The Internal Explanation

[White Wraith]

One interpretation of the series has always been that the Land is an externalization of the internal struggles of the visitors. In the first chronicles, for example, the threat of the Illearth Stone and Lord Foul to the Law and health of the land could be seen as a projection of Thomas Covenant's bouts of despair brought on by his leprosy and subsequent abandonment. In the second chronicles, the Sunbane as a perversion of earthpower could be seen as a projection of Linden's internal desolation, the soul of a healer who distances herself from feeling love or intimacy.

So what do you think a good internal explanation of the third chronicle's circumstances would be?

I could see the current state of the land as an externalization of Jeremiah's inner life. The sense-deadening effects of Kevin's Dirt and the plight of the people of the land, kept ignorant and powerless by the Masters, seem similar in a way to what Jeremiah has done to himself. As a catatonic, he was isolated from suffering, but was unable to learn or grow out of his pain.

Alternately, I could see it as an externalization of Roger's inner life. Joan and her wedding ring are slowly destroying the world, just as his mother's divorce-driven insanity destroyed the peace in Roger's life.

One of the book's main themes is that all the characters carry the potential to help and harm. Anele's condition makes him valuable but dangerous. Esmer is a savior and a traitor both. The Masters are the Land's guardians and its affliction. Linden cares for the Land and places it in jeapordy. Covenant is the white gold--save or damn. Even Lord Foul now has a sideline helping and counseling others. I think this theme is appropriate for both Roger and Jeremiah, both of whom suffered great harm from their mothers.

Finally, I think the Falls make a great symbol for a mind haunted by the past.

Your thoughts?

[UrLord]

It's possible that it's a combination of Roger, Jeremiah, and Joan's inner struggles. To me, the Joan angle seems the most obvious right now...in the hospital she punches her temple to make herself bleed, and in the land she attacks the Arch of Time piece by piece, causing the caesures. I think everyone's internal connection to the Land will become more obvious as the series goes on.

[dlbpharmd]

I could see the current state of the land as an externalization of Jeremiah's inner life. The sense-deadening effects of Kevin's Dirt and the plight of the people of the land, kept ignorant and powerless by the Masters, seem similar in a way to what Jeremiah has done to himself. As a catatonic, he was isolated from suffering, but was unable to learn or grow out of his pain.

This is just bloody brilliant, and makes all the sense in the world to me.

I don't see the connection b/w Linden and the Sunbane that you mention above - but I have always thought that the Sunbane and Joan's plight in 2nd Chronicles were definitely connected.

I've started to wonder in the past few days that perhaps what we're seeing in the Land now is actually left over Sunbane, mutated and changed and now known as "Kevin's Dirt."

[CovenantJr]

If you're going to look at it as an externalisation, I instinctively feel it's Roger. I don't know why though.

[burgs]

White wraith: Wow. Great explanation.

[A Gunslinger]

I always thought that Joan and her health were the symbolistic tie beween Covenant and the Land.

TC1: Her guilt over the rejection of TC created despite

TC2: Something broken...needs TCs blood to survive just as the land itself (also something broken) uses blood to survive

TC3: Obvious so far. Whenever she strikes herslef, another Fall appears. Her health is linked pysically to the land in this manner.

As for White Wraith's thoeries, I won't dispute them at all. Obviosuly he or she has done a fair amount of reading and perhaps writing themselves to find smynbolic linkages.

I will say that the ability to find such linkages where they may or may not exist is a credit to the artistry of SRD! Only such a writer as SRD could weavew such a varied and elegant tapestry!