Some interesting thoughts...
Mar. 19th, 2007 07:47 pm![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
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queensthiefI got an email today from someone, (who would prefer to remain unnamed), who had some interesting ideas about the books which I asked if I could share. They kindly agreed. To paraphrase:
1. On the idea of a 'happily-ever-after' romance. The characters seem to have quite a bit in common with Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, who had a fascinating marriage, which didn't exactly end as a happily-ever-after story.
Unnamed also sent me a great simplified verson of the similarities, for those of you who, like me, know next to nothing about the period: Eleanor of Aquitaine was 11 years older than her husband, was powerful in terms of land, wealth and political power. Henry became King of England and parts of France after marrying her, using their combined assets, though Eleanor retained a lot of her power. Henry, however, was openly unfaithful, and ended up holding Eleanor a prisoner for years (possibly because she supported one of their kids in something he wasn't too happy about - I'm hazy on this), and their kids ended up taking sides in their feuds.
Realistically, could Gen and Irene end up like this? It's a scary idea, I think, but...possible?
2. On Costis's alleged similarity to Teleus. Teleus is fairly rigid, seems to lack imagination, and doesn't show that much evidence of a great deal of intelligence. Isn't Costis more like Pol? Loyal, quiet, and flexible enough to see situations changing as they develop. Though it's possible the author doesn't see it this way...
3. (Another more general question from me this time.) To what extent does it matter what the author thinks? Once the book's out there, does it belong more to the readers? Can you discount the author's possible intentions or feelings to some extent?
What does everyone think, of any of these questions? :)
1. On the idea of a 'happily-ever-after' romance. The characters seem to have quite a bit in common with Eleanor of Aquitaine and Henry II, who had a fascinating marriage, which didn't exactly end as a happily-ever-after story.
Unnamed also sent me a great simplified verson of the similarities, for those of you who, like me, know next to nothing about the period: Eleanor of Aquitaine was 11 years older than her husband, was powerful in terms of land, wealth and political power. Henry became King of England and parts of France after marrying her, using their combined assets, though Eleanor retained a lot of her power. Henry, however, was openly unfaithful, and ended up holding Eleanor a prisoner for years (possibly because she supported one of their kids in something he wasn't too happy about - I'm hazy on this), and their kids ended up taking sides in their feuds.
Realistically, could Gen and Irene end up like this? It's a scary idea, I think, but...possible?
2. On Costis's alleged similarity to Teleus. Teleus is fairly rigid, seems to lack imagination, and doesn't show that much evidence of a great deal of intelligence. Isn't Costis more like Pol? Loyal, quiet, and flexible enough to see situations changing as they develop. Though it's possible the author doesn't see it this way...
3. (Another more general question from me this time.) To what extent does it matter what the author thinks? Once the book's out there, does it belong more to the readers? Can you discount the author's possible intentions or feelings to some extent?
What does everyone think, of any of these questions? :)
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Date: 3/20/07 02:55 am (UTC)Both Anthony Hopkins's and Timothy Dalton's first major films, Peter O'Toole as Henry, Katherine Hepburn as Eleanor...*silently curses her parents for forcing her to go to dinner three years ago, thus making her miss the last five minutes of the movie*
it's wonderful. So wonderful.
Eleanor is pretty fantastic as well. She and Henry...it's fantastic. ♥
I think it is possible; I think Willow's right that something horrible but necessary could happen.
2. I don't think Teleus is that stupid. I mean, he might seem to be lacking intelligence, but consider the people he's surrounded by: Gen (genius), Attolia (pretty durn smart), Relius (genius), etc. But he's very much a soldier, and so that's why he doesn't have imagination and is pretty rigid--he has a job to do, and he's very focused on that.
Costis, on the other hand, isn't quite as set in his soldierly ways yet--I mean, he's still pretty rigid in the beginning, I think, but not completely disciplined (hence the Gen-punch), and I think hanging around with Gen forces him to explore his flexible side in order to survive, whereas a normal soldier would slowly whittle that away.
So I think the parallel stands...but the one with Pol is interesting, too.
3. I think it depends on what the author says. For example, Virginia Woolf was crazy, and so I totally disagree with her when she says Mrs Dalloway is all about madness...but that's how she saw it, and I can kind of see why. Me, I think it's a celebration of life. So I think to some extent you can discount what the author's intentions were...but regardless of how you feel, you should know what the intentions were in the first place.
There's more to say, but I'm swamped. ^_^