Severa

David Stockhoff · 04 Dec 2011, 02:29 · from 2011-December.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Sat, 03 Dec 2011 21:29:51 -0500
Subject: (urth) Severa
In-Reply-To: <SNT123-W59A3BC8DD61767E2E7DCEACFB40 at phx.gbl>
References: <SNT123-W59A3BC8DD61767E2E7DCEACFB40 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <4EDADB1F.7050309 at verizon.net>

On 12/3/2011 7:57 PM, Lee Berman wrote:
> You are right. The Cumaean even calls her "big red-gold". She says Jolenta's hair
>
> was dyed and thickened with colored silk threads. Gold may be a connection to Dorcas
>
> and Severian's family (though Catherine is dark-haired). Red seems to me most likely
>
> to indicate the self-important Dr. Talos, his own red hair and the injection of his
>
> own version of beauty into her.
>
>
>
> One thing to consider- if Jolenta is really Severa the ex-witch, then Merryn and the
>
> Cumaean are being deceptive in pretending they don't know her. There is evidence they
>
> are being deceptive. Firstly, they pretend Hildegrin is not there. Also, they might be
>
> pretending they don't recognize Severian as a torturer and that they have arranged this
>
> meeting with him on purpose (a coincidence that two witches from the Citadel and
>
> Severian's childhood happen to appear in the middle of nowhere to intercept his journey?
>
> I don't buy it).
>
>
>
> Even after Severian introduces Jolenta by name, the witches do not call her that name.
>
> She is just "the sick woman".


Good points.

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