Oservations on the "Severian as Christ" Essay

C R Culver · 23 Apr 1998, 20:54 · from urth-v0009.mbox · original

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From: C R Culver <CRCulver at aol.com>
Subject: (urth) Oservations on the "Severian as Christ" Essay
Date: Thu, 23 Apr 1998 16:54:34 EDT
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[Posted from URTH, a mailing list about Gene Wolfe's New Sun and other work=
s]

Here are my thoughts on the "Severian as Christ" essay now avaliable on Paul
Duggan's site:=20

<The first Concilliator is described as having a shining face>

As is the New Sun (Dorcas: "People always say in prayers that the New Sun w=
ill
be too bright to look at"). Of course, the NS and the Conciliator are both
Severian after his trial in Yesod.

<There is also a 'missing' name in the Holy Trinity; we  hear of the Increa=
te
(Holy Ghost) and the Pancreator, but never of any son.>

The ties of Increate to Holy Spirit is interesting. I believe that somewher=
e a
character uses the term "Theologoumen," which I would say is definitely the
Holy Spirit (Logos). Perhaps Increate and Pancreator are simply synonyms.
Also, the term "Panjudicator" is used. That isn't necessarily part of the
Trinity, but just a description of the Pancreator as he is doing one
particular duty.

<Angels and archangels make appearances, too. Hierodules (holy slaves) are
angels, while hierogrammates  are archangels.>

I beg to differ. I would say that the Hierodules are angels, the hierarchs =
are
archangels, and the Hierogrammates are Seraphim.

<he Book of Revelations suggests that the Parousia will occur at a time of
great strife, and indeed the Ascian=20
(Asians? Americans?) are in conflict with the Autarch's forces throughout t=
he
main part of the work.>

There have been wars with the Ascians for years, no particular reason why t=
hey
have to be tied to the Book of Revelations simply because part of the war
happens during Severian's reign and shortly before.

<Could Hethor correspond to [the Wandering Jew]?>

I'd say no. Jonas has been wandering for just as long.

<Does Severian commit incest?>

If Dorcas is truly his grandmother, I'd say yes.

<Why does the mandragora in spirits refer to Severian as brother when
Severian explores the Autarch's rooms?>

Sev mentions that he and the mandragora are similar, and the latter, taken =
by
this idea, calls him "brother." That's my guess.

Christopher R. Culver <crculver at aol.com>
http://members.aol.com/crculver/index.html
------------------------------------------------
"Ignorance, that light of fools steers a wayward path"
-Brendan Perry

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