(urth) AEG only semi-spoilish
Dave Tallman
davetallman at msn.com
Thu Nov 20 04:51:04 PST 2008
Mo Holkar wrote:
> I'm happy to buy that -- I don't think Wolfe would have wanted to
> handle that material on any other basis -- but I'd like to see an
> exposition of the way the larger Christian picture might be seen to
> inform the events of AEG, because to me it's not all clear.
>
There is Christianity in Wolfe's future world. Cassie encounters it
through Margaret (especially in her song "Walk in the Reign") and in her
role as Mariah Brownlea. Her star-power causes her roles to become real
to her, so I believe she gets in touch with real spirituality through
these songs and roles. It's like the concept of "act as if" in 12-step
programs. She begins to get ideas like "add nothing to God and you get
good."
I believe this makes her stronger and able to face adversity in the end
much better than she could have before. Her relationship with Reis has
elements of allegory with Christ and the Church, though Reis is far from
perfect as a Christ-figure (like Severian, his action to redeem his
world involves mass flooding and destruction).
In the end, Cassie seems redeemed from a shallow, materialistic life.
Her hope that Wally will somehow come back to her is like that of
Christians waiting for the return of Christ.
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