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kastenessen
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 Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 9:22 pm Post subject: The Wounded Land, Chapter 4 "You are Mine" |
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Chapter 4, "You are Mine"
In the void between worlds, thinking only of having saved Joan- the only thing that mattered, Thomas Covenant is prepared to let go of his life. But the fire that consumed him on the stoneslab in his own world now rages through him, mapping his nerves, as it says, and takes form of a voice.
| Quote: | Your will is mine
You have no hope of Life without me,
Have no life or hope without me.
All is mine.
Your heart is mine-
There is no love or peace within you,
Is no love or peace within you.
All is mine.
Your soul is mine-
You cannot dream of your salvation.
Cannot plead for your salvation.
You are mine. |
Think of it...these words spoken inside your body, loud so you can barely hear them, burning but not killing...what pain, what malice! and contempt...words belonging of course to Lord Foul. They are like a poem of hatred trying to subdue TC, trying to crush him and destroy him and surrender his ring...Or are they spoken to save him, to shake TC out of his journey towards death?...Anyway...TC hears it's arrogance, remembers Linden Avery trying to save him back in his own world and not being afraid of lepers, wants to fight, wants to live...and again, his stubbornness, his feelings and passion and need awakens the white gold and it saves him.
TC is alive and back in the Land atop Kevin's Watch where he meets LF again...(for the third time, right?)... a rare occasion, and of course filled with implications. LF's words are magnificent in their hatred and contempt and at the same time filled with lots of information (and desinformation).
| Quote: | "Ah, you are stubborn yet. " the voice sneered, so personal in it's contempt that it might have come from within his mind rather from the attar-laden air. "Stubborn beyond my fondest desires. In one stroke you have ensured your own defeat. My will commands you now, and you are lost. Groveller!"
Covenant flinched at the virulence of the sound...
"Never have you been more truly mine. You believe that you have been near unto death. This is false, groveller! I would not permit you to die. I will obtain far better service from your life" |
Might be true, since LF needs TC and his ring to break out of his prison that is the Land...and further...
| Quote: | | "You will grovel before me." the despiser went on, "and call it joy. Your victory over me was nothing. It serves me well. Plans which I planted in my anguish have come to fruit. Time is altered. The world is not what it was. You are changed, Unbeliever." The mist made that word, Unbeliever, into a name of sovereign scorn. "You are no longer free. You have sold yourself for that paltry woman who loathes you. When you accepted her life from me, you became my tool. A tool does not choose. Did not my Enemy expound you to the necessity of freedom? Your very presence here empowers me to master you." |
There are truths and lies intertwined here, planted to inflict self-doubt into TC. "Time is changed" though is interesting. Makes me think of the third chrons.
| Quote: | | "We are foemen you and I," continued Lord Foul, "enemies to the end. But the end will be yours, Unbeliever, not mine. That you will learn to believe. For a score of centuries I lay entombed in the Land which I abhor, capable of naught but revulsion. But in time I was restored to myself. For nearly as many centuries more, I have been preparing retribution. When last come to last, you will be the instrument of my victory." |
Almost feeling sympathy here for LF, lots of information here about the nature of LF and the passage of time in the Land. The feeling of doom that all is already lost is growing and growing...then comes the final chorus
| Quote: | "Now hear me , groveller. Hear my prophesy. It is for your ears alone-for behold! There are none left in the Land to whom you can deliver it."
That hurt him. None? What happened to the Lords?
But the Despiser went on remorslessly, mocking Covenant by his very softness. "No, to you alone I say it: the wild magic is no longer potent against me! It cannot serve you now. No power will suffice.
Unbeliever, you cannot oppose me. At last there will be but one choice for you, and you will make it in all despair. Of your own volition you will give the white gold into my hand."
No! Covenant shouted. No! But he could not penetrate Lord Foul's certitude.
"Knowing that I will make use of that power to destroy the Earth, you will place it into my hand, and no hope or chance under the Arch of Time can prevent you!
Yes, tremble, groveller! There is despair laid up for you here beyond anything your petty mortal heart can bear!" |
Then LF sifts apart in the wind and TC lies on his back under a brilliant azure sky and a strange sun...wow, what a speach, what a finale! Truths close to lies, and lies close to truths. No wonder TC gets struck to the stone floor by the immensity of the words, he is starting to doubt himself and his capabilities...and never once did he mention LA. At this moment I'm pretty sure LF knows nothing of her prescence in the Land...
