Date: Tue, 16 Apr 2002 14:58:36 -0400 (EDT)
From: Michael Straight 
Subject: RE: (urth) 5HC a good introduction to wolfe? (was Washington  Post

On Tue, 16 Apr 2002, James Jordan wrote:

>          Methinks Dan'l is right. Gene Wolfe is pointing to the "heart of 
> darkness" in everyman/woman, and using himself as an example. Number Five 
> and Maitre are what Everyman could be -- and what Gene would be apart from 
> saving grace. 

I agree with this, but I think it is a symbolic connection rather than a
literal one.  That is, I don't think we should expect #5 to look like our
own Mr. Wolfe nor look for clues that the family has held on to a single
name since the 20th century.  But by giving #5 and Maitre his own name,
Wolfe is implying something along the lines you suggest.

-Rostrum


--