The Wounded Land, Chapter 3, Plight
Posted: Wed Nov 05, 2003 11:00 pm
The Wounded Land, Chapter 3, Plight-submitted by Seafoam Understone:
Covenant uses a lot of rationalization and justification for what he does with Joan. Nobody understands, nobody would. I’m the only one who can do this. Again it’s his cross to bear.
Joan’s subsequent reaction may seem normal for a person riddled with guilt. As TC isn’t the only one. People punish themselves for the things they do all the time. Joan felt guilty of her own failure because she ran out on Covenant. She used the right excuses, protect Roger and all that... but.
When Linden suggest hospitalization on top of Covenants he gets pissed and throws it back into her face and uses the rational that he’s kept since the beginning and showing the cross he bears.
He’s seems purposefully avoiding Foul’s part in Joan’s madness. Blaming her need for self-flagellation and probably subconsciously allowing it to appease his own anger at her for leaving him when he needed her most.
Which brings a question to mind that it’s apparent that Foul has the capability to interact with other people besides Covenant in the “real world”. So the AoT must definitely span from the Land to here. If that is so then Covenant is *not* having a dream and the Land must be some sort of parallel universe (??).
Linden just about goes nuts at watching another apparent suicide take place. Ergo she moves and takes action. No longer a child, helpless and ineffective. Yet rational she knows she’s vastly outnumbered and out-matched by the leader of the group.
She seems to be hung up on the smile Covenant offers Joan. A smile of love? Seems no one has ever smiled at her like that and she hungers for it. Much in the way she hungers for power.
Covenant uses a lot of rationalization and justification for what he does with Joan. Nobody understands, nobody would. I’m the only one who can do this. Again it’s his cross to bear.
Joan’s subsequent reaction may seem normal for a person riddled with guilt. As TC isn’t the only one. People punish themselves for the things they do all the time. Joan felt guilty of her own failure because she ran out on Covenant. She used the right excuses, protect Roger and all that... but.
When Linden suggest hospitalization on top of Covenants he gets pissed and throws it back into her face and uses the rational that he’s kept since the beginning and showing the cross he bears.
Also he’s past caring as well, since the “law” didn’t do anything much to help him before.He strove to contain his ire. "Doctors try to cure problems whether they understand them or not. It doesn't always work. This isn't something a doctor can cure."
"Is that a fact?" She did not want to taunt him; but her own compulsions drove her. "Tell me what good you're doing her."
He flinched. Rage and pain struggled in him; but he fought them down. Then he said simply, "She came to me."
"She didn't know what she was doing."
"But I do," His grimness defied her. "I understand it well enough. I'm the only one who can help her."
That shows the long term effects of TC’s past trips to the Land. He seems to have forgotten Troy and believes that he’s still all alone in this. After all it was his dream. To me it’s psychological since folks normally don’t want to have anything to do with lepers he’s all alone. Plus his own ineffectual response to the end of his marriage and his own inner desire to do better next time. He’s the only one who can do it."What I'm supposed to do is turn her over to the authorities. But I've been living without the benefit of law so long now I don't give a damn."
He’s seems purposefully avoiding Foul’s part in Joan’s madness. Blaming her need for self-flagellation and probably subconsciously allowing it to appease his own anger at her for leaving him when he needed her most.
The second half of the chapter to me plays out like a bad Satanic movie. Abduction of Joan, the symbol of a bloody triangle on the house and then a minion coming to call and escort Covenant to his doom. LA playing the part of the investigating detective and watching the house and seeing the surreal events being played out. Covenant going willingly and then the Coven (pun) gathered around the Bane fire and offering themselves to it so that Foul can appear. The sacrificial knife. The mad zeal of the coven’s leader to ensure that it’s done. Wonder what Foul had to offer him.He sighed. "She needs to hurt me. She's starving for it-that's what makes her so violent. It's the best way she can think of to punish herself."
Which brings a question to mind that it’s apparent that Foul has the capability to interact with other people besides Covenant in the “real world”. So the AoT must definitely span from the Land to here. If that is so then Covenant is *not* having a dream and the Land must be some sort of parallel universe (??).
Linden just about goes nuts at watching another apparent suicide take place. Ergo she moves and takes action. No longer a child, helpless and ineffective. Yet rational she knows she’s vastly outnumbered and out-matched by the leader of the group.
She seems to be hung up on the smile Covenant offers Joan. A smile of love? Seems no one has ever smiled at her like that and she hungers for it. Much in the way she hungers for power.