Re. Severian' reticence
The Urth list — 1 messages, 1 voices, 17 Jun 1998
https://urth.darkrealm.vip/thread/urth/818

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Ye Olde Mothman — 17 Jun 1998, 10:56

> One of Severian's quirks as a narrator, and one which makes it quite
> difficult to get a grasp of his character, is his sometimes withholding an
> important fact about a situation until long after he has seemingly
> finished narrating that situation.

> 3) What explains, in particular, his suppression of the sexual
> relationship between himself and Thecla?  (Severian's motives for the
> other two omissions are more obvious.)  I can think of two, not
> necessarily exclusive, possibilities.  Severian, as we know, has a rather
> unhealthy attitude towards women.  He may not have wanted to contaminate

I've never attributed any underlying motive for it, just narrative effect.
These facts seem to weigh a little heavier when divulged at a later time,
almost as if revealed in confidentiality.  Just my take on it.

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