Jungle Garden

James Jordan · 21 Apr 2003, 14:41 · from urth-v0304.mbox · original

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From: James Jordan <jbjordan4 at cox.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) Jungle Garden
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 09:41:12 -0500
Message-ID: <urth-v0304-3260 at digest.urth.net>
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Tom wrote:

>Could [the Garden] be a dual to the Library?  Another place where people=20
>go and some never come back.  Both places have hazy boundaries.  Both plac=
es
>have old men who look for things.  Severian goes to both places on an
>errand: one for books, another for an avern.  Both recipients end up dead.

         I suspect so. Compare the Bible with the Garden of Eden as "deep=20
sources" for the pair. The Library undergirds (literally) the Commonweath=20
civilization. The Garden is also underground. Both are broad images of=20
foundations and origins, relating to the past. The fact that the Garden=20
contains missionaries and also is a place of death is Edenic, broadly=20
speaking.
         IIRC, the avern is a "delight to the eyes" but brings death. Only=20
the Conciliator can wield it with full profit. Mere Adams are advised to=20
stay away from it. And of course, it comes from the heavens.
         Those who are trapped in the Garden are those who fantasize about=20
the past, and don't want to live in the real world (?). A return to Eden is=20
a trap; "salvation" lies only in the future, after judgment.
         Probably a look at Talos's "Eschatology and Genesis" would provide=20
more indications.
         Just some thoughts.

Nutria


--=20

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