Hairpins and Look! I'm Spamming!

[claire-mirkwood.livejournal.com]

Sorry for double-posting, but I was reading a (very, very old) chat transcript. And I'm *such* a history nerd. I couldn't help it, I needed to extrapolate on the hairpins thing.
A woman's hair being worn up is, in many a cultures, a sign of marriage. In Chinese history, only a woman's husband was allowed to take down her hair -- in anyone else it would have been incredibly rude. I read somewhere that the same was true in ancient Greece.
Now, because Attolia/Eddis/Sounis is much like Greece, one could hazard a guess that the same rule holds there. So, by removing Irene's hairpins, Gen is telling everyone that he is Irene's husband in truth, not only in name.
However, the question is begged: why don't the Attolians notice?
Perhaps it's only a tradition in Eddis?  But then Elia and Phresine notice, and as far as I know, they're both Attolian.
But look! Here's what actually happens:
Gen had returned to the throne and settled onto it looking smug. Phresine, leaving with the queen, heard Elia murmur under her breath, "Well, that was revealing."
"Only to those with eyes to see," murmured Phresine back.
Ornon, standing nearby, silently agreed.
So as far as we know (but only as far as we know), only Gen, Irene, Phresine, Elia and Ornon spot what went on there. The others, we presume, don't have "eyes to see."
If it is a solely Eddisian tradition, than it's obvious why Gen did it and why Ornon spotted it, but not obvious why the queen, Phresine and Elia notice anything more.
So! Let's look at the people who see and check what their relationship to the king and queen is.
Ornon:  Gen's cousin and victim of the famous sheep theft. He knows that Gen isn't an idiot or a puppet. He also knows that the king and queen are in love.
Phresine: Queen's oldest attendant. At one point, when the queen and king are in the queen's rooms, it's implied that Phresine knew he was there.
Elia: I'm actually not sure who Elia is...I'm assuming she's an attendant. I don't know about you, but I was pretty sure that the queen's attendants knew perfectly well that there were...ah...alternate routes between the king and queen's respective suites. At least, Iolanthe and Ileia don't seem too shocked in the "I love every one of your ridiculous lies" scene. Which made me blush for Costis' sake.
Anyway. So, here's my final theory: what if the hair-being-taken-down-by-a-husband thing is fairly common, but the court are so wrapped up in wondering how the king can dance with one hand that they don't notice? Also, they probably wouldn't be expecting any signs of romance between Irene and Gen, so they wouldn't be looking for any.
What do you all think?

Comments

[coyul.livejournal.com]

I figured the court didn't notice him loosening the pins and assumed her hair simply fell from moving around too much during the dance. I did not know the historical significance, though!

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

But...do we really know afterwards who noticed and wondered and maybe thought Gen was being awfully rude and embarrassing and who didn't notice anything at all? Our author didn't really go around the room taking a poll. Some people may have noticed and raised an eyebrow or two. Or at least wondered. Maybe a silent, "Huh."

Which is what I am going to say now. I don't remember "meeting" you, mirkwood (great name, btw), but my memory is of epic fail, so please, if I have, don't be offended. So, HI! And welcome! I have crowned myself TOS (The Oldest Sounisian) so that's me!

[claire-mirkwood.livejournal.com]

Hi, there. No, I don't think you've met me. My memory isn't the greatest, either, though.
And good point. That's why it's *only* as far as we know.

[smills47.livejournal.com]

I think that's brilliant. The significance of taking down the hair went right past me.

[loquaciousquark.livejournal.com]

This is a really interesting point; thanks for bringing it up! I find that I'm kind of torn between two possible scenarios, and I don't have my book on hand to find out which one's more likely.

The first one I can imagine is that Gen is so quick with his hand during the dance that the court just doesn't see him pulling out the pins, but I can't remember the relevant descriptive passages from the book--and doesn't he hand them all back to Irene from his waistcoat or jacket or something when the dance is over? I kinda think that'd be a clue that it was intentional.

The other one that I feel is a bit more likely is that everyone sees him pulling out the pins, but the audience doesn't understand the reasons behind it the way Irene does. They see it as the capricious, country kid come down from the mountains, once again mildly embarrassing their queen and customs by engaging in some sort of cheap ownership game, and the fact that he settles onto the throne with a smug look afterwards just rubs it in. Like a "ha, ha, I married your queen and there's nothing you can do about it," and I think that's the impression Gen intended to give to the court.

Whereas what it actually is under the facade Gen puts up, in my opinion, is Gen just being like, "I am going to dance with my wife" with an undercurrent of "yeah, she's the queen of your country, but to me she's my wife first and here's a reminder to us both by engaging in this very husbandly/wifely tradition."

So the court all sees the first one, the smug kid asserting his authority in a metaphorical pissing contest, whereas Ornon and Phresine and the rest see a man and his wife.

imho, ymmv, etc etc

[claire-mirkwood.livejournal.com]

Oh, excellent. I hadn't thought of that.

