Mirror Image Freedom

David Stockhoff · 15 Dec 2010, 13:41 · from 2010-December.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Wed, 15 Dec 2010 08:41:38 -0500
Subject: (urth) Mirror Image Freedom
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W15C5FE5A555963C5960DA4CF140 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W15C5FE5A555963C5960DA4CF140 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <4D08C592.1050902 at verizon.net>

You're right---that's a huge, diametrical opposition. Stark differences 
in freedom seem to appear in the series, as well as the Wizard Knight.

What do you think it means?

On 12/15/2010 7:37 AM, Lee Berman wrote:
>
> Discussion of Sidero sparked my thoughts regarding Inire and Tzadkiel, Commonwealth and The Ship as
> reversed mirror images of each other. On the issue of freedom: The Commonwealth is highly restrictive place.
> A caste system locks people into their social status. Guilds lock people into careers. There is slavery/
> indentured servitude. The roads are closed. Reverence for the Autarch is mouthed everywhere (joining the
> war seems to be the only measure of freedom available..oh, and also pioneering a barren land as Casdoe and
> Becan do). (if we expand our view of Urth to Ascia the freedom issue is even worse)
>
> On the Ship there isn't much restriction at all. We have an apparently absent Captain about whom sailors
> grumble has been too lax in control of jibers. Severian can wander around anywhere and everywhere, on deck,
> climb the sails etc. He can become a sailor at the drop of a hat. The only measure of authority seems to be,
> ironically, a piece of machinery designed entirely for human servitude: a suit of armour.  Sidereo is (to me)
> one of the most unpleasant characters in BotNS. But perhaps he is a symbol of freedom, (or the problems with
> too much freedom?) in his fury at being put to the use he was designed for, by Severian crawling inside him. 		 	   		
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