crucifixion

maa32 · 24 Feb 2002, 21:16 · from urth-v0202.mbox · original

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From: maa32 <maa32 at dana.ucc.nau.edu>
Subject: (urth) crucifixion
Date: Sun, 24 Feb 2002 14:16:23 -0700
Message-ID: <urth-v0202-219 at digest.urth.net>
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Someone commented a little while ago on the obvious lack of a crucifixion i=
n=20
the allegorical schema of the Sun books... and it depends how allegorical y=
ou=20
want to get.  Terminus Est is obviously a cross, and it causes Severian to=20
stumble three times when he is fleeing thrax through the underground dungeo=
n=20
which is being flooded.  When little Severian dies, Severian plants the swo=
rd=20
in the ground and uses it to step up, just like the cross allows Jesus to=20
ascend (indirectly, of course; I am aware of his 3 day detour). The sword=20
really does seem like a cross planted in the ground on that particular=20
occassion, especially in light of the "sacrifice" of little Severian.  Inde=
ed,=20
I think Sword of the Lictor in its entirety is about 70% allegory.  Jeez,=20
Typhon even asks the same questions as Satan. =20
When Severian is walking around the ship on The Urth of the New Sun, he is=20
suddenly grabbed by some force and his arms are brought out to both his sid=
es=20
as he is suspended in the air.  This is also a type of crucifixion scene,=20
where his eidolon is disbursed before being reconstituted elsewhere.  (I wo=
uld=20
also argue that Wolfe tries to tie in the symbol of crucifixion with that o=
f=20
the flood by constantly having Severian lose his sword in water; eschatolog=
y=20
and genesis, as it were).
In the Short Sun books, I would argue that the crucifixion imagery (and let=
 us=20
not forget the saving aspects of crucifixion) occur when ...... can you see=20
where I'm going? .......
Horn gets eaten by a tree (remember the Dante allegorical association: the=20
tree of knowledge of good and evil was used to make the cross of Jesus)and=20
falls into a pit where he is trapped, before he rises. He is probably kille=
d=20
and resurrected there. Ultimately, resting at the base of a tree at the end=
 of=20
On Blue's Water is a more gentle and affirming way for Horn's spirit to mov=
e=20
on into Babbie. But the idea that being strung up on a tree, followed by be=
ing=20
cast into hell, matches that Horn scene on the island pretty well, after wh=
ich=20
he seems to be part of "another world" in his perceptions.  It also creates=20
the "saved people" (in my analysis, anyway).
Marc Aramini

--=20

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