(urth) Sev's family tree

[Son of Witz]

On Jan 27, 2011, at 11:58 AM, "Gerry Quinn" <gerryq at indigo.ie> wrote:

> From: Son of Witz
> No no, I'm not condescending. I think so often readers are looking for everything to be something other than what it seems, while they often overlook the symbolic import of what it seems.  Does that make sense.  If it seems condescending, well, I do feel that the symbolism of Casdoes house and how it relates to Severian's family (or ideas of family) is quite evident within a plain reading of the text, and seems, to me, to be a more useful path to understanding than, say, as to doubting the very identity of a throw away character.  I mean, that next level might be interesting, but I think what I've described is a more applicable reading. FWIW.

From Quinn:
> I agree with this.  I'm not too sure about the metaphors with regard to the altitude of Severian's path through the mountains, but I like your interpretation of Casdoe's house.  Another pointer comes before Severian reaches the house:
>  
> "I knew that when I saw the dog himself he would be like Triskele; and so he was, with four legs instead of three, somewhat longer and narrower in the skull, and more brown than lion-colored, but with the same dancing eyes and wagging tail and lolling tongue."
> He identifies the dog as a sort of counterpart of Triskele, even though clearly the dog is not Triskele.  He is imagining an alternative Severian, a Severian with a family - but there is no need to appeal to time travel or alternate universes, nor even to chains of long-lost relatives, to realise why Severian might have such thoughts.
> 
> [The author even adds a personal touch later on, when the two Severians talk about the Big Wolf and the Little Wolf.]
> 

I can't believe I missed the Triskele like dog!  Thank you, that adds a lot of support.

The vertical metaphor isn't a crucial part, in fact, it probably doesn't fit at all, considering that I meant that as a ranking of enemies.  I think the essence of the descent in this sequence is the symbolic time travel to the low point of civilization, where he finds a sort of family.

In some of Severian's other descents, he finds something of lasting worth.
In the 4th level Oubliette tunnels, he comes to the atrium, and finds his love, who seems timeless to him.  In the Library of Nessus, he finds the brown book, which is probably his most prized possesion. This book has a real transcending worth in that the retold stories preserves something of the lost past, apart from Severian's memory and memoir.

It MIGHT be said that when he descends into the Trial with the sorcerors, he finds a commitment to another. He could have left little Severian captive. Of course, he is also after his sword, which later he understands why he was destined to carry this gargantuan sword across Urth- to fight the Giant.      

    Just brainstorming though, not sure how strong that is. What other descents are there? The landing on Yesod and the landing upon return to Urth?  The mines of Saltus.  Not sure if that fits. The House Absolute and Antechamber...   Maybe this doesn't need to be applied globaly...
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