Sham War

Lee Berman · 08 Aug 2010, 13:28 · from 2010-August.txt.gz

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From: severiansola at hotmail.com (Lee Berman)
Date: Sun, 8 Aug 2010 09:28:25 -0400
Subject: (urth) Sham War
Message-ID: <SNT123-W4344AF8AFED8FB0B6DE553CF930 at phx.gbl>

>Dave Lebling: I'm curious why you believe the war with Ascia was a sham. Is this 
>something you've posted about in the past?

Not sure if I've posted on it in the past. I know some others have alluded to 
similar ideas.

The reason for thinking it, in small part, is because Father Inire, the old Autarch 
and even the Cumaean describe how they are playing for both sides of the conflict.

But the larger part comes from the comment the old Autarch makes to Severian before 
he hands over the reins of power. He asks if Severian would prefer to command the 
Ascian army. Or both armies. I take this, if not a sincere offer, as a truly possible 
suggestion of something that could happen. A way of hinting to Severian that not all
is as it seems.

Both Vodalus and Tzadkiel make reference to Severian's life being like a chess game,
Vodalus discussing the dark and light sides, Tzadkiel mentioning the limitations of
pawns. One of the Pelerines suggests to severian that much more is going on than a 
battle between good and evil.

My interpretation is that the on- and off-screen powers are playing a chess
game here. Perhaps the same power is playing both sides. The outcome doesn't matter.
The purpose of the game is to test the players under game conditions...one player in 
particular. I see a similar situation in regard to the conflicts on Tzadkiel's ship 
and Yesod.

--

For some reason I am reminded of Vonnegut's Breakfast of Champions, where the main 
character (an unpleasant guy) descends into mental illness as he becomes convinced
he is the only human being on earth and all other people are robots sent to test him.
At the end, he meets his Creator (Kurt Vonnegut jr. of course) in a bar and it all 
becomes very autobiographical and sad.

I have to guess Gene Wolfe also has felt that powerful dark and light forces have been
testing him his whole life. I'd guess he has dealt with them a little more consciously 
and knowledgeably than Severian though on a less cosmic level. But this and others of 
his work (Peace, surely) are his artistic way of expressing his tribulations and trials 
of life.

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