Another layer
Dec. 3rd, 2010 11:20 am![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
elvenjaneite.livejournal.com posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
queensthiefSo, we were discussing the infamous "take my wine cup" scene from KoA awhile back and I was thinking about it some more this morning. I came to the sudden realization that there's another metaphorical level too. Basically that scene and the contrast with what happened to Attolia's first husband is a nice little metaphor for the differences between her first and second marriages.
Attolia's first husband marries her against her will and attempts to take her sovereignty as a ruler away from her, just like he takes her food and drink when his own is gone. I don't think it's overstating to say that Attolia hates him on both the personal and political level, so she deals with him by using his greedy desire against him--poisoning him. His grabbing and her, um, reaction symbolize the complete dysfunction of their marriage. (Which lasts for what, a day?)
Now, with Gen it's a bit different. She offers him the cup, not as a warning (although that might be how it seems--I'll get to that in a second), but as a way to lighten his tension and so on. Likewise, by this point she has offered him the sovereignty of the country, despite the kidnapping. In the end she has chosen him--her power remains intact and she is able to offer the wine cup/country.
From the outside Gen and Attolia's first husband seem like they're trying to do the same thing--marry Attolia against her will and get control of the country. So the court might easily interpret Attolia's offering her wine cup to Gen as a threat: you watch it or you'll get what he got. But because the inner circumstances are so different, Attolia's real motive for offering Gen the cup is an expression of the fact that she cares about him. Both their marriage and the wine cup baffle the onlookers who don't understand the true complexities of their relationship, but both are actually rooted in a genuine understanding and love. The first wine cup incident and the first marriage, on the other hand, are quite clearly rooted in greed, dysfunction, and hate.
Opinions, thoughts, disagreements?
Attolia's first husband marries her against her will and attempts to take her sovereignty as a ruler away from her, just like he takes her food and drink when his own is gone. I don't think it's overstating to say that Attolia hates him on both the personal and political level, so she deals with him by using his greedy desire against him--poisoning him. His grabbing and her, um, reaction symbolize the complete dysfunction of their marriage. (Which lasts for what, a day?)
Now, with Gen it's a bit different. She offers him the cup, not as a warning (although that might be how it seems--I'll get to that in a second), but as a way to lighten his tension and so on. Likewise, by this point she has offered him the sovereignty of the country, despite the kidnapping. In the end she has chosen him--her power remains intact and she is able to offer the wine cup/country.
From the outside Gen and Attolia's first husband seem like they're trying to do the same thing--marry Attolia against her will and get control of the country. So the court might easily interpret Attolia's offering her wine cup to Gen as a threat: you watch it or you'll get what he got. But because the inner circumstances are so different, Attolia's real motive for offering Gen the cup is an expression of the fact that she cares about him. Both their marriage and the wine cup baffle the onlookers who don't understand the true complexities of their relationship, but both are actually rooted in a genuine understanding and love. The first wine cup incident and the first marriage, on the other hand, are quite clearly rooted in greed, dysfunction, and hate.
Opinions, thoughts, disagreements?
no subject
Date: 12/6/10 03:52 am (UTC)~Sommerrev