earrings and more...
Oct. 8th, 2014 09:56 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefHello everyone!
I am new here – I stumbled across this site quite by accident, and am oh, so glad that I found it! I LOVE these stories – and it is so nice to find other, like-minded people who know how to recognize a truly amazing piece of literature! I have not had anyone to talk over the books with…but after reading many of the posts and threads, would like to bring up a few ideas that I have had over the years of enjoying these stories and see what others think of them. (Please forgive me if I write about something that you have already discussed and just point me in the direction of that particular thread.)
1.Earrings: Is there something more to the earring in the stories than first meets the eye?
Evidence:
(A) In the stories, Gen has stolen many earrings (placed them alters) and given Irene a pair of earrings.
(B) Later, in KoA, he dances with the Lady Themis’s little sister, Hero, and when she tells him her father will wonder what he sees to admire, he tells her: “That’s easy. Tell him I like your earrings.” (p.156)
(C) After he is wounded, Gen allows Hero to be admitted to his room and talks quietly with her. When she leaves, Costis hears Gen say to her “I hope your father appreciates what a good friend you are to me.” (p.204)
(D) And I need to read ACoK again, but I believe that there is at least one earring reference in that book as well.
So, I am beginning to believe that there will be more to this than meets the eye…perhaps Gen is pulling together a group of trusted people to work for him and one means of identification (for the women at least) is the earrings that they wear…
2. Opinions, please, on the following idea: Gen asked the gods if he was really supposed to be king…and their answer was unequivocally “Yes”
My reasoning:
(A) In KoA, there is a scene (Chapt.5) where Gen flips a coin over and over – and it keeps landing on “lilies.” This means that Gen is to rule. (“Heads I rule, lilies you do.” Attolia responds, “Lilies, you rule, heads, you throw again.”) Gen is disgusted and throws the coin out when he leaves the room. (The implication is that gods were controlling the outcome of the coin toss.)
(B) He spends time sitting in a chair – looking in the direction of Eddis (homesick)
(C) Then, later in the book Gen storms off to the temple with a letter he has written for the great goddess. The priestess tells Gen the goddess already knows his question and won’t allow him to enter the temple to ask it. The Oracle comes out and snatches the letter out of Gen’s hand, tears it in half, and hands it back saying only, “Your answer.” All that is left on the page is the signature “Attolis.” (p. 140)
3. Could Irene be pregnant?
Evidence/Reasoning behind this thought:
(A) When Costis is talking with Aris in the bar (p.148-149), Aris points out that Gen hasn’t forced the issue of heirs. (Of course, we know there’s no need for him to…)
(B) Then, take p. 87 where Costis and Gen have been sparring and Gen hits Costis with the sword and gives him the rest of the day off:
“That’s better. Keep up that obedient attitude and you could be Captain of the Guard someday. It’s true, the queen would never have you, but we could both be assassinated, and you could be captain to my heir. Don’t give up hope just because the chances are slim.”
(C) p.185-186: Gen is being stitched up by the Dr. after the assassination attempt, Irene faints, and Gen goes crazy and only calms down when he registers the words “The queen is fine!” Now, for a long time I thought that she was just bother by the site of his blood b/c of all that had transpired between them in the past…but, with the other lines, could it also be that she is already pregnant? Just a thought…
I am new here – I stumbled across this site quite by accident, and am oh, so glad that I found it! I LOVE these stories – and it is so nice to find other, like-minded people who know how to recognize a truly amazing piece of literature! I have not had anyone to talk over the books with…but after reading many of the posts and threads, would like to bring up a few ideas that I have had over the years of enjoying these stories and see what others think of them. (Please forgive me if I write about something that you have already discussed and just point me in the direction of that particular thread.)
1.Earrings: Is there something more to the earring in the stories than first meets the eye?
Evidence:
(A) In the stories, Gen has stolen many earrings (placed them alters) and given Irene a pair of earrings.
(B) Later, in KoA, he dances with the Lady Themis’s little sister, Hero, and when she tells him her father will wonder what he sees to admire, he tells her: “That’s easy. Tell him I like your earrings.” (p.156)
(C) After he is wounded, Gen allows Hero to be admitted to his room and talks quietly with her. When she leaves, Costis hears Gen say to her “I hope your father appreciates what a good friend you are to me.” (p.204)
(D) And I need to read ACoK again, but I believe that there is at least one earring reference in that book as well.
