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On 10/25/2011 10:24 AM, Marc Aramini wrote:<br>
<br>
<blockquote><font face="Courier New">Yeah, what these guys said.
The interesting thing about this is that for the Aelf, humans
are the next level "gods", so Able is in effect worshipping
something that should be serving him with his objectification of
Disiri. Is this inversion bad or good? In another spiritual
writer I would probably say it's clearly bad, like letting money
or lust drive us, but it seems as if almost "any" noble
idealization might be worthy in the absence of the Universal.</font><br>
</blockquote>
I believe this is the over-all "lesson" of The Wizard Knight. <br>
At the time Able is resurrected in Parca's Cave, Humanity is in
thrall to dragons from the level even below the Aelf. The Aelf in
turn are also enslaved by a dragon...the brother of the dragons
ruling over Humanity. Because of the degraded lot of humanity, the
Aelf hold them in contempt. Everything is topsy-turvey.<br>
<br>
Although, Wolfe is not generally an allegorical writer, this aspect
IS very allegorical. Each level is a representation of human values.
The people of Skai represent ideals related to Honor. The Aelf, at
least as far as it touches on Able, represent ideals such as
Romantic Love. The dragons that have conquered Aelfrice and
Mythgarthr are lower ideals, such as Sexual Appetite and Greed. All
these things, the story explains, are good in their place. But if
the higher Ideals do not rule over them, they become perverse.<br>
<br>
Thus, St. Michael rules over Skai's Valfather--summoning him and
causing him to bow before him. He explains to Able that in order to
be a knight, he must be able to do the same with Disiri (Romantic
Love). If she rules over him she will be a plague, not a
virtue--just as the dragons have become.<br>
<br>
When Able IS able to summon her at the end, she is *raised* --
ennobled.<br>
<br>
J. <br>
<br>
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