The ring thing

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

I've got a question. Well, two questions actually. I was reading KoA late last night and I noticed something that had confused me from the very first time I read the book. Sorry if this has been asked before but could someone clear it up for me?

Around page 70, Collins hardback, Gen asked Costis to take the seal ring off his finger and then later on, Costis tries to take a ring of his own off without using his hand. Why does Costis then shudder 'as if someone had walked over his grave'? What have I missed?

And also (it's surprising the inspiration one gets in the early hours of the morning) you know when Phresine tells Gen that story, around page 273? Well, it says that they planted loads of olive trees to honour the goddess of the moon. Is Phresine referring to the Sea of Olives? After all, in The Thief, the Magus says, Collins paperback, p90, "It's called the Sea of Olives. It was planted to honour one the old gods so long ago that no one knows which." So, does it depend on where the Sea of Olives is in relation to where Phresine grew up, in the north of Attolia?

Comments

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I always thought is was because the seal ring stood for Gen's responsibility as king and that's why he had to take it off to look out the window towards Eddis, homesick, remembering his past life. I think Costis realised this, felt unexpected sympathy and then looked at his own ring, which he and many other soldiers have.

It reminded him of the oath he made when joining the guard; his own responsibilities. He was given the choice to leave the guard by Teleus but stayed and he's realising that things are getting complicated because he is beginning to feel this loyalty and sympathy for the king despite wanting to hate him. He's realised he's in a situation he can't really get out of.

[peggy-2.livejournal.com]

He was given the choice to leave the guard by Teleus but stayed and he's realizing that things are getting complicated because he is beginning to feel this loyalty and sympathy for the king despite wanting to hate him. He's realized he's in a situation he can't really get out of.

That's very insightful Emerald! Excellent analysis.

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I first read the post; thought "I have NO idea" then a moment later, this came into my head. Someone has obviously possessed my mind!

I can't wear rings, BTW. I've always wanted an emerald ring and was about to get one when i realised how much they annoy me. They get in the way when you want to write or sew or whatever. They are so distracting.

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

I agree with Emerald, and thought that for the first time it hit Costis what it would be like to have only one hand, and have to ask for help to do the simplest things.

I wondered about the olive trees being the sea of olives, too. Nice catch.

[ceecee44.livejournal.com]

I always thought that as well, but Emerald's thoughts are really good.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

I thought it might be the Sea of Olives, too, but then I was a bit confused because Phresine seemed to imply that this area was extremely remote and no one ever went there. But I think I get a little fuzzy-headed about the geography, anyway.

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Oh, and I guess I thought the ring scene was just about the one-hand thing, but I like Emerald's layers of meaning. Let's just hope it's not some sort of creepy foreshadowing -- Costis isn't going to be losing any body parts, is he?

[checkers65477.livejournal.com]

Eeek! No!

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

But why did Gen tell Costis to take the ring off? Why not take it off himself?

[mandasarah.livejournal.com]

Because he couldn't. And that makes him sad.

[empmai.livejournal.com]

But he could take off the ring - using his teeth.

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

But how come Costis could take a ring off one handed and Gen couldn't? Or are you talking in a metaphorical sense?

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

Gen only has one hand. The ring was on that hand. Gen couldn't use his hook to get it off without cutting his fingers off. Geddit?

[emerald-happy.livejournal.com]

I suppose he could try scrape his hand against something to get it off but if it was on pretty tight, this would have been difficult.

[empmai.livejournal.com]

Can't he take it off by pushing his thumb against his ring finger? Or maybe the ring is too tight to do that. I don't wear rings since I lose them too often from playing with them.

[(Anonymous)]

But Costis could manage to take it off using his teeth.

~CrazyViolin

[philia-fan.livejournal.com]

Gen could probably get the ring off himself, too, eventually. The point is, it was really difficult to do (even for Costis to get his own ring off), and it should have been something very simple.

[(Anonymous)]

Well, not Gen's ring obviously. His own.

~Crazy

[(Anonymous)]

But how did Eugenides manage to get the ring back on?

~Feir Dearig

[(Anonymous)]

I always read it as he had visited Attolia, or she had visited him during the interim. But, who knows? I may just be on crack.

[crazyviolin.livejournal.com]

Now that's a good question! But I have no clue. Maybe he sort of scooped it up and used his teeth.

And yes, I see what you mean now by something very easy becoming very difficult. And the metaphor is that Gen getting himself out of a situation used to be simple but now he's trapped. I have been enlightened!!

[netslefj.livejournal.com]

So then what about Gen not being able to strangle the Mede? I always think to myself, but he could slit his throat! and at the end of KoA, Gen reminds everyone that his hook is lethal.