Close Reading: Torturer Chapter 1

Jack Redelfs · 08 Sep 2006, 04:51 · from 2006-September.txt.gz

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From: jackredelfs at gmail.com (Jack Redelfs)
Date: Thu, 7 Sep 2006 22:51:41 -0600
Subject: (urth) Close Reading: Torturer Chapter 1
Message-ID: <19ee41770609072151x62a1ee8dr9b381f179dff3cbf at mail.gmail.com>

> I can't help but wonder why Severian was called in to assist with the
>Revolutionary given his pre-existing relationship with Thecla, which even
were it
 >not intimate was certainly close enough to create a clear conflict of
interest in
>the client/torturer relationship


The masters well knew about Severian's relationship with Thecla, in general
if not in detail. I think they required him to torture Thecla to, shall we
say "break him," or disillusion him of ever becoming close to a client
again. I don't think they could of foreseen that he would have slipped her a
kitchen knife, as indeed Severian seemed surprised himself. I think the
masters trusted that in the end Severian's loyalty to the guild would win
over whatever inner conflict he felt. He was indeed loyal to the guild ? it
was the only home or family he had ever known.
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