Kevin's Watch

WARNING: WALL OF TEXT

I'm sure many of you have noticed/mentioned this, but I'm curious to see what everyone thinks.

Thus far, the first two trilogies have shared something in common--mainly this. In TCTC 1 the Land, and the threat against it, symbolized Covenant himself. In the end, Covenant had to save the Land and in effect save himself.

In TCTC 2 the Land, and the Sunbane crisis, seemed much more like Linden. Yet again in the end, she healed herself and the Land.

The powerful force driving this symbolism is how we follow the strong analogies between the main character (their troubled past, present flaws, and future destiny) and the action happening in the Land itself.

I could go on and on about the infinite amount of detail the analogy goes into, but here's my point....

In the Final Chronicles we have the entrance of a third character. Jerimiah. He exibits the characterisitcs of both Thomas and Linden when they first made their appearance: horrors of the past, personality disorders to deal with, and a connection to the Land, etc.

I'm strongly convinced that this time around the Land and all that's happening to it are symbols of what's happening to Jerimiah. And like before, we're probably going to jump into his point-of-view in the next book very often. In the grand conclusion Jerimiah will have to meet his dentiny--to save or damn the "Land"(himself).

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Some comparisons (purely my opinion)

Kevin's Dirt- Symbolizes Jerimiah's "autism", effectively rending him and the Land powerless.

The Despiser- As always, the dark side of the mind... or is he?

Anele- The conflicting madness and power struggle

Any more you guys can think of?

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The interesting thing this time around however is not only does the Land seem to be Jerimiah, but it's also a sort of "battle ground" between Thomas and Joan.

Ring against Ring. Husband against Wife. The slow deliberate assault against time against the stubborn will to remain whole.

Everyone is at their mercy. Even Lord Foul and the Creator. There's so many plots going on--SRD I am in awe. Again.

Although Jeremiah seems to be a very important character, I agree, I still think that it is still Thomas Covenant who is at the heart of the story. This final chronicle is supposed to be about acceptance - the final redeeming union of Thomas Covenant with Thomas Covenant, about him finding that simple and still overwhelming truth that looking into oneself one can find the whole Universe. As above, so below, says the Emerald Tablet, one of the main documents of Hermetic thought. Quite applies to TCTC.

While I think you are right, amanibhavam, I don't think that's the beginning and end of it. Remember that this is, after all, a shared dream (since both inside and outside theories are true at once), and appears to be influenced by all those dreaming it. So I think it is probably correct that the state of the Land represents, in part, Jeremiah's mind (in Kevin's Dirt, most certainly). But Joan's mind has created the caesures, and Linden has somehow brought Esmer into the fray. Thomas has his Despiser as always, but there will be other things, I'm sure.

This final chronicle is supposed to be about acceptance

Who said this? SRD?

I agree that the silence of Jerimiah compares to the silence implaced by the Haruchia/Kevins Dirt.

Warmark wrote:

This final chronicle is supposed to be about acceptance

Who said this? SRD?

Yep: in an interview in 1991. I don't have the original text before me, but I do have a transcript of a chat interview he gave in 1997. Here's an excerpt:

Mark Jeffrey & SRD wrote:Mark Jeffrey: In a 1991 interview, you mention that the first Covenant chronicles reflected a test of muscle and the second a test of sacrifice. You also said that if you ever chose to pursue the idea, the next test would be one of acceptance. Could you elaborate on this?

SRD: I remember saying that. At the same time I got the ideas for the second series. I realized it was not done, and I got a grand vision and it needs a third part. And I call it the Last Chronicles of Covenant

Spoiler

and there would be no later sequels since the world would end.

Mind you, I don't necessarily agree with amanibhavam's interpretation of this. I see very little evidence that SRD has been at all influenced by Hermetic doctrine. In any case, 'looking into oneself' to 'find the whole Universe' would be a sort of thematic backsliding to questions that were already tackled in the First Chronicles by means of Covenant's Unbelief. SRD has often said he doesn't like to repeat himself, so I strongly suspect that Covenant's 'acceptance' (if indeed it is Covenant who has to accept things) is of a different nature.

I do not state that SRD was influenced by Hermetic thought, I say that the concept for me is similar to that of.

In addition, I would have to say that a character that does not speak or react, such as Jeremiah, makes a rather difficult character to build a redemption story around. He will have to get fixed up pretty quick, just to even begin to hear what his story is (from his POV). Trouble is, if you get that far, the story is already over - he's healed.

Also, I don't think that FCTC is going to be a formulaic repeat of the previous one. The addition of a second major character was necessary for SCTC, since among other things it was about sharing burdens. FCTC may not need any such device.

Jeremiah? I figured I was spelling it wrong, didn't look right.

Anyhoo, I agree that the Land seems to take on aspects of all the "dreamers" who enter it. But at the crux there always seems to be a certain character in need of a dramatic change. Whether it be Thomas wishing to fulfill his name as Earthfriend, or Linden coming to terms with being the Sun Sage.

I wonder if Jeremiah will be given a symbolic title?

I'm reluctant to stick SRD with being repetitive, which he's not by any farthest stretch of the word, but he does have a consistent symbolism in TCTC. I see no reason why it won't be present here in one form or an other.

Also, regarding the theme of acceptance... that's very interesting because I've always had this feeling that it was impossible to overcome Despite any other way. I can't put into words the vibes I'm getting, but I'm sure you all are getting the same.

Why is so much importance being placed on Jeremiah in this thread?
Would SRD hinge the fate of the Land of a character that barely made an appearance in the first book of the series?

All the major characters that finished or were vital to the end in the 2nd series were revealed for the most part in the Wounded Land.

And likewise in LFB.

I know Jeremiah was introduced to us before Linden came to the Land but then that was it.
I think I would be disappointed or surprised if Jeremiah had an integral part to play in this series beyond the mother-son bond with Linden.

Would SRD hinge the fate of the Land of a character that barely made an appearance in the first book of the series?

He did it before - with Linden.

I like the Jeremiah/Kevin's Dirt connection but I tend to think that Kevin's Dirt is more like Joan's affliction than Jeremiah's - just as the Sunbane was similar to Joan's bloodlust in TWL.

Jeremiah is introduced, he just doesn't seem integral to the story because we're unable to jump into his mind like we could with Linden and Covenant... and then lo and behold,

Rune Ending

Spoiler

we see at the end of Runes that Jeremiah is acting quite normal and lucid. Now we can get into his POV and explore his character from within.

I like the idea of Joan playing a part in each book, never gave that much thought... though the caesures seem more like her troubles made manifest.

dlbpharmd wrote:

Would SRD hinge the fate of the Land of a character that barely made an appearance in the first book of the series?

He did it before - with Linden.

Huh?
Linden was there from the very beginning of the Wounded Land.

Sorry, I misunderstood your earlier post.

...Jerry may stand to " inherit" the land as all children do from their parents. He may come to see what the Land should be and be left to over see it " happening". As any and every teenager on the long threshold of adulthood, there are things to be learned on becomeing an adult.

I have already pointed out elsewhere that the oft repeated refrain of Linden," Lord Foul has my son!" could be the cry of any parent experiencing their wonderful children's passage into the teenage zone. By the end of Last Chrons, i expect Jerry to have exited said zone, in some manner or form.

" Acceptance" is as good as any way to put it. I use " deal with It" dailey. This Is the only reality we got. Deal with it. The first step in maturing is accepting reality. The Fun is of course, allowing Donaldson to take us thru the exercise in Fantasy fashion...a wonderful paradox in its own rite...MEL