This may have been discussed before...

[Unfettered One]

... but I couldn't find it.

I'm doing a re-read (probably for my 20th time) in anticipation of TLD, and when I finished the Frist chronicles, something that I had never seen before hit me.

First, I think it's generally agreed that 1 day in real life = 1 year in The Land.

He wakes up in the hospital on Easter. Previous time was 7 years before, so Palm Sunday. Previous to that was 40 years before, so Ash Wednesday.

Do any of you think this has any significance besides emphasizing TC as a Christ-figure?

[Akasri]

I'm not sure the 1 day=1 year thing is that exact is it?

I remember thinking it was strange about the Easter reference in the last book, but never really gave it that much thought.

[wayfriend]

That is an odd and interesting correspondence, thanks for pointing it out!

As for Covenant being a Christ-figure ... I think that is amply displayed throughout the first Chronicles, or at least has been amply noted. It was signalled with the name "Covenant", if you ask me. The parallels are even more so in the Second Chronicles.

[Rau Le Creuset]

that's pretty sweet detective work you've done id never even noticed anything like that before much less thought of it.. although I don't think iv read them as much as you have

[dlbpharmd]

... but I couldn't find it.

I'm doing a re-read (probably for my 20th time) in anticipation of TLD, and when I finished the Frist chronicles, something that I had never seen before hit me.

First, I think it's generally agreed that 1 day in real life = 1 year in The Land.

He wakes up in the hospital on Easter. Previous time was 7 years before, so Palm Sunday. Previous to that was 40 years before, so Ash Wednesday.

Do any of you think this has any significance besides emphasizing TC as a Christ-figure?

Wow, I'd never noticed that either! Good job!

[Unfettered One]

Thanks for the kudos... but this is one of the things I love about SRD. The re-readability is phenomenal, always some new hint or foreshadowing or twist that can be discovered.

I'm still pondering the importance... The 40 days between Ash Wednesday and Palm Sunday is lent, where you traditionally self-reflect and sacrifice.

The week between Palm Sunday and Easter is considered Holy Week.

I think next time I read them, I'll try to keep these in mind to see if anything pops out at me.

[Zarathustra]

Covenant is much more an anti-Christ figure than a Christ figure (much like Zarathustra was, in fact). Christ certainly doesn't go around raping people, making bargains to get himself off the hook, and then learn how to fight his own inner Despiser (without the help of an external Creator). The Biblical parellels are all ironic--turning traditional values on their head.

[peter]

I must admit Z's point re his treatment of Lena was the first thing that came into my head on reading the Covenant/Christ analogy - and am I alone in thinking that if you hold the idea too tightly, it in someway diminishes Covenant. It's Covenants very failings that make him approachable as a charachter, particularly in the first Chrons. By the second he is sort of approaching that 'hallowed status' that to me makes him less of an interesting read. [nb I love the 2nd Chrons, but move away from TC - perhaps understandably given Lindens high profile - and TC's 'locked in' state for half of the time.] I prefer not to surrender TC to apotheosis untill it becomes absolutely impossible not to.