Kevin's Watch

There are, of course, as many explanations to what TCTC is about, deep down, as there are readers. Myself, I find it hard to see analogies to religion/faith, for example. For me, the Chronicles deal with (manic) depression and other mental illnesses. Might because I have way too much experience with these myself, doesn't matter.

Covenant is depressive. He loathes himself, he expects others to loathe him. He hates himself, blames everything on himself, is never satisfied with his actions and thoughts. No matter what he does, it's always wrong to him, no matter how others perceive the situation.

Mhoram, Foamfollower and especially the Bloodguard personify this problem. Covenant compares himself to them and finds himself always lacking. That others put hope and trust in him pains him, because he can't believe he'll ever do something good. He is convinced he will always fail in the end, always disappoint others. Good old self-fulfilling prophecy.

He finds himself ugly, evil. He desires the beauty of others beyond anything believing it could raise himself. Getting a beautiful, successfull, admirable partner might divert attention from his own ugliness, wretchedness.
But his view of things doesn't allow the picture of himself winning beauty. So he reacts to beauty with frustration and, ultimately, hate. He can't have it, so he wants it destroyed, to not be reminded of his own ugliness by it. So he destroys the overwhelming beauty of Lena, the beauty of her being, her appearance and the beauty of her treatment of him.

Foul is his mirror, he is one possibility of what one might become if one can't break free from this state of mind. Break free, hate yourself till you destroy yourself, or direct the hate at others, at the whole rest of existance. You can't live in this world, so call yourself wrong and lost and destroy yourself, or call the world wrong and destroy it.

Him gaining some control of his power is the manic aspect. He rejoices in, for once, being able to take control of things. He is the White Gold, when he can control it, he for the first time in years is in control of his own life. But it is a fake feeling of control. Once something bad happens, once he makes a mistake, he pulls back, withdraws, need assurance more than ever before. That's what the defeat at the One Tree is about. Build a shiny tower of your soul, if the basis is made of sand, it will crumble and you'll fall deeper than ever before.

The White Gold symbolizes freedom. The freedom to take charge of Covenant's life. When he tries to pass it on, to give it to the Lords, it's like trying to flee, to give up all responsibility for himself. It's like a mentally ill person asking for complete guidance from friends. An unfair and doomed undertaking, leading to no cure. And of course he doesn't know how to use the Ring. He doesn't know how to live, how to deal and interact with the world around him. He is alienated by the Land like a heavily depressed is alienated by mankind. When you pull back far enough, people turn into aliens, with customs and a language you can't understand.

In the Second Chronicles, Covenant is at least strong enough to not wanting to pass it on. He has realized only he can fix himself. Yes, he could entrust the WG to Linden. She is a doctor, she could tell him how to wield the Gold, how to lead his life. It would be better than giving it to Mhoram, for example. But it's no ultimate solution, too. He has to face his dark side, Foul, and deal with it himself. Otherwise, there can be no cure for him.

He can't kill Foul, just like you can never kill the seeds of darkness within you. You can try to bury them deep down, but they will always come back. If you deny them, they will only grow stronger, they will feed on your soul like Foul feeded on Earthpower, and when they finally hit you, it will be so much harder to defend yourself. You might get your personal Sunbane.
Accept them, deal with them. Fight them, and keep them in check, that's all there is.

...

Hope this makes sense. I thought about writing a post like this for a long time but never really managed to, and this one now is absolutely spontaneous, so I apologize if some aspects aren't explained well enough.

I realize this doesn't explain everything in the book. But it doesn't have to, and you can call it crap if you like. It's my truth concerning Covenant.

Sevothtarte wrote:I realize this doesn't explain everything in the book. But it doesn't have to, and you can call it crap if you like. It's my truth concerning Covenant.

I wouldn't worry about anybody calling it crap. Extremely well done!!!! I don't disagree with a single word.

Sevothtarte wrote:Foul is his mirror, he is one possibility of what one might become if one can't break free from this state of mind.

This instantly reminded me of Foul saying to Covenant:

"I tell you plainly, groveler, - Despite such as mine is the only true fruit of experience and insight. In time you will not do otherwise than I have done. You will learn contempt for your fellow beings - for the small malices which they misname their loves and beliefs and hopes and loyalties. You will learn that it is easier to control them than to forbear - easier and better. You will not do otherwise. You will become a shadow of what I am - you will be a despiser without the courage to despise. Continue, groveler. Destroy my work if you must - slay me if you can - but make an end! I am weary of your shallow misperception."

