That seriously is one of the best parts of reading DD - the drawn-out, intense and deeply satisfying denouements.
I have been mulling over this answer in my head for a couple of days now, because the full answer to your questions can only be explained in context of the series as a whole as character arcs complete and you get more and more of the whole story. I've been trying to sort through what I know in hindsight vs. what's apparent and answerable just from the first book which was initially written as a standalone story because I'd hate to ruin some of her fabulous satisfying endings and reveals with spoilers.
I hope it's okay, but I also asked these questions in a DD discussion group I'm part of as well because I was curious what lifelong, experienced readers would have to say. A few main points and my own impressions:
- Like Gen in TaT, much of what Lymond does to Richard (well, and vice versa) could reasonably be described as 'spite' because intense sibling rivalry is very much a factor here, but also like that scene in TaT, there is a world of motivation and complex history that is not easy to sort through and pin down into simple motivations. - One of Lymond's ongoing traits is that he does a lot of things in an effort to protect those he loves or feels are worth protecting. In the beginning, Lymond hears that Richard himself is under suspicion because of Lymond's activities, and provides cover for Richard by making it abundantly clear that they are acting very separately and are even at odds. - Because of Richard's complicated feelings toward his brother, he is perhaps quicker to believe his brother's guilt and feel betrayed by what happened to Louise, and is consistently a more direct and bull-headed individual than his remote, acerbic, delicately planning brother. I think his being told what was going on might have completely destroyed Lymond's carefully laid plans as he just hasn't play-acting temperament Lymond does. - And again, with the sibling rivalry, there also seems to be some resentment on Richard's part toward Sybilla (which bleeds over onto Mariotta), who kind-of betrayed him as a mother (and woman) for her favorite Lymond's sake, so I think Richard simply wouldn't have been willing to listen to anything nice Sybilla had to say about Lymond or his motives. - Sybilla is a favorite character, but she is also not perfect, and while she is brilliantly insightful, she has blind spots about some of her own weaknesses as well as some guilt about her own parental deficiencies (e.g. like Richard's perspective that Lymond has been the favored and more-loved son). I also think she's trying to push them together and knows that the only way they can better understand each other is through a rocky path and shared adversity. - I think there's also an element of PTSD from the dramatic changes in Lymond's life after Louise dies and his slavery and suffering. Having had a good deal of time to think through the injustices in his life while on a galley, I think this is also an emotionally immature way of 'punching' his brother for not believing him or believing in him in the past. - Lymond is also really quite young in this story, and emotionally immature while also being very physically and intellectually gifted and with a lot of resentment to spare.
Also, partially answered above, but yes, I think Lymond does let the 'villain' portrait stand because he doesn't know if he can clear his name, and when his own word wasn't enough to prove himself in the eyes of his father and brother (and seemingly Sybilla), he's unwilling to accept anything less than complete absolution and just doesn't think it's worth letting the mask slip until he's achieved his ends. Another DD reader also pointed out that he's portrayed as a nihilist, so it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about him or what he does because so far he's been a victim in some fairly catastrophic ways.
Finally, Dorothy Sayers does come up frequently in discussions, and I think I've heard a few fans who knew Dunnett say she had read Dorothy Sayers work as well. Another favorite series of mine (although I don't really emotionally relate to Harriet sometimes)!
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Date: 7/7/17 05:51 am (UTC)I have been mulling over this answer in my head for a couple of days now, because the full answer to your questions can only be explained in context of the series as a whole as character arcs complete and you get more and more of the whole story. I've been trying to sort through what I know in hindsight vs. what's apparent and answerable just from the first book which was initially written as a standalone story because I'd hate to ruin some of her fabulous satisfying endings and reveals with spoilers.
I hope it's okay, but I also asked these questions in a DD discussion group I'm part of as well because I was curious what lifelong, experienced readers would have to say. A few main points and my own impressions:
- Like Gen in TaT, much of what Lymond does to Richard (well, and vice versa) could reasonably be described as 'spite' because intense sibling rivalry is very much a factor here, but also like that scene in TaT, there is a world of motivation and complex history that is not easy to sort through and pin down into simple motivations.
- One of Lymond's ongoing traits is that he does a lot of things in an effort to protect those he loves or feels are worth protecting. In the beginning, Lymond hears that Richard himself is under suspicion because of Lymond's activities, and provides cover for Richard by making it abundantly clear that they are acting very separately and are even at odds.
- Because of Richard's complicated feelings toward his brother, he is perhaps quicker to believe his brother's guilt and feel betrayed by what happened to Louise, and is consistently a more direct and bull-headed individual than his remote, acerbic, delicately planning brother. I think his being told what was going on might have completely destroyed Lymond's carefully laid plans as he just hasn't play-acting temperament Lymond does.
- And again, with the sibling rivalry, there also seems to be some resentment on Richard's part toward Sybilla (which bleeds over onto Mariotta), who kind-of betrayed him as a mother (and woman) for her favorite Lymond's sake, so I think Richard simply wouldn't have been willing to listen to anything nice Sybilla had to say about Lymond or his motives.
- Sybilla is a favorite character, but she is also not perfect, and while she is brilliantly insightful, she has blind spots about some of her own weaknesses as well as some guilt about her own parental deficiencies (e.g. like Richard's perspective that Lymond has been the favored and more-loved son). I also think she's trying to push them together and knows that the only way they can better understand each other is through a rocky path and shared adversity.
- I think there's also an element of PTSD from the dramatic changes in Lymond's life after Louise dies and his slavery and suffering. Having had a good deal of time to think through the injustices in his life while on a galley, I think this is also an emotionally immature way of 'punching' his brother for not believing him or believing in him in the past.
- Lymond is also really quite young in this story, and emotionally immature while also being very physically and intellectually gifted and with a lot of resentment to spare.
Also, partially answered above, but yes, I think Lymond does let the 'villain' portrait stand because he doesn't know if he can clear his name, and when his own word wasn't enough to prove himself in the eyes of his father and brother (and seemingly Sybilla), he's unwilling to accept anything less than complete absolution and just doesn't think it's worth letting the mask slip until he's achieved his ends. Another DD reader also pointed out that he's portrayed as a nihilist, so it doesn't matter what anyone thinks about him or what he does because so far he's been a victim in some fairly catastrophic ways.
Finally, Dorothy Sayers does come up frequently in discussions, and I think I've heard a few fans who knew Dunnett say she had read Dorothy Sayers work as well. Another favorite series of mine (although I don't really emotionally relate to Harriet sometimes)!