less straitlaced/sheltered upbringing.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

so they're going to have kids unless they have fertility problems, or Attolia has advanced birth control methods.

:D Which actually, could start up a whole new topic. Anyone know of any ancient birth control methods or superstitions? I've heard of a plant called Silphium (sp?) that was used in ancient greece.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

Part of me would really hate the whole children thing in the books. However, I have perfect faith in Megan handling it admirably.

*seconds this*

I can't see either Gen or Irene being wonderful parents. The again, they'd probably learn as they went along, the way most parents do. I can't think of any way either of them cold have had much contact with children before, so they'd probably fall back on their own childhoods. I agree, they'd both be harder on a boy. I also agree with ,dh684, I think Irene would want a girl to have a lot more freedom than she did as a child. Or perhaps not. *considers*

Good question emmaco!

[sandtree.livejournal.com]

I know some. Didn't Ancient Egyptians used to insert... err... something... o_O' I know there were various herbs and things that could induce a miscarriage, but I think they were pretty toxic.

[anon8.livejournal.com]

Then again, Gen had so many cousins and siblings, he must have gotten drafted to babysit younger cousins, nieces/nephews some time. And he's a good storyteller...

[emmaco.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the kind welcome :)

It's been interesting hearing everyone's thoughts, and I think I can now better summarise what I think - I can't imagine Gen and Irene being parents if they're as emotionally volatile as they are at the end of KoA. In the future I can see them being good parents. But in general if they were a modern couple (including access to birth control, good point!) I could easily see them as choosing not to have children.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

That's true. I guess I was just thinking in terms of the emphasis put on the isolation his training gave. It's interesting how Gen's family (beyond Eddis and his father) are never much mentioned.

[rowana.livejournal.com]

*nods* I was looking at Byzantine medicine, and I think people mostly used herbs which were often harmful to the mother as well as the baby.