Thanks for sharing your thoughts!

No crap at all. Very good insights on Tc's character. I, too, have always thought that his problems go much further than leprosy, and that he is, in fact, also suffering from a serious and heavy clinical depression.

Good piece.

I know nothing about mental illness (no experience) but what I can see from your piece is that you place yourself absolutely in the 100% Unbeliever camp. I.e. you choose and explanation that is based on the fact that the Land is not actually real. I can see that kind of explanation easily enough, but I prefer to think that the Land has an existence independend of Covenant and that maybe he was selected exactly because of the qualities you mention.

Well written, and I agree with you completely Sev, except for one point... not really a disagreement but an addendum.

i think it's drastically important to remember who TC was before his condition compared to who he became. and it's not the condition that changed him, but the treatment he received from those around him; joan, townfolk, and even the doctors, who despite trying to save his body, stripped him of his soul.

Covenant was made into what he was by others, and his victories despite his conditioning is a testament to his inner strength. Leprosy was his disease, but the ostracization was a mortal wound that came much closer to killing him. the Land, to Covenant, was an instinctual inner reaction to the eminent extinction of his soul. he felt tormented by the Land's beauty, but if he hadn't then he would have already been lost.

Good insight! This was the very reason the Creator chose Covenant. He had seen so much misery, and hate in his life, he could stand to see anything destroyed without going totally insane. His disbelief kept him in check, after all if the land wasn't real, his so called daughter (Elena), never really existed, and could not have been killed.

Good post, Sev!

I'm not sure I agree with your assessment that TC is bipolar, however. Depressed, yeah, boy howdy, I agree big time. But I don't see his behavior as manic; he never believes that strongly in himself. Sure, his dream (if that's what it is) of the Land casts him as the Savior, and yes, he martyrs himself in the end. But he fights tooth and nail against the Savior role, and after his martyrdom, he suggests to Linden that he took the only action that could defeat Foul.

Was his behavior in our world, when he took the knife meant for Joan, an act of martyrdom? Maybe -- but if Foul isn't real, then one could also argue that TC was schizophrenic at that point.

I do think that SRD used religion as a theme -- it makes sense that religion would be an important issue for him, given his boyhood with his missionary parents in India -- but I agree wholeheartedly with you that mental illness is another big theme of SRD's.

Ryzel wrote:I know nothing about mental illness (no experience) but what I can see from your piece is that you place yourself absolutely in the 100% Unbeliever camp. I.e. you choose and explanation that is based on the fact that the Land is not actually real.

Yes and no. I totally agree with SRD - after a certain point, it doesn't matter at all wether the Land is real or not.

Sylvanus wrote:i think it's drastically important to remember who TC was before his condition compared to who he became. and it's not the condition that changed him, but the treatment he received from those around him

Of course, it's hard to imagine anyone in Covenant's place not becoming depressive. But the leprosy alone is more than enough to do that, even with full love and support from others he might have gone the same way.

aliantha wrote:Depressed, yeah, boy howdy, I agree big time. But I don't see his behavior as manic; he never believes that strongly in himself.

I think he does during TOT. Not all the time, it alternates. He changes between his usual depressed state and the manic part, whenever he is (or thinks he is) gaining in control of the Wild Magic. In the end, at the One Tree, he is lost in his delusion, swept away. He thinks he's in control of the Magic (of his life) so totally nothing can harm him and, more importantly, he thinks he is doing the right thing. Knowing better than anyone else, including Linden (the doctors). But, as expected, his confidence in himself isn't strong enough and can be shattered because it's base isn't perfect. There's too much wanting things to be the good way. Covenant being in perfect control of the Magic would be the solution to all the Lands (his) problems. He wants it too much and pays no attention to the errors in his perception. Convinced he's in control, convinced he knows perfectly well how things should be done, how he should lead his life, he makes an even bigger mistake than ever before and nearly destroys all hopes of recovery by ruining his life and his self-worth even more.

Hmm, interesting, Sev. It's been awhile since I've read the 2d Chrons; will have to consider your words when we get to dissecting TOT.