Couple of Things from The Thief

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I am rereading all of the books right now in celebration of it being a year since I discovered them and they took over my life.  I just finished reading The Thief and I noticed a couple of things that to mind scenes from the other books and thought I would share.  Forgive me if these have already been mentioned.

Right after Pol has untied the ropes around Gen’s hands and he is telling him why the magus doesn’t need to find out there’s this: “It was more words spoken altogether than I’d heard Pol use yet.” 

This reminded me of Gen’s comment to Costis in KoA, “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you say so many words in a row. You almost sounded articulate.”  Gen seems to have an instinctive liking for the honorable and silent soldier. 

This is from the scene where Gen is standing before Hephestia in the throne room and realizes she is real and then Eugenides (the god) walks over:
“The patron of thieves came closer. He moved to his sister’s right hand and laid his own across it.”

I don't think I knew this line was there before but this time it stopped me because it reminded me of the scene in ACoK when Gen does this in the throne room with Irene.  It's an interesting parallel but I don't know if it means anything.

Thoughts anyone? 

Comments

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Gen seems to have an instinctive liking for the honorable and silent soldier.

Kind of describes his father, ney?

Hmmm... That is interesting. That could mean something.

[coyul.livejournal.com]

It does kind of describe the MoW. :D I think that's exactly why he likes that type.

Also, I hadn't noticed the similarities, mostly because I haven't re-read The Thief in a while. I need to go back and re-read that one. I've recently read ACoK and KoA again in that order. I could just continue to go backward. XD

[jade-sabre-301.livejournal.com]

oooooooooooooh I like both of this observations a lot. That line in KoA is one of the most striking ones in the book for me, and I am digging these layers y'all are finding. :-D

[keestone.livejournal.com]

My first thought as well.

...Also, it seems to be pretty much the diametric opposite to his own natural personality. :)

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

...the diametric opposite to his own natural personality.

True as well.

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

Yes, I too thought of the MOW when I read that line. I think Gen appreciates the value of these traits because he has seen how his father uses them well. I also agree that he appreciates them because they are diametrically opposed to his own personality.

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

Nice observations!

Although this only applies to KoA and CoK, the silent and honorable soldier is also the opposite of the people he's dealing with as king. It's probably nice to be around people with clear morals.

Might remind him of the value of morals, when he seems to be slowly losing them.

[rosaleeluann.livejournal.com]

THIS IS WHY I WANT COSTIS TO COME BACK PLEASE.

Well, actually its mostly because Costis is awesome. But this too.

[drashizu.livejournal.com]

Great parallels! For the second one: It's not the first time there's been a comparison drawn between Irene and Hephestia. It's pretty explicitly stated in the first book that Attolia is trying to look like the Great Goddess to remind her subjects of who she is. So if we're going with the theory that Attolia is like Hephestia, and then we draw the (perfectly reasonable) conclusion that Eugenides is like his patron god, that scene you mentioned in ACoK could be evidence for the theory that Gen is going to support Irene's rule the way Eugenides-the-god supports Hephestia's rule in his Thiefly capacity.

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

Exactly. But it is not just supporting it, it is influencing it. Which is interesting. Especially as the other gods have to see Eugenides as a kind of upstart (much like the court of Attolia sees Gen)because he was born a mortal.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Isn't there some line in there, too, about Gen looking into Hephestia's eyes and she was distant from the events involving humans, or something? It reminded me of Irene's remoteness.

[creative-lefty2.livejournal.com]

Ah, now I want to reread all the mythology parts in "The Thief" that deal with Hephestia and Eugenedes. It would be really interesting to look into their relationship and compare it to Gen and Attolia's...and their friends and how they might fit into this image. Why do my books have to be 3 hours away?!?!?!

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

*is attempting to ignore the "I" word that that thought brings to mind*

[creative-lefty2.livejournal.com]

Interesting? Intriguing? Insolent? Indulgent? Internet? Interstate? Irene? Informative? (I am partially joking around, partially confused as to which "I" word you mean)

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Umm... Sorry... I phrased it that way to better convey in writing my uncomfortableness with the thought.

Hephestia and Eugenides are half-siblings, so the word that came to mind at the thought of them being in a relationship would be...

INCEST.

[creative-lefty2.livejournal.com]

Right. That word does start with an "i". That implication honestly did not occur to me. I'm just going to play the naivety card and leave it at that. (Although I still think it would be interesting to look at the...more public...interactions between characters, as in power struggles and how the myths reflect their version of real life.)

[brandy-painter.livejournal.com]

I'm not going there either. In my mind there will never be a parallel in that aspect of their dealings with each other.

[amolegere.livejournal.com]

Oh my gosh, Pol/Costis parallel squee!!!!!!! Thank you so much!!!! *gleefully rereads TT and KoA*

I have also seen a parallel in my last couple rereads of QoA. At the end when Gen is talking to the goddess (I'm away from my books, sadly, and so I am going by unreliable memory here) they mention dust motes in the air or SOMETHING like that. Which made me dance for joy, because I love the motes in CoK.

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

Yes, I noticed this tooo!!! :)

[(Anonymous)]

I completely missed that. Thanks for pointing it out.

Sommerrev

[hazelwillow.livejournal.com]

I like what you point out about the Hephestia/Eugenides and Attolia/Gen parallel! That's so smart, and I think it's valid.

Both gestures mean the same thing, too: when Gen lays his hand over Attolia's it's to take the reins of power for a moment (in which he delivers that crushing line to Sophos...) or to influence her in her decision-making as a ruler. When God-Eugenides puts his hand over Hephestia's, he too is influencing her, this time to allow Gen to take the stone, right? So he's exerting his influence as the God of Thieves, perhaps asking her to let Gen steal the stone... or simply signifying Hephestia's consent to Gen.

Interesting that whereas Gen was coming to take something (the stone), Sophos is coming to give something (his country...).

p.s. I feel vaguely blasphemous referring to the god as God-Eugenides. Maybe I'm a little too superstitious? Maybe I should be referring to our Eugenides as Human-Eugenides instead.
But somehow that doesn't feel any safer. :P

[thelasteddis.livejournal.com]

I tend to, if I have to talk about them together, begin by distinguishing Eugenides as Eugenides the god, then referring to him only as Eugenides while I call the Thief Eugenides Gen.

It's rather confusing, isn't it?

[ninedaysaqueen.livejournal.com]

Oh... The woes of naming infants after pre-existing figures in relatives, ruling class, social circles, and religion.

I was mixing up my Henrys today...