On Thu, 20 Nov 1997, Jill Gillham wrote:
> Elizabeth Moon (Paksenarrion)
Paksenarrion is an interesting case. I agree with placing her in this
category, but it's a little more complicated, or subtle, or something.
Most of the strong characters in the Deed are male, the gods tend to be
male - in fact, the only goddess I can recall at the moment was very
evil. The Duke, who is one of the main characters looked-up-to in the
book is male, and he is almost a father-figure to Paksenarrion, at the
same time that he is a potential lover.
Anyway, the dominant/superior/patriarchal relationships are of course
subverted by Paksenarrion's completely surpassing them. In a way, she
ends up being all the more powerful character for that, but the long
stretches through which she doesn't believe in herself, and all the
powerful folks being male just makes the feminist reading a little more
complex.
So, that's mho. Anyone care to disagree? I think this is actually an
excellent book to talk about this issue.
(And just an absolutely tremendous fantasy work, by the way.)
Rhian
rhian.m.merris@cpmx.saic.com
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