So, I am beginning to believe that there will be more to this than meets the eye…perhaps Gen is pulling together a group of trusted people to work for him and one means of identification (for the women at least) is the earrings that they wear…
2. Opinions, please, on the following idea: Gen asked the gods if he was really supposed to be king…and their answer was unequivocally “Yes”
My reasoning:
(A) In KoA, there is a scene (Chapt.5) where Gen flips a coin over and over – and it keeps landing on “lilies.” This means that Gen is to rule. (“Heads I rule, lilies you do.” Attolia responds, “Lilies, you rule, heads, you throw again.”) Gen is disgusted and throws the coin out when he leaves the room. (The implication is that gods were controlling the outcome of the coin toss.)
(B) He spends time sitting in a chair – looking in the direction of Eddis (homesick)
(C) Then, later in the book Gen storms off to the temple with a letter he has written for the great goddess. The priestess tells Gen the goddess already knows his question and won’t allow him to enter the temple to ask it. The Oracle comes out and snatches the letter out of Gen’s hand, tears it in half, and hands it back saying only, “Your answer.” All that is left on the page is the signature “Attolis.” (p. 140)
3. Could Irene be pregnant?
Evidence/Reasoning behind this thought:
(A) When Costis is talking with Aris in the bar (p.148-149), Aris points out that Gen hasn’t forced the issue of heirs. (Of course, we know there’s no need for him to…)
(B) Then, take p. 87 where Costis and Gen have been sparring and Gen hits Costis with the sword and gives him the rest of the day off:
“That’s better. Keep up that obedient attitude and you could be Captain of the Guard someday. It’s true, the queen would never have you, but we could both be assassinated, and you could be captain to my heir. Don’t give up hope just because the chances are slim.”
(C) p.185-186: Gen is being stitched up by the Dr. after the assassination attempt, Irene faints, and Gen goes crazy and only calms down when he registers the words “The queen is fine!” Now, for a long time I thought that she was just bother by the site of his blood b/c of all that had transpired between them in the past…but, with the other lines, could it also be that she is already pregnant? Just a thought…
no subject
Date: 10/11/14 01:17 am (UTC)1. I have nothing to base this on but my opinion is that Gen--and MWT, too--just really like earrings. Doesn't Gen say, somewhere, that he likes earrings? Oh, I remember. *goes to fetch The Thief* Ok it's near the part where we learn about The Tunic Formerly Known As Yellow and, no, what it really says is "One shop near the corner sold only earrings, and I watched wistfully as it went by." But we know he likes to steal earrings and leave them on the altar of temples, right?
Remember in ACOK how Sophos wears an earring? When he gets all prettied up? I do wonder why Gen doesn't wear an earring, too, if he likes them so well.
2. I think you are spot-on with your analysis here. The gods are telling him in very direct ways that he is meant to be king, and he is pissed because he'd rather wander around the castle at night, and tease Irene's attendants, and not take on any of that stoopid responsibility of running a country. This would explain, too, why Irene is not at all bothered by the idea of him ruling. She wants him to, and apparently the gods do, too.
3. LALALALALA, I can't hear a thing you are saying because I sort of don't want Irene to be pregnant. Throwing a kid into the mix would change her role so much and change the focus of the story. I acknowledge that they need to have a child but just want them to be married a bit and get through some of their huge issues before that.
no subject
Date: 10/12/14 03:32 am (UTC)I've always wondered about that but it might not be as much of a problem as you think..... One of the main concerns in the books are the impending Mede invasion which, one can say, is historically based off the Persian Invasions of Greece. Historically the first Persian Invasion occurred about 10 years before the second (the Persians had succession problems and were kinda embarrassed about the battle of Marathon). So lately I've been wondering about a time gap between the books.
(Source of my info: Studying Ancient History at School)
no subject
Date: 10/12/14 08:53 pm (UTC)Really, I never thought much about a time gap in the books. But it would make sense that the Medes would want to build their army back up and take their time to do it right. You know, find some spare elephants and things.
time-gap & children
Date: 10/13/14 04:01 am (UTC)And Gen does say (when talking to Teleus at the end of KoA about reducing the size of the guard) that he "won't leave that for my heirs." So...back to the idea that he knows something we don't about the pitter-patter of little feet...
Besides... don't children love elephants?