The Mahdoubt's Gown

[deer of the dawn]

Just read part one in my Grand Re-read.

LOVE the Command scene. But somehow I find the following, when Linden sews a piece of her shirt to the Mahdoubt's gown, very moving. It speaks to me, the gratitude part, that the Mahdoubt's quest for knowledge as an Insequent comprises something of all the people she has helped. There is something very human, very like life about that.

It has always been one of the top scenes in all the Chronicles to stick with me.
_________________
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. -Philo of Alexandria

ahhhh... if only all our creativity in wickedness could be fixed by "Corrupt a Wish." - Linna Heartlistener

[wayfriend]

That, and it establishes that the Insequent have very obscure motivations.
_________________
* I occasionally post things on KevinsWatch because I am a fan of Stephen R. Donaldson; this should not be considered as condonation of the white nationalist propaganda for which this forum has become a platform.

[Rau Le Creuset]

Im gonna agree with you there. she may be the only insequent not entirely driven by their own greed and elevation. she is a great character.. maybe she is a bit odd but she is more human than most.

it seems like clothes mean a lot to the insequent

the Theomatch with his wrappings
the Harrow with his leather beaded jacket
the Mahdoubt's gown
the Ardents Ribbands

.. I love the insequent they are definitely my favorite addition to the third chronicles. they are all so interesting.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

[wayfriend]

Possibly their clothing is a metaphor or at least a signal that they are all unique to an above-normal degree.

Although with the Theomach there's the fact that he's hiding his identity from Linden, and so that may not be his normal attire.

Also, many Insequent seem to have some sort of time-based power. Mahdoubt can move through time, Theomach can see ahead in time, Vizard can slow down time for himself relative to others, and even the Harrow's power to unmake can be seen as reversing time.
_________________
* I occasionally post things on KevinsWatch because I am a fan of Stephen R. Donaldson; this should not be considered as condonation of the white nationalist propaganda for which this forum has become a platform.

[Hashi Lebwohl]

[Zarathustra]

Yes, Hashi, I believe that's the reason for hiding his identity. Linden would recognize him from the Isle.

We all use clothing to camouflage ourselves, to some extent. If you break it down to its most basic level, it's about hiding our animal nature, for our reproductive parts are the areas which even our skimpiest attire still hides. Nipples which have no reproductive function for men are the one taboo part of a woman's breast (of which most of the rest can be displayed even in the most formal of settings ... sideboobs, cleavage, no problem next to tuxedos on the red carpet).

So perhaps the Insequent are likewise displaying their "higher" being through their clothing, their learned lore and knowledge. Clearly, their clothing is related to their magic. And maybe there's an element of Elohim envy--beings against whom the Insequent measure themselves, and for whom appearance is even more under one's control.
_________________
Meaning is created internally by each individual in each specific life: any attempt at *meaning* which relies on some kind of external superstructure (God, Satan, the Creator, the Worm, whatever) for its substance misses the point (I mean the point of my story). -SRD

Remain faithful to the earth, my brothers, with the power of your virtue. Let your gift-giving love and your knowledge serve the meaning of the earth ... Do not let them fly away from earthly things and beat with their wings against eternal walls. Alas, there has always been so much virtue that has flown away. Lead back to the earth the virtue that flew away, as I do-back to the body, back to life, that it may give the earth a meaning, a human meaning. -Nietzsche

[Rau Le Creuset]

I don't think he's trying to hide from her.. I think that's just what he wears. and later he changes simply because the guardian of the one tree is always given a white robe.. as seen when brinn becomes the guardian..

I think there clothes represent their will to be select individuals. the last thing they want is to be uniform.. they pride themselves in being unique.
that's just the way I see it anyways ;D

and on the topic of the powers of the Theomatch.. couldn't he step between moments or something? kind of like he could slip between realities or something.. idk what im trying to say but if I recall he stopped time around himself and linden once.. and while fighting Brinn he seemed to vanish and warp as he fought.. at least something similar to that.. I think he had a lot of control over time. I just never understood why he didn't just smash Roger as soon as he intervened with his designs.

[wayfriend]

[Vraith]

[Hashi Lebwohl]

[deer of the dawn]

I had also forgotten that the Theomach becomes the Guardian... where was that again?

The Mahdoubt puts me in mind of older people who start pack-ratting things, though they may not have done so in the past. Each thing (no matter how small its value) reminds them of a person, a memory, an emotional attachment. Donaldson took that (don't we all know someone like that?) and transformed something so poignantly human into magic. Wow.

I really had forgotten how good Fatal Revenant is.

SRD has an unusual take on clothing. Even Covenant's jeans and t-shirt are iconic. It's hard to imagine how worn and faded Linden's shirt and jeans are by now, how those socks and boots must be just rotten... yet they become representative. She could have asked for a tunic at Revelstone, surely.

The Haruchai have their vellum tunics; the Giants their stone armor; the Woodhelven and Stonedownors their homespun; the Unfettered their nondescript robes. It makes sense that the Insequent would have their odd outfits with an almost Elohim-like way of expressing who they are.
_________________
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. -Philo of Alexandria

ahhhh... if only all our creativity in wickedness could be fixed by "Corrupt a Wish." - Linna Heartlistener

[Hashi Lebwohl]

[Vraith]

[deer of the dawn]

Wildwood mentioned it when she and the Mahdoubt paid him a visit. They meant something to him, even if it was just the "fecundity" they represented. It is mentioned that it didn't wash out when she returned to Revelstone.

This, at the end of the description of the Harrow:

[wayfriend]

An Ode to the Mahdoubt's clothing, and other idiosyncracies [reposted]. (You all know Rod Stewart's Maggie May, right?)

Hey there Mahdoubt I really don’t know what to make of you.
The Haruchai shrug and say you’re just here to bring me food.
Your clothes are kind of a flub, and your arms are rather chub.
Oh Mahdoubt, are you from Lunch Lady Land?
I met you in Revelstone, you’re such a mysterious crone.
You’re quite a puzzle and that’s what really irks.

The Land’s health-sight when its on your face really shows you’re tweaked.
But that don’t worry me none - it’s Mahrtiir whose really freaked.
I laughed at your crows nest hair, and ate all your meager fair.
Oh, Mahdoubt, what is your numinousness for?
I was saved from the Illearth Stone, just to get stuck in Revelstone.
You boggle my mind, and that’s a tease I could do without.

All I needed was a maid to make the room I had.
But you warned me of love, and mother it’s my love I need so bad.
How’d you know my guy was here? Let’s face it, that’s a little queer.
Oh Mahdoubt, your eyes are more of an eye sore.
I wound up in Revelstone, cause Stave had to be a bone.
You mystify me, I couldn’t get you if I tried.

I suppose I could write you off as the cleaning crew.
Or imagine the Creator has some sort of plan for you.
Or maybe you’re an Elohim gal, in need of a mortal pal.
Oh Mahdoubt, explain what happened to your face!
You like to say “Assuredly”, and you know when I get thirsty.
You stole the show, but who are you anyway?

_________________
* I occasionally post things on KevinsWatch because I am a fan of Stephen R. Donaldson; this should not be considered as condonation of the white nationalist propaganda for which this forum has become a platform.

[deer of the dawn]

_________________
Be kind, for everyone you meet is fighting a great battle. -Philo of Alexandria

ahhhh... if only all our creativity in wickedness could be fixed by "Corrupt a Wish." - Linna Heartlistener

[Effaeldm]

way, lovely singing

[Vraith]

[Hashi Lebwohl]