Gender in TCTC

Post by **Ylva Kresh** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 3:30 pm

One thing I have always admired about TCTC is the fact that the gender of characters seem close to irrelevant. Of course there are some exceptions (like Covenant and Lena obviously being of different gender to be able to produce an offspring). I find the idea of randomise the gender of characters very appealing, and a bit "before its time". Too often authors (and others) fall back on classical views that narrow the storytelling (and the minds of those reading it?). And even though SRD seem to decide gender by chance, he still manages to keep both feminine and masculine characteristics alive (even though it varies somewhat which gender will get which characteristic, for example among the giants in The Search). The most "genderless" of the main characters might be the Haruchai, but they hint at several occations towards an incredible passion for their families, so the feeling of lack of gender might be an effect of the general lack of showing emotion.

Has anyone else noticed this? Or have you found the opposite?

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:01 pm

I agree; which really puts it all to rest

I can think of two couples where the wife was the more, uhh, decorated (?) character, and all other couples were pretty evenly matched. The two couples are 1) The First and Pitchwife (she does the fighting and he is the guy who cleans up), and 2) Shetra and Verement (Shetra was chosen by a Ranyhyn, but Verement was not).

As for the most genderless characters, I think that'd be the ur-viles and wanyhim

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:27 pm

Variol & Tamarantha

Post by **Ylva Kresh** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 6:40 pm

dAN wrote:

As for the most genderless characters, I think that'd be the ur-viles and wanyhim

Sure, but you dont really get to know many of them, do you? I think the conversations are an important way of getting to know characters in a book. I would give a lot for overhearing a conversation of some kind between ur-viles...

Well, perhaps there is still a chance, with the third chronicles comming...

Post by **Forestal** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:08 pm

knowing vain is enough i need to know baout ur-viles thank you very much...

NOWgirl · Post by **NOWgirl** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:11 pm

Well I for one think it's typical that only males had any real power in the Land. I can't help but believe that SRD is a typical chauvinist pig, despite his acting like he's the opposite.

In the first series, it took a MAN to defeat a MAN. The only time a woman got ahold of any type of real power (the earthpower), she just used it to call up another MAN to do the job she could have done better, being biologically superior and all. And what's up with Elena drinking from a horse trough, anyway? You can do better than that, girl!

In the second series, the "Chosen" never got to actually fight Lord Foul (another MAN), she just got to clean up the mess a buch of MEN made in the first place. But I can understand Linden trying to stab Cail and all; what pigs those Harucai were! I do not trust these Harucai. So there.

The First of the search is the only woman in touch with her strength. YOU GO, GIRL!

Post by **Forestal** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:18 pm

ummm.... only males had any real power?? i dont think so...

elena was high lord, hollian was an eh-brand and later guardian of andelain, linden rejected a raver's posession, shetra was quoted as being one of the most potent lords of the council, galewraith was a storesmaster...

need i go on?

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:29 pm

Forestal wrote:ummm.... only males had any real power?? i dont think so...

Forestal, buddy; don't try to reason with her; she'll just drag you down to her level and beat you with experience. Just invoke these seven words of power to usher her away: :Melenkurion Abatha! Duroc Minas Khabaal Rush Limbaugh!

Post by **Forestal** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:32 pm

is right...

NOWgirl · Post by **NOWgirl** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:47 pm

[quote="dAN]Forestal, buddy; don't try to reason with her; she'll just drag you down to her level and beat you with experience.[/quote]

dAN, you are acting like a pig. You should think of your mother, and try to treat all women like I hope you treat her.

Post by **dANdeLION** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:57 pm

NOWgirl wrote:dAN, you are acting like a pig.

Ahh, yes; the other white meat. It's not just for breakfast anymore, you know.

NOWgirl wrote:You should think of your mother, and try to treat all women like I hope you treat her.

Well, after some of the things I've done with my wife, I don't really want to think of her as my mOM; I don't think I could affort the therapy! But, I see your point, and I will try to be more respectful of other people from now on; no matter how insane their diatribe may seem to me.

Post by **Forestal** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:58 pm

oh and..

NOWgirl wrote:she just got to clean up the mess a buch of MEN made in the first place.

so who was it that drank the earthblood, died, and let foul get his hands on the staff of law? so that it could be destroyed and therefore let the sunbane come around?

*takes a bow* i thank you and goodnight...

[exit stage right]

Post by **aTOMiC** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 7:59 pm

Breaking the Law of Death was pretty pivotal too.

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:26 pm

Just being the clean freak, perfectionist that I am--

Linden tried to kabob Ceer, not Cail, and the haruchai are not pigs. I'm insulted that you'd call them that.

Forestal has a point, Elena was the one who drank the EarthBlood, broke the Law of Death, Summoned dead Kevin, let Lord Foul get ahold of her and the Staff of Law, and was the whole reason for the Ranyhyn being in such terrible shape.

NOWgirl, perhaps you should reread the Chronicles. I do believe that you've the wrong impression of them.

Post by **Landwaster** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:41 pm

iron my shirt

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:43 pm

*peppersprays Landwaster's eyes* Not a chance in the Dark One's domain.

Post by **Landwaster** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 10:53 pm

*walks into various walls with crumpled shirt on*

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 11:02 pm

That's why I'm called Vicky sometimes. Icky with a V.

So, back to the topic at hand. Perhaps it is that SRD had a slight chauvinistic streak, but it was probably only chivilry.

And you can't say that the men had all the power either. Althroughout the Second Chronicles, Linden was saving people. She had a power that TC didn't.

Linden fixed everything in the end, so she was the real hero-of-the-day.

Besides, does it matter? They all had power, every one of 'em. It doesn't really matter who kicked the bad guy's butt, if they're on the same team.

Post by **Landwaster** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 11:05 pm

Well one could also go into the whole powerlessness of TC, and the whole cruel-fate thing of TC ... I mean he was life's punching bag in the real world ... so he sure wasn't any high and mighty character with all the perfections, skills, potency, etc.

In fact, he was quite dehumanised. It would make more sense to use a male character for this, as males are more often than not in a position of head of family/business/etc ... so its a bigger drop for them to be ostracised and impotent etc.

Post by **Reisheiruhime** » Tue Nov 04, 2003 11:08 pm

Good point.

Off Topic: What if you used Cosmo, the fairy guy with the green hair, instead of TC?

Kevin's Watch

Kevin's Watch

Gender in TCTC

Gender in TCTC