the Great Underwear Theory
Jun. 16th, 2006 08:58 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefBy Rowana and Willow
Being an analysis of the type of underwear Gen would wear, as well as the underwear-wearing habits and social ramifications thereof of various societies:
After much intense, solemn and mind-wearying discussion, Rowana and I concluded that Gen was not, in fact, wearing underwear at the beginning of the Thief. Initially we postulated that this was a Thief tradition, handed down from his grandfather, either to not wear underwear at all, or, possibly, to remove it and leave it with one's sacrifices (would this then lead to a Thief carrying several extra pairs of underwear in order to leave a pair with each sacrifice, or would he merely steal that as well?).
The latter proved to be the key to our breakthrough, for at the end of Queen of Attolia, he sacrificed a goat; thus, since we can conclude he did not actually wear the goat as underwear, we can conclude that his underwear was woollen. Since this type of undergarment would be quite warm, and Sounis was hot, we further concluded that the residents of Sounis do not wear underwear, and that Gen was following suit in order to blend in.
The woollen underwear, then, must be local to Eddis. This explains why Ornon was so upset when Eugenides helped him "lose" his sheep: he was losing a potential source of underwear! Perhaps, then, underwear is tied to social status in Eddis, and this was why Ornon was so upset, for of course as ambassador he must maintain his high status. Additionally, the practice of the Thieves of Eddis to leave their underwear with their sacrifices makes sense in the light of their traditional defiance of social standards.
Knowledge about the underwear of the Attolians is not so easy to derive, but if the practice of going without was brought by the invaders, then the Attolians would also not wear underwear. This could be a reason why Eddisians are considered rustic and barbaric in both Sounis and Attolia: ancient and important differences of clothing.
Theories of the underwear of the Medes, sadly, must be based purely on conjecture. As that society is rather status-conscious, as reflected in Nahuseresh's appearance, probably even underwear would be significant among the classes. Probably purple underwear would be reserved for the emperor, but as the younger brother of the heir, Nahuseresh might be entitled to wear a vivid blue or red. Kamet, on the other hand, would probably wear a garment made out of undyed cloth.
Further conjectures were impossible based on limited textual evidence, but perhaps continued analysis will produce additional insights.
Being an analysis of the type of underwear Gen would wear, as well as the underwear-wearing habits and social ramifications thereof of various societies:
After much intense, solemn and mind-wearying discussion, Rowana and I concluded that Gen was not, in fact, wearing underwear at the beginning of the Thief. Initially we postulated that this was a Thief tradition, handed down from his grandfather, either to not wear underwear at all, or, possibly, to remove it and leave it with one's sacrifices (would this then lead to a Thief carrying several extra pairs of underwear in order to leave a pair with each sacrifice, or would he merely steal that as well?).
The latter proved to be the key to our breakthrough, for at the end of Queen of Attolia, he sacrificed a goat; thus, since we can conclude he did not actually wear the goat as underwear, we can conclude that his underwear was woollen. Since this type of undergarment would be quite warm, and Sounis was hot, we further concluded that the residents of Sounis do not wear underwear, and that Gen was following suit in order to blend in.
The woollen underwear, then, must be local to Eddis. This explains why Ornon was so upset when Eugenides helped him "lose" his sheep: he was losing a potential source of underwear! Perhaps, then, underwear is tied to social status in Eddis, and this was why Ornon was so upset, for of course as ambassador he must maintain his high status. Additionally, the practice of the Thieves of Eddis to leave their underwear with their sacrifices makes sense in the light of their traditional defiance of social standards.
Knowledge about the underwear of the Attolians is not so easy to derive, but if the practice of going without was brought by the invaders, then the Attolians would also not wear underwear. This could be a reason why Eddisians are considered rustic and barbaric in both Sounis and Attolia: ancient and important differences of clothing.
