From: Jim Jordan <jbjordan@gnt.net>
Subject: Re: (urth) Re: Westwind
Date: Sat, 26 Jul 1997 15:53:29 


[Posted from URTH, a mailing list about Gene Wolfe's New Sun and other works]

	Westwind is a pretty loaded with symbolism, more or less specific.

	The inn is the church.
	The message from the Ruler is the reading of scripture.
	The potential message from the Department of Truth is the sermon, which
the old woman says they don't need.
	The game in 20 minutes is the standard Sunday afternoon ball game on tv.
	The storm outside is the world and history.
	The old woman is the church in person; she is lame, I suspect because she
shares the messianic foot wound of Genesis 3. She's not all that pleasant,
because after all, the Church is not all that great. She's redeemed; not
perfect.
	The scarred young man and young woman are people, injured by the world,
seeking refuge in the Church.
	The ham sandwich & coffee corresponds to communion after the scripture in
worship. Ham because, after all, these is the Church, not the Synagogue.
	High water everywhere: outside is not just the storm of history, but also
a flood.
	Lots of people show up to watch the game, far more than were interested in
hearing the Ruler.
	The young man says that the inn is a "really bad place." Such is the
church, but it's better than the storm.
	The Ruler cleans the air and the water; fairly cosmic activities.
	Obviously, Westwind is anyone who talks to God through prayer. This comes
from John 3:8, where those born of God are like the wind.
	The young man takes off his shoes before talking to the Ruler; following
the rule that one takes off one's shoes on holy ground.
	The young woman covers her head before talking to the Ruler; following the
rule that women pray with heads covered.
	Knowing the Ruler is like knowing where a treasure is hidden; this comes
from the parable of the treasure hidden in a field, which is the Kingdom of
God.
	Finally, notice that the young man is not surprised that the young woman
is also Westwind.

Nutria