|
Post by Abaratian on Dec 6, 2009 11:35:11 GMT -5
I agree that there are genuine evil dragons throughout the Abarat. But I don't think that makes it any better, really. ONE killed his bride, so I can sort of understand him hunting down the family of the one that killed Boa. But killing an entire species seems kind of overkill. The only mention we have of dragons is revolving around Finnegan and those seeking him. Which, to me, suggests that dragons are not so dangerous as to be notable by other Abaratians. They live in a world that seems to be full of "evil" species - for example, Zethek. And, from Candy's experience with them, it seems likely that they, and perhaps dragons, are capable of perhaps friendship or redemption.
Also, keep in mind that Seaskippers eat humans as well. So I don't think eating people makes a species like dragons evil. We just live in a world where humans are basically the dominant species, but if we lived in the time of dinosaurs, losing a couple of humans to the T-Rex would be a pretty commonplace occurrence. We eat other species, so it would be hypocritical if Abaratians considered dragons evil for eating them.
|
|
worldfantasygirl
Speckle Frew
'If silence therefore song" - end poem of Abarat 3[Mo0:24]
Posts: 190
|
Post by worldfantasygirl on Dec 6, 2009 15:28:36 GMT -5
True, they are just hungry and probably can't help but eat people, it's instinct. Also, there are tons of monsters in the Abarat, look at Efreet. Finnegan could be more useful if he killed off them. Look at the sea dragon that attacked in the first book, it only wanted one crew member and then it would let them go their way, he would even offered to help them get there. Sure it seems bad that someone would die, but when they fought the dragon someone ended up getting killed anyway and their boat was sunk, so it would have been easier just to give in to that one demand and save themselves the trouble.
|
|
Kaito
Pyon
[A:0]
Bi~rdy![Mo0:0]
Posts: 69
|
Post by Kaito on Dec 6, 2009 17:13:04 GMT -5
We eat other species, so it would be hypocritical if Abaratians considered dragons evil for eating them. Not true. Well, yes, true, but people don't work like that. Case in point: Tigers. Case in point: Bears. Case in point: Sharks. Et al. But I have to agree, genocide is overkill. On the other hand, remember Boa, too: she was probably the most loved person in the Abarat at the time, possibly ever to exist. Even Carrion loved her, and we all know he ain't the most cuddly person ever. And Finnegan was her fianceƩ. I don't know. I may just be playing devils' advocate here; I don't even like Finnegan that much (who does?) But he has his reasons. You can't just go saying, "Oh, he's a bad person" or "oh, he's a good person". It just doesn't work like that.
|
|
|
Post by Abaratian on Dec 6, 2009 23:36:21 GMT -5
Oh yeah if I ever said he was a bad person then that's not what I meant at all. I do believe, if things were different, he's extremely capable of turning into a bad guy.
He's my least favorite character, for the reasons I pointed out, but I don't think he's a bad character in either sense of the word. In fact, compared to characters in other series, I do really like Finnegan. Saying he's my least favorite character is like saying pecan is my least favorite pie. Yeah, it's my least favorite, but its PIE. I don't like him. But he's still an Abarat character.
I believe he has done bad things that make me dislike him, but a bad person? No. He's acting out of grief, which I do understand, although he's being extremely over the top and melodramatic in the way he expresses grief.
PLUS I have a feeling that if we had seen Finnegan before Boa's death, I would have loved his character a lot. I have a thing for all of Clive's characters, but his black characters are typically the most memorable to me <3
SOOOOO to put this all in a nutshell...
I love Clive's characters, even my least favorites. So I do LOVE Finnegan. I am disappointed with his genocide and find it ridiculously overkill and melodramatic. Like... "omigosh I'm the only one who's ever lost a love!" He frustrates me. But I see that something was there before Boa's death and I feel like he does have potential to be a good character as long as Clive shows him that he's more than Boa's mourning husband-to-be. I even wouldn't mind a relationship forming between him and Candy as long as it was Finnegan falling for CANDY and not for Boa inside of her. It wouldn't be my pairing of choice and he'll probably never be my favorite character, but I do have a soft spot for him in my heart and would gladly read more about him as long as his character sort of... grows and gets past this OHMIGAWDMYLOSTLOVE phase. Boa's been dead 16 years. I don't mean to sound heartless, and no one ever gets over a loss like that, but... c'mon.
|
|
|
Post by caitycat66 on Dec 7, 2009 20:32:26 GMT -5
...I am disappointed with his genocide and find it ridiculously overkill and melodramatic. Like... "omigosh I'm the only one who's ever lost a love!" He frustrates me. But I see that something was there before Boa's death and I feel like he does have potential to be a good character as long as Clive shows him that he's more than Boa's mourning husband-to-be. I even wouldn't mind a relationship forming between him and Candy as long as it was Finnegan falling for CANDY and not for Boa inside of her. It wouldn't be my pairing of choice and he'll probably never be my favorite character, but I do have a soft spot for him in my heart and would gladly read more about him as long as his character sort of... grows and gets past this OHMIGAWDMYLOSTLOVE phase. Boa's been dead 16 years. I don't mean to sound heartless, and no one ever gets over a loss like that, but... c'mon. True. Arg, now the logical part of my brain is taking over. It's easy to say I hate him, end of story, but now I have to actually think. I suppose if he could get over her death(not to be, as you said, heartless) and actually start living for something beyond a memory, then I think I could respect him, maybe even like him. A little tiny bit. But at this point it's still "Twit. She's dead. *whack* Get over it."
|
|
Kaito
Pyon
[A:0]
Bi~rdy![Mo0:0]
Posts: 69
|
Post by Kaito on Dec 8, 2009 18:08:16 GMT -5
But at this point it's still "Twit. She's dead. *whack* Get over it." That I just can't agree with. Imagine your boyfriend (girlfriend, husband, wife, take your pick) died. And you really loved him/her, not just the "I kinda like you know but we'll have broken up within the month" kind of boyfriend. You wouldn't take to kindly to someone saying "Twit. (S)he's dead. Get over it."
|
|