Kevin's Watch

I was reading through The Second Chronicles and I was struck by an epiphany. Well epiphany may be too strong of a word, but it started me thinking anyway.To the best of my (admittedly flawed) abilities, I have striven mightily throughout "The Chronicles" to preserve the theoretical possibility that everything in the Land flows outward from the many layers of Covenant's consciousness—and later of Linden's.I have noticed how much the Land changes when someone new becomes involved with it. When Thomas came it was a beautiful place with 'spots' of illness, like a reflection of Thomas's leprosy. The general emotion was one of beauty being corrupted, (his fears that his son might become infected?) and Thomas's feelings of not belonging, the same feelings he experienced in his own home town.When Linden came the Land was in ruins. All hope was lost, everything was sick and dying. The strongest emotions were that of depression and futility. (Depression due to her guilt at killing her mother, and futility at not being able to stop her father from killing himself?)

Spoiler

Now she returns after losing her son, and the Land is blinded. Reflecting her feelings of being lost and unable to find Jeremiah? (Or is it a reflection of Jeremiah's not being able to communicate? Meaning that Jeremiah is the centerpoint of the Land in the incarnation?

)Miyamoto Musashi, the legendary Samurai, and author of "The Book of Five Rings," once wrote, "He who is the master of one thing is the master of all things."-The Land seems more and more like a test that can only be completed by achieving that 'Mastery of self' by working through internal issues in an external situation. A harsh learning tool, like Purgatory, or even Hell.

Just a thought

Donaldson maintains that fantasy fiction deals with the portrayal of a character's internal, psychological or spiritual struggle as a narrative in the story's external setting. This would lend a credance to your overall theory.

If you have not already you should to read "Epic Fantasy in the Modern World - A few observations" by SRD.

Quote: "Put simply, fantasy is a form of fiction in which the internal crises or conflicts or processes of the characters are dramatized as if they were external individuals or events."

A White Gold Wedding Band wrote:"....To the best of my (admittedly flawed) abilities, I have striven mightily throughout "The Chronicles" to preserve the theoretical possibility that everything in the Land flows outward from the many layers of Covenant's consciousness—...

Hi, serial lurker/first time poster here, but something similar occured to me recently (started the series fresh last week..) and that not only does the land appear to reflect TC's (and later Linden's) current emotional/physical state, but perhaps the whole history of the Land may be a reflection of TC's entire life thus far.
Once, all was glorius in the land, life love and vitality was abundant, but with the leprosy came desecration.
The long slow recovery and return to life on Haven Farm may be reflected in the relatively recent regaining of lore

I cant think of all the examples just now, (I'm a reader not a writer!) and perhaps there are already topics on this very thesis, but i'd love to hear what you think

beldarin wrote:I cant think of all the examples just now, (I'm a reader not a writer!) and perhaps there are already topics on this very thesis, but i'd love to hear what you think

Be Welcome to the Watch, beldarin.
Be Well Come and True.

Yes, this is a favorite topic of discussion here, I believe the most recent being the thread Time - "real world" vs the Land - as gleaned from. You'll find many here who will enjoy discussing such with you.

In the meantime, hop on over to The Summonsing and come introduce yourself in the Say hello in here thread. Then look around the Watch and post. There are topics of discussion on just about everything, in and out of focus on SRD. Find your niche and jump on in!

Yes, I've just been reading that thread, it's cool
I guess I jumped the gun there,
but hey, if I can still get excited about these books after all these years then thats just fine with this crowd,
am I right?

Oh yes! I had to wait for The One Tree and the Power that Preserves to be published, so must have started reading the Chrons in the 1980s. Now getting to the end of The Wounded Land in my umpteenth re-read.

My father was a teenagers when LFB came out, been reading it ever since. At this point, no offense to SRD, we're worried he'll keel over before he can finish!

Sherman Landlearner wrote:My father was a teenagers when LFB came out, been reading it ever since. At this point, no offense to SRD, we're worried he'll keel over before he can finish!

I KNOW!
After David Gemmel passed away so unexpectedly a few years ago
i've been sending good health vibes to SRD ever since, how gutted we would all be.....

Iolanthe wrote:Oh yes! I had to wait for The One Tree and the Power that Preserves to be published, so must have started reading the Chrons in the 1980s. Now getting to the end of The Wounded Land in my umpteenth re-read.

Wow, thats a LONG time to wait for a series! I think it was '92 or '93 when i started, prob about 6 re-reads under my belt at this stage

It's because of TCTC that i'm am very careful not to start a series that is not yet fully finished, hence i never did read the wheel of time, maybe start that soonish, though for some reason i'm reluctant

Only 6? I guess I just read fast. And alot. I've got at least 15, but I don't really keep track.

Beldarin wrote:

Iolanthe wrote:Oh yes! I had to wait for The One Tree and the Power that Preserves to be published, so must have started reading the Chrons in the 1980s. Now getting to the end of The Wounded Land in my umpteenth re-read.

Wow, thats a LONG time to wait for a series! I think it was '92 or '93 when i started, prob about 6 re-reads under my belt at this stage

It's because of TCTC that i'm am very careful not to start a series that is not yet fully finished, hence i never did read the wheel of time, maybe start that soonish, though for some reason i'm reluctant

TOT was published in 1982, or at least my paperback was, and I remember I didn't have to wait too long after I read TWL. I had to wait quite a while for TPTP though. Then there was a Loooooong gap before TROTE as I didn't know that SRD had written a 3rd series! I got the first two at the same time.