<div dir="ltr">I think I have read somewhere about the stripes being face paint, thus related to the jungle sorcerers. I also agree that Agilus is portrayed as a wearer of masks and as a result, is not to be trusted. Perhaps this was Sev's way of hinting about the twins' true nature. It also makes me think of the masks worn by the Hierodules. I cannot remember if any of this was covered in UotNS as it's been so long since I read it. It is a book that begs a re-read, and a much under-appreciated work of Wolfe's. I do remember it being dense and heavy at times.<br>
</div><div class="gmail_extra"><br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Wed, May 1, 2013 at 11:45 AM, DAVID STOCKHOFF <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:dstockhoff@verizon.net" target="_blank">dstockhoff@verizon.net</a>></span> wrote:<br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex"><div><div style="font-size:10pt;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><div><span>I find those points difficult to argue with. I also had not considered the misericorde-Pelerine connection---it seems strong. <br>
</span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:13.3333px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><span><br></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:13.3333px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span>It reminds me that one of the things that makes BNS hard to sort out is that Wolfe's archaisms can hide correspondences. If one woman has a stiletto or a rondel and another a misericorde, we think at first read that the author is merely being pedantic. But the symbolism of the misericorde cannot be set aside. Wolfe used that term for its precise meaning: mercy.
</span><span>Terminus Est is also a misericorde of sorts, but </span><span>Severian is a kind of misericorde for Urth. Several characters seem to have an unhealthy fascination with death, in sharp contrast with Severian's professional demeanor; is it much surprise that Agila and Hethor end up together?<br>
</span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:13.3333px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif"><br><span></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:13.3333px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<span>I think Agilus is definitely intended to be read as a wearer of masks. The ribbons stay on because he keeps them on, ready to put on another mask at a moment's notice. He wears a mask (with the same ribbons) under his septentrion's helm---whether it's the same death's head mask or not---and this is of course a clue that
it's him. The wearing of masks points to the warlocks. I don't think the ribbons need to be painted on---such behavior does not correlate with anything.<br></span></div><div style="font-style:normal;font-size:13.3333px;background-color:transparent;font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif">
<br><blockquote style="border-left:2px solid rgb(16,16,255);margin-left:5px;margin-top:5px;padding-left:5px"> <div style="font-family:arial,helvetica,sans-serif;font-size:10pt"> <div style="font-family:times new roman,new york,times,serif;font-size:12pt">
<div dir="ltr"> <hr size="1"> <font face="Arial"> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">From:</span></b> Lee Berman <<a href="mailto:severiansola@hotmail.com" target="_blank">severiansola@hotmail.com</a>><br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">To:</span></b> "<a href="mailto:urth@urth.net" target="_blank">urth@urth.net</a>" <<a href="mailto:urth@urth.net" target="_blank">urth@urth.net</a>> <br>
<b><span style="font-weight:bold">Sent:</span></b> Wednesday, May 1, 2013 10:54 AM<br> <b><span style="font-weight:bold">Subject:</span></b> (urth) Agilus and Agia<br> </font> </div><div><div class="h5"> <div><br>>aaron: I have always wondered about the ribbons above Agilus' ears, though. And<br>
>Borski's explanation doesn't satisfy.<br><br>I don't remember Borski's explanation on the ribbons but I think there are a number <br>of subtle hints to be found in the various attributes and acoutrements of these two. <br>
For example, Agia mentions inheriting a "misericorde" from her mother. This is a slim <br>blade used for the purpose of battlefield mercy killings. This is enough for me to <br>conclude that their mother was a Pelerine, though I'm sure not all would concur. For<br>
me these clues plus others help me place the twins within Severian's family tree.<br><br>Agia is observed scratching out a depiction of a "jurupari". This is the name for a <br>certain S.A. fish whose name translates to "demon eartheater" and also a S.A.
mythical<br>monster that swallows its human prey whole so that they think they are in a cave. I think<br>this is a foreshadow of the man-ape cave to which Agia leads Severian and helps explain<br>the enormous being Severian senses below it. (it connects to the Fish Mouth/Fomalhaut <br>
theme also)<br><br>With regard to Agilus' apparently painted on head stripes, my best guess is that this<br>foreshadows and connects to the face and body painting of the Jungle Sorcercers. They, <br>like Agilus, use trickery in an attempt to take Terminus Est from Severian.<br>
<br>Moreover these clues plus others (e.g. the black bean or seed) seem to connect these twins,<br>like the Jungle Sorcerers, to an anti-New Sun cult which is likely connected to the <br>megatherians curently ruling Urth. As the caloyer of Saltus tells us, such beings will<br>
be swept away by the coming of the New Sun. Agia and Agilus are part of a series of traps<br>or tests which have been set for
Severian to encounter on his journey. <br>_______________________________________________<br>Urth Mailing List<br>To post, write <a href="mailto:urth@urth.net" target="_blank">urth@urth.net</a><br>
Subscription/information: <a href="http://www.urth.net/" target="_blank">http://www.urth.net</a><br><br><br></div> </div></div></div> </div> </blockquote></div> </div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
Urth Mailing List<br>
To post, write <a href="mailto:urth@urth.net">urth@urth.net</a><br>
Subscription/information: <a href="http://www.urth.net" target="_blank">http://www.urth.net</a><br></blockquote></div><br><br clear="all"><br>-- <br>Aaron Singleton
</div>