[big spoiler] Narrative technique in _Return_

mark millman · 08 Feb 2001, 17:31 · from whorl-v0012.mbox · original

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From: mark millman <millman at us.ncipher.com>
Subject: Re: (whorl) re: [big spoiler] Narrative technique in _Return_
Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 17:31:02
Message-ID: <whorl-v0012-0158 at digest.urth.net>
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At 09:52 AM 08-02-01 -0800, Michael Andre-Driussi wrote:

> [snip]
>
> But back to Urth--that Scylla's body was in Severian's=20
> favorite mausoleum (remember the bronze that has=20
> his own features) causes all sorts of big ripples . . . is=20
> Severian, at root, a member of the same family?  He=20
> cannot be Typhon, since Typhon is blond and=20
> entombed on Mount Typhon.  So if he is a member=20
> of the royal family, he must be a son.  One of the=20
> two sons.  A dark son.  Perhaps the dark son who=20
> had a mildly helpful role in TBOTLS.
>
> =3Dmantis=3D

Surely, mantis, Severian is a grandson of Typhon, at nearest, if=20
not a remote descendant.  Unless you're prepared to throw out=20
the conclusion that Ouen is Severian's father and Dorcas is=20
Ouen's mother, we know Severian's father is not a member of=20
Typhon's family.  That leaves his mother, and unless Typhon=20
& co. were (1) walking the corridors of Time, which, for all=20
their other activities, we haven't known them to do, (2) allowing=20
Echidna to go gallivanting about getting herself impregnated by=20
men other than Typhon (a bad way to ensure the continuity of=20
a royal line, to be sure), or (3) playing body-games -much- more=20
interesting than the one that Typhon tried with Piaton, I don't=20
see how Severian could be a member of Typhon's immediate=20
family. =20

I'd much prefer the more allegorical explanation that, as the=20
exultant families came to Urth with Typhon, they're all part of=20
his extended "family", latterly including Severian through his=20
mother.

Of course, that still leaves open the question that you're trying=20
to answer, to wit:  Why would Scylla insist on being buried in=20
Severian's mausoleum?  Perhaps Echidna's original was un-
faithful to Typhon, or was already pregnant when she married=20
him, and Cilinia is Severian's daughter. =20

Nacre

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