LA wakes up and the healed heartwound is too much for her, she can't believe it. TC also realises that she never heard a word of what LF said and that that would make her free of his influence. She is distressed and TC does what he can to calm her, starts to explain things to her...about Outside and Inside. The outside explanation being basically that they are sharing a dream...with lots of people and that the dreams can hurt you.
| Quote: | | "It's dangerous. It can hurt you. The things in us are powerful and violent, and they are going to come out. The darkness in us-the destructive side, the side we lock up all our lives- is alive here. Everybody has some self-hate inside. Here it's personified-externalized, the way things happen in dreams. He calls himself Lord Foul the Despiser, and he wants to destroy us." |
Even if you don't believe the "dreamsharing-concept" within the context of the chrons there is truth in these words...
Then LA realises where she is...and is totally shocked...and stunned and on her way to lose her mind. TC talks her back with the inside-explanation being that the Land truly exists, and that LF translated them out of their world into the Land to help him escape his prison that is the Land and destroy it. But that being in the Land also gives them power...
While TC speaks of the "rules" that apply to them in the Land , about Law and Freedom, self-doubt inflicts his thinking more and more. He continues with what he wants to do in the Land and why
| Quote: | "I believe-" he made no effort to muffle his hardness-"that we'we got to find a way to stop Foul. That's more important than enything. He's trying to destroy the Land. I'm not going to let him get away with that. That's who I am."
Why? What does it have to do with you? If this is a dream, it doesn't matter. And if it's- "She had difficulty saying the words. "If it's real it's not you problem. You can ignore it."
Covenant tasted old rage. "Foul laughs at lepers." |
They prepare to go down...end of chapter...
In the first chrons TC was mostly driven by guilt. In this chapter LF assails him with both truths and lies that makes him uncertain of his capabilities. TC's doubts manifests themselves like this..."'We have power here.' He prayed he was speaking the truth."
TC's knowledge about Linden, this time being chosen by the creator, also starts to make him doubt himself. Self-doubt... is this the driving force in the second chrons?...And LA, well most of the time in this chapter, is in a kind of stupor and asks questions of TC and he answers them the best way he can. That way is information given to us, readers. In a way it's SRD's own explanations that was never given in the first chrons...and please tell if I'm too long here and I'll shorten the next chapter which I will post in a few days.
A great chapter, setting the stage(again...yes, a long build-up) for what is to come. The previous chapter where dark and full of foreboding, and now it's getting darker...
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bye for now |
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danlo
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| Posted: Mon Nov 10, 2003 10:32 pm Post subject: |
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Excellent job kastenessen! Self-doubt, interesting...
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dlbpharmd
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 12:20 am Post subject: |
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Nice job, Kastenessen! This was a HUGE chapter, so IMO you were not too long. Lots of detail to go over.
When I read this for the first time, I was amazed when TC healed himself with wild magic - b/c of his earlier need for a trigger. That's when I finally understood what Mhoram had said before - "You are the white gold." Covenant's need for a trigger was just that - his own personal need.
Spoiler:
Marid's venom will take that need away, and make him more of a match for LF. |
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caamora
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 1:26 am Post subject: |
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I'm going to bring this up now. Reading the book this time around, it seemed that there was a lot of sexual tension between TC and Linden. I don't know if it is just because I know what happens or if I just noticed this for the first time. What do you think?
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An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” |
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dlbpharmd
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 7:06 pm Post subject: |
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Caamora,
I noticed that this time as well. I chalk it up to the fact that I tend to speed-read through non-dialogue paragraphs. But I noticed in one instance SRD describing LA's "attraction" to Covenant in a very physical way. |
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caamora
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| Posted: Tue Nov 11, 2003 10:50 pm Post subject: |
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_________________
An old Cherokee is teaching his grandson about life. “A fight is going on inside me,” he said to the boy. “It is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves. One is evil – he is anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority and ego.
The other is good - he is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion and faith.
The same fight is going on inside you – and inside every other person, too.”
