I never saw that as the book's definition of honour - I thought it
was presented as the (wrongheaded) Dalemark aristocrats' idea of
honour.
Yes, that's what I thought too. But then the last quarter or so did
some work to complicate the north/south dichotomy, and specifically to
talk about the virtues of southern culture. Or at least how one could
live inside those ways while still being oneself. Which was very
necessary, I felt, but also raised some questions in my mind about the
intention of a lot of the prior judginess. That, and this definition
of honor gets reflected back through multiple iterations. It never
seems to go well -- carrying on dad's work when you aren't suited to
it but you promised to, for example -- but damn if it isn't what
everyone tries, and also what almost everyone people in the book
approve as proper. Moril doesn't, though, notably.
Yes, very cold. There's a particular bit at the end where they receive
a letter from their mother, who is reportedly a new person now that
she's actually happy. And he reads it and thinks distantly that she
sounds like a far off relation he doesn't really care about. Ouch. And
yet, very fitting. I would not have enjoyed this book nearly so much
if his view of his parents wasn't radically altered throughout.
Deceptively simple, like I said.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
momijizukamori and
no subject
Date: 2014-01-18 01:48 pm (UTC)I never saw that as the book's definition of honour - I thought it was presented as the (wrongheaded) Dalemark aristocrats' idea of honour.
Yes, that's what I thought too. But then the last quarter or so did some work to complicate the north/south dichotomy, and specifically to talk about the virtues of southern culture. Or at least how one could live inside those ways while still being oneself. Which was very necessary, I felt, but also raised some questions in my mind about the intention of a lot of the prior judginess. That, and this definition of honor gets reflected back through multiple iterations. It never seems to go well -- carrying on dad's work when you aren't suited to it but you promised to, for example -- but damn if it isn't what everyone tries, and also what almost everyone people in the book approve as proper. Moril doesn't, though, notably.
Yes, very cold. There's a particular bit at the end where they receive a letter from their mother, who is reportedly a new person now that she's actually happy. And he reads it and thinks distantly that she sounds like a far off relation he doesn't really care about. Ouch. And yet, very fitting. I would not have enjoyed this book nearly so much if his view of his parents wasn't radically altered throughout. Deceptively simple, like I said.