More on Juturna

b sharp · 28 Apr 2006, 11:34 · from 2006-April.txt.gz

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From: bsharporflat at hotmail.com (b sharp)
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2006 07:34:04 -0400
Subject: (urth)  More on Juturna
Message-ID: <BAY103-F404E254F821D140DE2F989D7B20 at phx.gbl>

I think it is a mistake to assume the desires of Juturna are (in all times) 
the same as those of Abaia.  Abaia is not interested in the physical 
domination of Urth but rather the acquisition of slaves.  I suspect Abaia's 
harem of brides/daughters may not be happy with their roles but rather 
forced into compliance in some manner.

Some evidence for this exists in the quasi-Theseus story that Severian tells 
Jonas.  If the naviscaput leviathan in that story is a reference to Abaia 
then could the Corn Maidens, taken against their will, be the analog to the 
undines?

Or perhaps even closer, for Juturna, would be the monster's daughter (can't 
remember her name). She helps the hero defeat the naviscaput because she is 
the product of her father raping her mother. Perhaps some of Juturna's 
actions in helping Severian can be seen in this light.

To me the undines (Juturna, Idas) project a sense of unhappy desperation in 
their direct dealings with Severian until the final scene where Juturna is 
happily munching on fish and seems calmly pleased to help Severian with no 
strings attached.  Perhaps in some unexplained manner the New Sun has freed 
the undines.

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