The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.” |
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duchess of malfi
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| Posted: Wed Nov 12, 2003 12:00 am Post subject: |
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Great job with the chapter lead.
I remember the first time I read this chapter and it just floored and shocked me...you could tell so much had changed in the Land...and not necessarily for the better... 
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Foamfollower1013
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 5:07 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: | "Now hear me, groveler. Hear my prophecy. It is for your ears alone - for behold! there are none left in the Land to whom you could deliver it."
That hurt him. None? What had happened to the Lords?
But the Despiser went on remorselessly, mocking Covenant by his very softness. "No, to you alone I say it: tremble in your heart, for the ill that you deem most terrible is upon you! Your former victory accomplished naught but to prepare the way for this moment. I am Lord Foul the Despiser. and I speak the one word of truth. To you I say it: the wild magic is no longer potent against me! It cannot serve you now. No power will suffice.
"Unbeliever, you cannot oppose me. At the last there will be but one choice for you, and you will make it in all despair. Of your own volition you will give the white gold into my hand."
No! Covenant shouted. No! But he could not penetrate Lord Foul's certitude.
"Knowing that I will make use of that power to destroy the Earth, you will place it into my hand, and no hope or chance under all the Arch of Time can prevent you!
"Yes, tremble, groveler! There is despair laid up for you here beyond anything your petty mortal heart can bear!" |
| Quote: | "I believe" - he made no effort to muffle his hardness - "that we've got to find some way to stop Foul. That's more important than anything. He's trying to destroy the Land. I'm not going to let him get away with that. That's who I am."
She stared at his affirmation. "Why? What does it have to do with you? If this is a dream, it doesn't matter. And if it's -" She had difficulty saying the words. "If it's real, it's not your problem. You can ignore it."
Covenant tasted old rage. "Foul laughs at lepers."
At that, a glare of comprehension touched her eyes. Her scowl said plainly, Nobody has the right to laugh at illness. |
-------------------
I noticed the Covenant/Linden UST this time around, too. It's pretty blatant - it's hard to believe I didn't see it before.
~Foamy~ |
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Furls Fire
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 3:07 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't realize this chapter had been posted yet. Great lead kastenessen
I noticed the "attraction" between the two of them the minute Covenant opened his door on Haven Farm and said "Goddammit! if I had wanted visitors I would have posted a sign!"
And I love this line... "I believe" - he made no effort to muffle his hardness - "that we've got to find some way to stop Foul. That's more important than anything. He's trying to destroy the Land. I'm not going to let him get away with that. That's who I am." I was like YES!! YES YES YES!!! My hero is AWAKE!!! There is no hesitation here, no disbelief, no denial of what he needs to do. This is who he is! YES!!!
_________________
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
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danlo
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:23 pm Post subject: |
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It's amazing how selfless Covenant is after he gets slammed by Foul. For someone who's been alone so long his care and rationalization of Linden's exposure to the intial insanity of the Land is, somewhat, heroic in and of itself. And who wouldn't go insane...she's dreaming of her father, gazing at a weird blue-tinged sun, health sense and greater vision already hitting her and staring at some inexplicaple scar on TC's chest. The she finds out she's 4000 feet up in the air instead of in a burning red tiangle in the woods way behind Haven Farm! 
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Last edited by danlo on Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:02 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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Furls Fire
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| Posted: Thu Nov 13, 2003 4:31 pm Post subject: |
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I know I would go insane...that's for certain
_________________
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
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Dragonlily
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:11 am Post subject: |
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Kasten wrote:
| Quote: | | Think of it...these words spoken inside your body, loud so you can barely hear them, burning but not killing...what pain, what malice! and contempt...words belonging of course to Lord Foul. They are like a poem of hatred trying to subdue TC, trying to crush him and destroy him and surrender his ring... |
| Quote: | | No wonder TC gets struck to the stone floor by the immensity of the words, he is starting to doubt himself and his capabilities |
Kasten, you've done a wonderful job of making us think what it must be like to be these characters, even Foul. You made me shiver with your "poem of hatred" line. I'm looking forward to seeing what you have focused on in the next chapter.
