Do you think Godekker represents the ferryman? Why was it so important that Costis pay him?
I hadn't ever considered it, but I do see a strong case for Godekker represnting the ferryman. While in the original it was more an act of trickery than I see happening with Godekker, he did help them under some false pretenses, even if partially self-inflicted. There's probably some more practical vs. psychological elements here, like Godekker being initially motivated by what he can get out of the situation, or Costis continuing his strong personal moral code. I also wonder if this action might prove to be important in another book. We may never see it, but there is a line on p. 269 (muse of poetry) that says "Maybe he'll help some otheer runaway." I don't really see how that would come into play, but it's possible the choice to pay him now will have some result in the next book.
I also wonder if there's a slight bit of a guilt payment here, that while Godekker is more on the despicable, wretched end of the pitiful spectrum, but he is still a pitiable human being reduced to miserable circumstances because of the Mede empire (I assume anyway). Goddeker is left there while Kamet is taken away because he's the important goal of this mission.
What do you feel is the significance of the Sinabid jokes? Honestly, this is one of those story elements that I acknowledged as being a reflection of Kamet's initial attitude toward masters/slaves and Costis, and then moved on. I hadn't considered it an ongoing foil to the Immakuk/Ennikar bro-venture.
I think it also is a reflection of Kamet's ongoing guilt and feeling he is in that role of a slave leading an unwitting master by the nose becuase of his ongoing obsession with his dishonesty and trying to keep Costis (and thus Gen) in the dark about Nahuseresh's death. It is a continuous counterpoint to the developing friendship and Kamet's progression toward being a wise Immakuk vs. a witty slave.
How do you think this contributed to his “smarter-than-thou” attitude? Is it even possibly responsible for it?
It's got to be a really weird place to live mentally, being treated like privileged dirt, or a valuable --and actually well-behaved-- tool - quality, but powerless in and of himself, only wielded by a master or only wielding a master's power. I think this is very responsible for his rigid need to maintain the structure of his life, his place in the Medeanhierarchy, and his identity in the Mede Empire, in Attolia, and when his life is in chaos and his identity is in flux.
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Date: 2/28/19 06:15 am (UTC)I hadn't ever considered it, but I do see a strong case for Godekker represnting the ferryman. While in the original it was more an act of trickery than I see happening with Godekker, he did help them under some false pretenses, even if partially self-inflicted. There's probably some more practical vs. psychological elements here, like Godekker being initially motivated by what he can get out of the situation, or Costis continuing his strong personal moral code. I also wonder if this action might prove to be important in another book. We may never see it, but there is a line on p. 269 (muse of poetry) that says "Maybe he'll help some otheer runaway." I don't really see how that would come into play, but it's possible the choice to pay him now will have some result in the next book.
I also wonder if there's a slight bit of a guilt payment here, that while Godekker is more on the despicable, wretched end of the pitiful spectrum, but he is still a pitiable human being reduced to miserable circumstances because of the Mede empire (I assume anyway). Goddeker is left there while Kamet is taken away because he's the important goal of this mission.
What do you feel is the significance of the Sinabid jokes?
Honestly, this is one of those story elements that I acknowledged as being a reflection of Kamet's initial attitude toward masters/slaves and Costis, and then moved on. I hadn't considered it an ongoing foil to the Immakuk/Ennikar bro-venture.
I think it also is a reflection of Kamet's ongoing guilt and feeling he is in that role of a slave leading an unwitting master by the nose becuase of his ongoing obsession with his dishonesty and trying to keep Costis (and thus Gen) in the dark about Nahuseresh's death. It is a continuous counterpoint to the developing friendship and Kamet's progression toward being a wise Immakuk vs. a witty slave.
How do you think this contributed to his “smarter-than-thou” attitude? Is it even possibly responsible for it?
It's got to be a really weird place to live mentally, being treated like privileged dirt, or a valuable --and actually well-behaved-- tool - quality, but powerless in and of himself, only wielded by a master or only wielding a master's power. I think this is very responsible for his rigid need to maintain the structure of his life, his place in the Medeanhierarchy, and his identity in the Mede Empire, in Attolia, and when his life is in chaos and his identity is in flux.