Date: Tue, 5 Mar 2002 10:42:59 -0500 (EST)
From: Michael Straight 
Subject: Re: (urth) Re: Digest from  urth@urth.net

On Tue, 5 Mar 2002, Jeff Wilson wrote:

> > Thecla (p. 239) correction, she did not exactly take her own life to avoid another session with the revolutionary, rather, she did so to avoid further torment by
> > the in-dwelling demon summoned by the device. 

> 	The division of functions is not the same as that in the RL documented
> procedure, but this can be attributed to the refinement of the device by
> Urthly science, the general scientific accuracy of the Book, and perhaps
> an effort on Wolfe's part to display an internal division within human
> nature. The Revolutionary turns one against one's self by separating the
> devil already inside from the mitigating moral conscience, or perhaps it
> involves original sin.

I'm not sure how much of a difference it makes, but it's not clear whether
Thecla kills herself of her own volition to avoid further torment, or if
by taking the knife she is allowing the "demon" self to kill her quickly
rather than fight a slow, losing battle against it.

(Like the difference between shooting myself to avoid being tortured by an
enemy and handing the gun to my enemy and hoping to be shot rather than
tortured to death.)

-Rostrum


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