Was Costis rehabilitated?

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Fun with conjecture...


"So you risk him to save the life of a treacherous, worthless guard?"
"You called Costis your loyal servant earlier."
"He was a loyal servant earlier. He is no longer. You will not rehabilitate him with me."

(KoA hardback, p. 24)


What do y'all think? Did Gen change the queen's mind?


(Also, I was checking tags for this discussion and that lovely drawing of Costis wasn't under the "costis" tag; anyone know where it is?)

Comments

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Doesn't she smile at Costis at some point in the book? Perhaps I'm not remembering correctly, but I seem to recall him feeling gooey right down to his be-sandaled toes. Like she'd finally accepted his adoption into Gen's eclectic family - maybe even empathized with him - and was generally conveying her support. Then again, maybe not.

Definitely rehabbed

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Yes, I think he saved himself in Attolia's eyes. After all, he forced Gen into Kinghood.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

So, I was a little confused about the implications of the word, as I've heard it used in many different contexts, but I didn't have a chance to look it up until now. So, the definition of rehabilitated, for my fellow vocabulary impaired:

re·ha·bil·i·tate

verb (used with object)

1. to restore to a condition of good health, ability to work, or the like.
2. to restore to good condition, operation, or management, as a bankrupt business.
3. to reestablish the good reputation of (a person, one's character or name, etc.).
4. to restore formally to former capacity, standing, rank, rights, or privileges.

One and two don't apply. Now, the other two are interesting. Depending on which one chooses, the sentence can have different meanings.

Three would mean Attolia forgiving him, which is the first thing that comes to mind. Yes, I think she did - freenarnian mentioned the smile at the end.

But "to restore formally to blah blah blah and rank", would mean something different. It would imply that Costis was being brought back to his former life and rank with Attolia, and by a stretch, in Attolia's circle of power. If we're using this definition, I get the impression Attolia wants out of the entire Costis situation. She's making Gen deal with it.

...So wait. Attolia making Gen deal with a problem that he started, instead of using her own power to get him out of it?

This sounds like our familiar Attolia being sneaky. So, by definition #4, I'd say no, Costis was not rehabilitated with Attolia, he was rehabilitated with Gen, in the new order of politicians, guards, and courtiers that Gen is creating.

Goodness, I hope no one ever analyzes anything I write as hard as we're analyzing mwt.

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

Ooh, I like this interpretation. #4 makes me think of the fact that Costis is not, in fact, going to return to his former rank. He's being detached from the Guard (according to Gen at the end, at least). But I also think that as far as the other things go---capacity, standing, rights, and privileges---he might be better off than he was before. He's definitely one of the few people who could be considered a "confidant" of the king, and of course we all know that he's going off to bigger and better things in the next book (am I right?), so I think it's not a rehabilitation, more like a... reassignment-slash-promotion.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I think we're going complete transplant for Costis. I VOTE COSTIS AND GEN TAKE ON THE MEDE but I know that won't happen.

[reader-marie.livejournal.com]

I really like what you've done with this--hooray for people who use dictionaries!

I especially like the distinction your idea makes between--if I may call them so--"personal" and "professional" rehabilitation. This may make Costis' situation analogous to that of, say, Relius, who is forgiven on a personal (and, I guess, political) level but not reinstated to his former position.

Thanks for your insight!

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Gen's presence totally reorganized the power structure in Attolia, which is interesting because at first it seems like there's no change at all. But there is a swing in emphasis from the professional to the personal. Of course, that's great as long as we've got good rulers, but what happens if some tyrant takes over in the future? I'm curious to see how/if mwt addresses that.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Great identifiers with personal and professional. That's a very clear way to think of it.

And, tle, I wonder if it was merely the perspective that made the switch seem so personal rather than professional? Then again, I think tyrants are the reason monarchies aren't really all the rage. ;)

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

I love this! I adore getting really specific with the meaning of words for analyses.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Hee hee, me too. (obviously)

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

I figure that once she calmed down from her HE HURT EUGENIDES!!!! DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE!!!! mode, she probably started thinking. And what she thought was, "Let's look at the facts. My husband was being as annoying as he could be (and I know how annoying that is), and this poor Costis person hauled off and belted him in the chops. Much as I would dearly love to do, on a regular basis.....Perhaps I should give him a medal."

(Or not. : ) )

[reader-marie.livejournal.com]

This makes me smile.

I also think it's possible that she recognized that Gen was simply going to adopt Costis into his circle of people he keeps near and even trusts a little, and she may as well get used to it. Not that she isn't capable of disagreeing with her husband until the proverbial cows come home, but she's probably also very good at picking her battles.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

hehe, a medal. *snicker*

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I'd say yes -- and I'd say Gen knew he would even in this conversation when he agrees with her. It's one of those instances when Attolia sees everything as clear-cut -- you are loyal, or you get so annoyed with the King that you hit him, impossible to be both -- until Gen shows her a different reality.

Costis saves Gen's life by warning him (almost too late) of the assassins in the garden -- and he's the only guard with enough clues to do that. He proves his loyalty beyond a doubt.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Good point about Gen already knowing this. I didn't include his next line but it's: "Of course not," he said humbly.

HA! Humble? I suppose that in itself is a clue as to his designs with Costis.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I didn't remember the exact line, but I remembered that it always felt in that scene as if Gen was thinking, "oh yes, I will, but I'm not crazy enough to say so."

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

Do you mind if I borrow that phrase and start marking all the times I feel like he's saying that to himself? :)

[jennifer19l.livejournal.com]

"He was a loyal servant earlier. He is no longer. You will not rehabilitate him with me."


I definitely think Gen changed her mind. Our beloved Attolia is rather unfortunately known for her erm... rash judgements. Let's see, ordering Gen to hang in QoA, condemning Relius, condemning Teleus, sending Chloe away for breaking the amphora (and being an annoying twit)... then there's all the people she wants flayed etc.

I like how Gen provides such a foil for her, and saves her from the consequences of her own decisions.

[sgwordy.livejournal.com]

They are such a great pair, aren't they? I tend not to speculate on them too much personally (too mind boggling for my pea brain) but as professionals I think they are a great partnership.