Typhon's concessions

Marc Aramini · 04 Sep 2018, 04:28 · from 2018-September.txt.gz

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From: marcaramini at gmail.com (Marc Aramini)
Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2018 21:28:02 -0700
Subject: (urth) Typhon's concessions
In-Reply-To: <CAF1072wQEUVHM02ATzu=zYqL-JUhzJ0b+qn5y=SLXvNqu+YEYQ at mail.gmail.com>
References: <1536024460.101634 at webmail.mtecom.net>
 <CAF1072wQEUVHM02ATzu=zYqL-JUhzJ0b+qn5y=SLXvNqu+YEYQ at mail.gmail.com>
Message-ID: <CAF1072y6teg4oLAMdFP-v9mm2-by=UubLyXmecR21aeHJQb3Rg at mail.gmail.com>

Also, I find wolfe?s setup of the problem of evil and death to be
overwhelmingly orthodox in its theodicy, but readers raised on Naturalism
rather than Augustine tend, for whatever reason, to see overt manipulation
in all things rather than freedom in the face of extreme duress.

On Monday, September 3, 2018, Marc Aramini <marcaramini at gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, this scene is so allegorical that it seems to be highly predicated
> upon the thematic implications of the temptation of Christ in the
> wilderness. Much like the adversary in Job, who abides by an agreement with
> God, the Satan in the wilderness is concerned with subverting the will of
> his prey rather than in purely destroying him by force. For the plot itself
> this has little relevance, but the theme relies upon an examination of
> choice even in the face of unbearable thirst and need, to deny the desires
> of the flesh and maintain control. So ... Typhon is not merely Typhon here,
> but an echo of that particular theological moment, even down to offering
> the same exact things to Severian. Allegory is occasionally not a great fit
> for realistic novels - Typhon has no reason to acknowledge a greater power
> save that Satan knows the only way he can truly defeat a greater power is
> by proving that the authority vested in the man he tempts is ill-placed.
>
> On Monday, September 3, 2018, <incanto at mtecom.net> wrote:
>
>> Readers,
>>
>>
>>
>> When Typhon takes Severian to the head of his mountain, he demands that
>> Severain must swear utter submission to him on the claw. I have two
>> questions about this. First, why must Typhon require Severian to hand over
>> the claw at first, then accede to his reluctance and allow him to simply
>> display it in his own hand, rather than just taking it from him? Second,
>> Typhon cajoles S by saying, "It is no more than a form we must follow." Why
>> must Typhon follow any form at all? Does Typhon indirectly acknowledge a
>> power greater than his own to which obeisance is owed? If he were a tyrant
>> like those in our own culture, he may very well do lip service to religious
>> dictates; but here, it seems that for him there is necessity. Any ideas?
>>
>>
>>
>> Fred Weiner
>>
>
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