I Actually *Like* TC

[thewormoftheworld'send]

It was a bit jarring (in a nice way) to see TC arguing with Mhoram from Mhoram's perspective, as it's there we see he's often working out the Land's problems only for himself.

I also never really understood the whole "you are closed to me", until Mhoram said TC came into his room addressing him in a "closed" tone. I'd never thought of it as a tone of voice; only that the people of the Land couldn't get the meaning. But it's often the sound, as if he's edgy or hiding some other undercurrent.

It's hard to understand how fundamentally different words are in the Land, such as "worship" being unknown to Mhoram, when TC asks if they worship trees and such. For Mhoram it's simply a fundamental fact, like air, that the Land has apparent power and that is is good and must be preserved.

I don't know if there's any relationship between "you are closed to me" and TC's "closed" tone of voice. Maybe it is possible, as you said, to understand the former through the latter. They both express concealment, but I think a closed tone of voice is willful while being closed to the people of the Land was just inherent to his strangeness, his alienness, the fact that he doesn't "belong" there.

[Worm of Despite]

True, though I've always picked up some negativity in "closed", either way. At the very least, the Land-folk much favor an open level of honesty, and his ignorance in LFB is naive but "cruel" to them, as they expect he already knows this stuff and is just testing their wits.

But if "closed" is Mhoram's word for Covenant's argumentative, sudden barging in; a word we wouldn't use for that, in our world; then I can only wonder if similar negativity is attached to moments where Covenant can't get through to them about his world or when he explains leprosy. Perhaps a good gradual interview question.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

Being 'closed' is only a useful plot point. It means that the people of the Land cannot discern TC's true intent, and he finds this useful in such acts as deceiving Elena.

[Worm of Despite]

Being 'closed' is only a useful plot point. It means that the people of the Land cannot discern TC's true intent

That's my exact point. It could be something negative, could not for them; it goes either way.

[thewormoftheworld'send]

Being 'closed' is only a useful plot point. It means that the people of the Land cannot discern TC's true intent

That's my exact point. It could be something negative, could not for them; it goes either way.

TC nevertheless used a closed tone of voice on Mhoram, as if he could possibly discern some hidden motive.

[RoomToGrow]

Covenant is a character drawn upon attributes each of us may relate to the state of humanity. However, I find myself in the position of decision, while involved in what Covenant is living at the time of my read, feelings of what I would or would not do in his place and perhaps the outcome of my actions creep in and relate each situation to my own humanity. I Have always liked Covenant, from Lord Foul's through Fatal Revenant I remain a fan. Sometimes I understand his actions and reactions, other times I have no clue and read on. There is a little somethin somethin in all of us that can relate. ~ Room

[deer of the dawn]

It was not so much dislike for me, rather incomprehension. Throughout the first book I simply could not see how somebody who had been blessed with the event of having been transferred to a place like the Land could've shun so totally as TC did. But then I never had to spend months of my life learning some rigorous discipline just to be able to survive and never experienced total alienation from the people around me.

This, IMO, is probably the only thing that kept me from completely loathing TC. I guess in a way I felt empathy for him, so even at his least likable, I felt pity and sadness for him. Also, because of some personal things I was going through at the time, I found myself understanding the harsh, unyielding exterior he tried to keep between himself and everyone/everything else.

You hit the nail on the head for me. You know, when you have to work to love someone, sometimes you end up loving them more strongly than you might have. I LOVE him now, reading the last Chrons.

[jacob Raver, sinTempter]

Yeah, I actually *like* the so-and-so. Does that make me weird? I know a lot of readers loathe Thomas Covenant, even if they love the Land and the other characters -- they like the book despite the main character.

I can't stand him as he's actually written...I think I kind of unwoosified him somewhat as I read, selective memory and interpretation and all so's I didn't beat the book with a baseball bat, Casino style. I mean, enough's enough-manipulating your own daughter, two weeks or not, a dream or not...

...don't get me wrong, his reasoning is valid, leper, dream vs. real, etc.

I just can't stand 'em. Though, I feel some sympathy and empathy and enjoy the books tremendously.