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Dragonlily
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:16 am Post subject: |
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Incidentally, that last post was my 100th.
| Furls Fire wrote: | | I didn't realize this chapter had been posted yet. Great lead kastenessen |
I didn't either. All the chapters have been posted ahead of time and I missed them until later. I was planning on sticking to the schedule. 
Danlo, is there some way that participants can be notified when a new chapter is posted? Some "You are watching this thread"-type thing?
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dlbpharmd
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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To me, it's interesting to compare the two summoning songs that we see in the 1st and 2nd Chronicles. In TIW and TPTP, Elena and Mhoram sing the following to bring TC to the land (thanks to Furl's Fire for PM'ing this to me last night, as I've loaned my copy of the 1st Chronicles to a friend!):
| Quote: | Be true, Unbeliever --
Answer the call.
Life is the Giver:
Death ends all.
The promise is truth,
And banes disperse
With promise kept:
But soul's deep curse
On broken faith
And faithless thrall,
For doom of darkness
Covers all.
Be true, Unbeliever --
Answer the call.
Be true. |
Notice that this is a song of hope, despite the mention of "soul's deep curse," and "doom of darkness." Additionally, although the song mentions "broken faith" and "faithless thrall," it is obvious that the summoner is putting their faith in someone who, by definition, has no faith: the Unbeliever.
Now, look at the Despiser's summoning song.
| Quote: | Your will is mine
You have no hope of Life without me,
Have no life or hope without me.
All is mine.
Your heart is mine-
There is no love or peace within you,
Is no love or peace within you.
All is mine.
Your soul is mine-
You cannot dream of your salvation.
Cannot plead for your salvation.
You are mine. |
LF specifically says there is no hope. Where "Life is the giver" above, now LF tells TC that he "[has] no life or hope without me." And now we see that faith is irrelevant, only an absolute "You are mine." |
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Dragonlily
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 2:14 pm Post subject: |
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I didn't see that second song as a summoning song. Foul opened the door and Covenant walked through, to save Joan. The way it looks to me, Foul is singing to brainwash Covenant.
A summation of the first song would be, "Covenant, you are promised to rescue us." It was written after LFB, of course.
Drool didn't use a summoning song. That has to be a (very characteristic) invention of the Lords.
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danlo
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:10 pm Post subject: |
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The schedule is always posted in the "Sign up for" topic on the top of this forum-and I try to update the Dissection announcement in the "Announcements" forum from time to time. I also post the schedule on my website and announce it on my homepage. Basically every Wednesday a new chapter, or two comes up...I wish I could do more-but I AM trying to do all I can.
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Furls Fire
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:14 pm Post subject: |
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You do an awesome job, danlo It can't be easy keeping all this straight. Here's to you!!  
_________________
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
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kastenessen
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:40 pm Post subject: |
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Thanks everyone! And sorry about posting earlier, but I couldn't post the 12th, according to work and travels.
And yes, there was so much information and awesome passages that it was difficult to choose which to focus on...And I guess It's always like this, every word SRD writes is full of meaning, you can jump in anywhere and discover something new...for instance, as Danlo pointed out, the first words she speaks when waking up is directed at her father...
| Quote: | | "You bastard", she panted, surging to her knees. "Haven't you even got the guts to go on living?"... |
...I discovered this fact this reading...and I will post chapter 5 sunday or monday... |
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Furls Fire
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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Actually, that line is a bit of foreshadowing in itself...
_________________
And I believe in you
altho you never asked me too
I will remember you
and what life put you thru.
~fly fly little wing, fly where only angels sing~
~this world was never meant for one as beautiful as you~
...for then I could fly away and be at rest. Sweet rest, Mom. We all love and miss you.
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dlbpharmd
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| Posted: Fri Nov 14, 2003 5:25 pm Post subject: |
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| Joy wrote: | I didn't see that second song as a summoning song. Foul opened the door and Covenant walked through, to save Joan. The way it looks to me, Foul is singing to brainwash Covenant.
A summation of the first song would be, "Covenant, you are promised to rescue us." It was written after LFB, of course.
Drool didn't use a summoning song. That has to be a (very characteristic) invention of the Lords. |
Hmmm - I've never thought of this song as anything BUT a summoning song - I could be mistaken, however. |
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