Theories of the underwear of the Medes, sadly, must be based purely on conjecture. As that society is rather status-conscious, as reflected in Nahuseresh's appearance, probably even underwear would be significant among the classes. Probably purple underwear would be reserved for the emperor, but as the younger brother of the heir, Nahuseresh might be entitled to wear a vivid blue or red. Kamet, on the other hand, would probably wear a garment made out of undyed cloth.
Further conjectures were impossible based on limited textual evidence, but perhaps continued analysis will produce additional insights.
no subject
Date: 6/17/06 01:36 am (UTC)Oh. My. God. You guys are nuts. :) I agree that in Thief there seems to be a lack of underwear. And what do you suppose Costis wears under his kilt-thing?
And, sorry, but you get wool from sheep, not goats.
no subject
Date: 6/17/06 01:38 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/17/06 01:48 am (UTC)Costis, according to our highly scientific theories, would not wear any underwear, unless there were special regulations for the soldiers, which is entirely possible. And what's wrong with Neil Diamond?
(no subject)
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Date: 6/17/06 09:12 am (UTC)Yeah, okay, nuts.
no subject
Date: 9/11/07 07:30 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 9/11/07 08:01 pm (UTC)Costis, maybe. Not 15-year-old Gen.
*tries not to look*
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 6/17/06 01:43 am (UTC)Not that there's anything wrong with that.
no subject
Date: 6/17/06 02:33 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/17/06 03:09 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/17/06 03:52 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/17/06 09:15 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/17/06 01:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/17/06 03:00 pm (UTC)(no subject)
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Date: 6/17/06 03:26 pm (UTC)Not even going to ask why this whole hypothesis came about. XD XD XD
no subject
Date: 6/17/06 04:10 pm (UTC)(no subject)
From:from emerald-random
Date: 6/17/06 06:49 pm (UTC)Re: from emerald-random
Date: 6/17/06 06:54 pm (UTC)Re: from emerald-random
From:Re: from emerald-random
Date: 6/17/06 10:58 pm (UTC)Hmm. Well, maybe if I leave now I can hide in the Patagonian uplands before she sends a hit squad after me. Nice talking to you guys, I'll be out of touch for a while.
Re: from emerald-random
From:Re: from emerald-random
From:Re: from emerald-random
From:Re: from emerald-random
From:Re: from emerald-random
From:Re: from emerald-random
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From:Sorry - off topic-No mention of underwear!
From:Re: Sorry - off topic-No mention of underwear!
From:no subject
Date: 6/19/06 05:02 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 6/19/06 04:02 pm (UTC)Eddisians wear underwear made of soft cloth, not wool,
AND
Sounisians and Attolians do indeed wear underwear?
Because that's how I am interpreting your comments.
(no subject)
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Date: 6/19/06 05:58 pm (UTC)... But wait! Circular logic can save the day! If the Sounisians and Attolians don't wear underwear, then there'd be no market for fine linen underwear from Eddis, and they wouldn't be sold. And we've already shown that the Sounisians may not wear underwear because of what Gen was wearing in prison.
I suppose it really would depend on the season, and the climate of Eddis-- we know it's colder than the other two countries, but that's just a relative assessment. Maybe they wear woollen underwear in the winter and linen in the summer.
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 6/24/06 10:43 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 4/15/07 12:27 am (UTC)If you want to know something messed I have actually wondered about this before I even heard about this
no subject
Date: 4/15/07 01:06 am (UTC)Nothing wrong with laughing yourself silly. The sign of true talent is laughing someone else silly...
(no subject)
From:no subject
Date: 6/16/10 05:33 pm (UTC)But!
Perhaps Gen doesn't wear underwear because he is gutter scum. I don't think it's ever mentioned that the magus/Sophos/Ambiades/Pol wear underwear (or not).
Maybe Ornon's anger is simply because sheep are valuable animals (Wool blankets! Winter cloaks! Mutton!) and not because he wants them as underwear. (Horrible image of Ornon in underwear made of an entire sheepskin. Head, legs and tail included. Gah!)
Though it's much more amusing to think of Gen dedicating his underwear.