[beth-shulman.livejournal.com]

Yes, I assumed the same thing - that everyone thought Gen was trying to embarrass their queen. I also thought that they were possibly distracted because they didn't think that Gen could do the dance with one hand, but he did. I'd never heard of the historical significance behind hairpins, but I assumed that Gen was trying to show Attolia that he could check her power.

The hairpins fact is fascinating; it makes the scene so much clearer.

[msmcknittington.livejournal.com]

Aren't there a couple scenes where someone else is taking down Irene's hair after her marriage, though? Namely, her attendants? And doesn't Helen wear her hair up? I think we should keep in mind that just because something might be part of Greek history, that doesn't mean it's part of the books.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Nicely spotted! I've never heard of this tradition before. If it's not a specific tradition, since there are also several aspects of the 15-16 hundreds in Attolia/Eddis/Sounis and taking someone's hair down was fine then, it certainly appears to be some serious symbolism.

You should head over to History Haven, my and Lady Jane's comm. We could always use more history nerds! http://community.livejournal.com/history_haven/

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Helen wears her hair short, "like a boy's". I get the feeling she puts combs in it now and again, but in general I don't think she styles it.

Although you're right, Attolia does wear her hair up before marriage. I remember a specific scene in which she blows up at her attendants in QoA while they're putting her hair up. We can't rule out the tradition, though... it could be a variation, just ditching the hair down before marriage bit.

[amolegere.livejournal.com]

Awesome, thank you so much. That particular scene has really been puzzling me recently. Thanks for making sense of it for me!

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

Oh, and thanks for pointing out the significance; I never thought of that. Veeeery iiiinteresting!

[steeple333.livejournal.com]

I thought Attolia was married before the books? She poisoned him with her wine cup. I'd imagine widows kept their hair up, too.

[steeple333.livejournal.com]

Hey, that's pretty cool! I'm agreeing with the other posters that it was that same dual message: the court saw Gen asserting himself as king, but it was an act of a husband to Irene.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Nice catch! I always forget that one.

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

I've heard of this, but it never occurred to me in connection with the scene in KoA. Cool observation!

Also, not just ancient societies, methinks. I mean, I'd be pretty miffed if some guy pulled my hairpins out. O.o

[tencups-i-swear.livejournal.com]

I don't wear hair pins, I use pencils instead, but if someone pulled them out I'd be pretty annoyed at them as well.

I love your icon by the way. :D

[freenarnian.livejournal.com]

Thanks! =D

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Tell me about it!

I would be like...

Do you have ANY idea HOW LONG I had to sit still for those to be put in! And I didn't EVEN have a book!

[(Anonymous)]

This could also be Attolia balking at the reins of tradition yet again. She can be queen, and she will be queen in her way, therefor she can dress like an ancient goddess who very few in her country worship and WEAR HER HAIR HOWEVER SHE D*** WELL PLEASES!!!

-Left-handed Creativity

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

*is the said Lady Jane*

We're even planning some historical role-playing. Please, stop by.

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

It seems in many countries, a woman's hair style/hair care often related to her marital status.

English maidens could wear their hair down and uncovered. Married woman wore it up and under a headdress or hat. A Japanese court lady never cut her hair the entire length of her life, unless her husband died. She was then required to place a lock of her hair with his body.

Mrs. Turner is certainly historically competent, even if S.E.A. is a fictional world. Perhaps, this is another hidden tidbit of hers.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Betcha Heiro noticed.

[steeple333.livejournal.com]

I've read KoA a billion or so times, and I loved that scene where Attolia gets Gen to chill by making that gallows joke with the wine cup. XD

[steeple333.livejournal.com]

Also a valid reason. =) Wearing her hair up probably added to the "goddess" impression she set up.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

TOS FOREVERRRR!

I love you!

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

Wow, that's a stupendous observation!

I'd never focused on the hairpin thing itself -- I'd just thought of it more as one more thing Gen was doing without his hand, or as a way he was annoying Attolia -- but I really like your point. I wouldn't be surprised if Phresine knew about Eddisian traditions, if indeed it is one.

Ha! Another layer is revealed!

[tiegirl.livejournal.com]

You are too sweet! I have missed you.

[agh-4.livejournal.com]

:)

[aged-crone.livejournal.com]

I vaguely recall reading that in England in the Middle Ages (and at least shortly thereafter), while married women wore their hear up and covered, it was a queen's prerogative to wear it loose, especially at her coronation.

[elvenjaneite.livejournal.com]

I'm agreeing with you on the second one. The whole double impressions thing just seems like it fits with Gen and Irene's relationship at that point.

[thesehnsucht.livejournal.com]

so that's what was going on! that has been bothering me for years!
or at least one interpretation of it
I kinda guessed the hairpins thing was kind of a you're mine!/look how intimate I am with YOUR queen hahaha gesture but this brings a whole new dimension to the scene
ahhh, just where would I be without you guys?
I love you all

[lizzyazula.livejournal.com]

*three years later after this post was published*

I just read this.

I have been so ENLIGHTENED.

[sunshinebutter.livejournal.com]

nice, me too