(FWD) Re: (urth) The Wizard - questions -- answers (spoiler)

[Nathan Spears]

Yeah, I think the killing was motivated mainly by bitterness; Idnn was marrying an
unworthy soulless creature for her father's political gain; Garvaon was unaware of
the true nature of the 'gift' to King Gilling until the arrival in Utgard; Idnn
never loved Garvaon, and in fact never knew of his love for her.  I wouldn't say it
was a petty bitterness, but bubbled up from something bordering on anguish.  I
wouldn't even say it was an ignoble deed.  Before the first stabbing, King Gilling
had just murdered a man with his fist, and had ordered what he thought would be the
murders of two knights for his court's amusement.  The final blow was probably less
hot-blooded but no less justified.  The humans were trying to make peace with the
giants because they couldn't kill them all.

But it still wasn't a knightly deed, and one that Idnn would have reviled him for. 
Garvaon looked at Able as he died and said something like, "You knew," because Able
was the only one Garvaon had confided in about his love for Idnn, and the only one
would understand all the forces pressuring him to commit such a deed.  It was a
departure from his nature, not an indicator of it; his death wasn't a redemption but
a sign that Garvaon was still a true knight.

--- stilskin <acronus at yahoo.com> wrote:

> I think you're ascribing far too much nobility to
> Garvaon and this action. Otherwise he would not
> attempt to hide what he had done.  But I think Wolfe
> leaves room for careful readers to disagree on this
> and many other points.
>  
> --- harlekin at earthlink.net wrote:
> 
> > 
> > 
> > 
> > "I'm not sure that Garvaon's sacrifice would have
> > been
> > appreciated by Idnn had she known of it.  In fact,
> > I'm
> > pretty confident she would find it reprehensible and
> > offensive."
> > 
> > That's the point.  Garvaon gets no benefit from his
> > action.  It's a sacrifice of honor on his part. 
> > Thus it is selfish and selfless at the same time. 
> > Garvaon's death is a gift to him so he won't have to
> > live with his shame, not an act of redemption.  His
> > place is skai was assured, IMO.
> > 
> > Don
> > 
> >  
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> 
> 
> =====
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> 
> 
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