Thecla's "Identity"

David Stockhoff · 04 Apr 2013, 12:05 · from 2013-April.txt.gz

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From: dstockhoff at verizon.net (David Stockhoff)
Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2013 08:05:14 -0400
Subject: (urth) Thecla's "Identity"
In-Reply-To: <CAON7vBNyrxV0MWFPf2+2RCiiV4RQq6CEJh48DV5dnF3HKmiEvg at mail.gmail.com>
References: <CAON7vBNyrxV0MWFPf2+2RCiiV4RQq6CEJh48DV5dnF3HKmiEvg at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <515D6C7A.6030706 at verizon.net>

Seems possible. Wasn't there a brother, however? There were others 
involved with the Rosenbergs, though no hidden leader like Vodalus.

The fact that Thecla was not said to have been involved in any 
particular plot and didn't seem to be much of a rebel, just a courtesan 
with certain connections, increases the resemblance. Ethel, an actress 
IIRC, was probably innocent. The others were not, although none deserved 
the death penalty since they passed so little info about atomic bombs to 
the Soviets.

I like it so far.

On 4/4/2013 6:57 AM, Matthew Vomacka wrote:
> This is my first message; hopefully everything pans out fine.
>
> I haven't thought much about it, but I wonder if Thecla is meant to 
> reflect Ethel Rosenberg, just a little. Obviously she's a good deal 
> younger, and probably less rebellious, but there still seem to be a 
> few basic ties:
> -Electric chair (death).
> -Errors in the "demise" of both (Thecla is given an expedient weapon, 
> Ethel must be shocked more than once).
> -Connotations of treason, not (IIRC) solidly proven.
> -Vodalus has ties to the Ascians (who might be considered 
> superficially following a communist creed? how many follow any creed 
> very strongly) and Abaia (no clue - Cthulu?).
>
> I don't believe that the romantic aspects of Severian's intervention 
> really come into play in any comparison, and I doubt Ethel possessed 
> anyone after she died.
>
>
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