Wayfriend wrote:
With Honninscrave’s plight draped about him, Covenant takes a tour of the dromond, a rather grim tour, one which visits each and every other concern which weighs on him, Honninscrave already accounted for.
· Cail, unwontedly alone.
· The crippled Giantship.
· The opposing question marks of Vain and Findail.
· The First, long denied constructive action.
· Her husband Pitchwife, who worries less about the quest and more about the questors.
· Linden, set adrift by Covenant’s betrayal.
· Mistweave, a Giant contemplating a Haruchai’s shoes.
I think you hit the nail on the head here, Wayfriend.
...each and every other concern...
But I think there is more to it than that. Each and every concern of his
current companions.
Soon, the Search arrives in the Soulbiter. Here, more concerns arise. The concerns of the Search for their lost. And that is why I think that Nassic, Marid and Memla are not manifested in the illusion. The Soulbiter directed its trance at the Search. Those other deaths took place before the company met the Search in the Sarangrave. Hence, nothing before
Coercri was depicted in the Soulbiter.
Myste wrote:
But I don't think the Soulbiter was meant only for Covenant. The marooned sailors, the fight with the Sandgorgon, Seadreamer's plea--they're all designed to further gouge the wounds every member of the Search carries in their heart of hearts, to expose their weaknesses to them, and then convince them that those weaknesses cannot be overcome.
I love this. I was always confident that the Soulbiter was directed at the entire company, not just Covenant......but the comparison with Gibbon I completely overlooked. HOwever, the Soulbiter was much more subtle in its approach than Gibbon.
As far as the marooned sailors, I always felt that this, at least, was directed at Covenant. Ceer, Hergrom, Seadreamer, they would pain everybody because they were known and loved by all members of the Search, and the Search bore witness to their end.
But the marooned sailors would not affect everyone in that way. This entire chapter, to me, and as Wayfriend pointed out, is a reminder to the reader of what pains the people in the setting. Therefore the "taking stock" of the
dromond's situation. Part of that reminder is why Covenant is among these great people...and that is because he is trying to save the Land. To me, the marooned sailors (
marooned being the operative word here) represent those in the land that Covenant has left behind. Those that are dying to feed the Banefire while he is away. The people and the Land which he turned his back on, although that was not his intent.
Had success been met at the One Tree, and a new staff forged, this entire chapter would not have the same power that it does.
Wayfriend, that was a most intriguing dissection. It forces the reader to re-read the chapter, giving it more import than felt during the previous readings. And also, opening doors to another great discussion at the Watch. A job well done. I am honored to have read your words.