Severian's Mausoleum

Norwood, Frederick Hudson · 21 Nov 2014, 18:40 · from 2014-November.txt.gz

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From: NORWOODR at mail.etsu.edu (Norwood, Frederick Hudson)
Date: Fri, 21 Nov 2014 18:40:32 +0000
Subject: (urth) Severian's Mausoleum
In-Reply-To: <BAY172-W230A96A3388F3B57D33BE2DF770 at phx.gbl>
References: <BAY172-W230A96A3388F3B57D33BE2DF770 at phx.gbl>
Message-ID: <0DA454A32913114C9CC19BB781FB907D020CD9 at ETSUMB2.etsu.edu>

I think the significant thing is not that the door could never be closed, but rather that when you closed it, it didn't stay closed.  I get an image of Severian lying down to go to sleep and -- creeeeeeeeeek -- the door opens!

It's been so long since I read the book that I don't remember, is there any chance that the door opening, seemingly of its own accord, is a clue?

Rick Norwood

-----Original Message-----
From: Urth [mailto:urth-bounces at lists.urth.net] On Behalf Of Robert Pirkola
Sent: Friday, November 21, 2014 12:51 PM
To: urth at urth.net
Subject: (urth) Severian's Mausoleum

I supposed that was why it was called a faithless door, but I guess I was more interested in whether the term was a common one or was coined by Wolfe. ?If it weren't coined by Wolfe, then I supposed that it might provide some insight into the nature of the mausoleum.
How could such a heavy door be faithless? ?It is implied that the door is so heavy that it will never be closed. ?If that is so, how was it ever opened in the first place? ?And by whom?
Certainly not by a stray gust of wind like the faithless screen door at my house!? 		 	   		  
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