Rape in Wolfe

James Jordan · 21 Apr 2003, 17:18 · from urth-v0304.mbox · original

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From: James Jordan <jbjordan4 at cox.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) Rape in Wolfe
Date: Mon, 21 Apr 2003 12:18:49 -0500
Message-ID: <urth-v0304-3264 at digest.urth.net>
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At 11:46 AM 4/21/2003, you wrote:
>This was some time ago, and I realize you may not be responding directly=20
>to me, but I feel it's necessary to revisit the comment I originally made=20
>which spawned the conversation, if for no other reason than to put rant=20
>mode in perspective:

         Naw, it was just a general rant. And I meant it semi-humorously,=20
not intending to distress you or anyone else. My apologies to whomever I=20
may have offended.

You wrote: It seems to be more making a point about the savagery present in=20
every individual mind, even those which are seemingly "nice", rather than=20
placing the danger out there in the world at large. This is not exactly an=20
unprecedented thought either, when it comes down to it.

If I break down my discomfort based on this, I get two general, related=20
questions. First, is this negative aspect of the human soul (independent of=20
its truth - I don't really disagree with the truth of it) necessarily=20
central to most of Wolfe's longer stories? I'm not really sure. Second, if=20
this negative aspect *is* a necessary point to bring out in the story he's=20
trying to tell, for what reasons can we infer that he's expressing it in=20
the *particular* form of sexual violence. Archetypal, perhaps? Again, I=20
don't know.

I reply:
         I think it is somewhat archetypal. After all, rape combines=20
several aspects of sin: exploitation, predation, violence, sexual=20
disfunction, etc. It relates to Wolfean themes about religion and=20
government, especially protection, and to his interest in man-woman=20
relationships.
         Also, in terms of "centrality," we've commented before here that=20
Wolfe points to "salvation" off the page, so to speak. God is the only True=20
Lover, and human being ought to be like God (images of God) in how they=20
treat one another. But they aren't.
         It might be interesting to list and analyze all the rapes in=20
Wolfe, starting with the abuse of the female slave in *5th Head.*

Nutria

--=20

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