Post by jayderyu on Apr 21, 2012 2:21:24 GMT -5
I'm late to the series.. but I'm usually late to many things. Games, books, programming languages, so on so forth. I've just recently finished book two(last week) and will be starting book 3 soon; tomorrow. After two books however I've been having a lot of thoughts about some of the influential characters in the series. I wanted to express these thoughts too rather than just consider them to myself. So here I go.
Carrion is a great villain.
Carrion is an extreme version of what Candy could have been. Abused by a parent, filled with rage, hatred and malign intent. Both were either neglected or only had negative attention. Candy though had strong benefits. She had other family that was there for her. Mom, two brothers and her the comfort of her soul Sister. Carrion was raised as an only grandchild.
Even though Carrion is a [expletive] he does represent better possibilities. Even though he is a representation of balanced darkness. He also represented(past tense) the seeds of light. He did want to connect to the light. He did want to care even after being abused. He did not want to be surrounded by loneliness, abuse and neglect. All past tense. He just too obsessed to realize much of what he creates is his own undoing. In his loneliness he only creates a void of his own by being abusive. Clearly he is copying his grandmother in behaviour to create an artificial family structure shown by that he has taken in Letheo. There is also other signs though notably one being that he was disgusted by Captain Bloats own overenthusiastic for blood and destruction. Even though Carrion has his own dark moments as in the first book of turning the two brothers against each other. Quick to be abusive, accusing others of his own actions. He is by no means a good guy.
Finnigan Hob. A bad good guy
I was pretty much put on the path of disliking this character right from the beginning. I suppose I just don't like being told that I have to like a character. I like many characters without being told I have to like them. Hob however is a character that is supposed to be liked by written word.... I don't like him. Not only that there is good reasons to not like him.
Hob is hate filled murderer. He is not a good guy. He is merely justifying a dark heart under false pretences and self delusion. Abarat books clearly don't portray Dragons as neutral, but clearly as selfish background monsters.. but they are sentient and not just creatures of instinct. This is ultimately more disturbing about the character of Hob. Hob is committing genocide. While the Dragons are so far a dangerous element of Abarat. It's just wrong. Not only is it against what we would have believed in Boa's love for Creation. It's just plain dark.
www.snopes.com/photos/animals/tigerpig.asp
The link above talk about a zoo. The zoo shows that nurture is greater than instinct. Hob has a Dragon's egg. This is like an infant in the cradle. Hob goes back on deal to leave the baby and tries to kill it. It's clear that Hob tried to kill the baby. As the baby became dangerous once it was released. Hob should have known that it would have only been more trouble upon releasing it. So clearly Hob thought destroying the egg would kill younling. We could assume that he might have thought under early development and not be dangerous. But that just makes his actions all the worse. Once again nurture often proves to be strong influence. Dragon's don't need to be destructive. So Hob's actions to genocide even children are pretty dark. Let alone he kills the Dragons mother... is Hob really better than Carrion. Or is it just that the other forces of "Light" overlook this transgression due to the fact Dragons have been dangerous.
His actions are also dangerous in that it's a horrible obsession. He's being driven by actions of Hate and dark desires of vengeance. These are not signs of light. Getting revenge on the assassin is one thing. but committing a war of genocide is another. His obsession is unquenchable and even when the Dragons are dead he still won't let go. He is not a good example of light anything.
Does Hob love Boa.. good question. I wonder as the story progresses if Boa just had a natural enthral on people. It's all worse if his love is nothing but an obsession for her.
Finally is he really that grief stricken by the fact that we has not obsessive gone after Carrion? It was hinted at that Carrion had Boa killed then it was confirmed. Why is either Hob or Carrion dead at one of the others hands?
Princess Boa. Not a good representation of Light
I've met a person who could always stay bright, loving and light. They have a natural charm to them that you just can't help but adore and feel comfortable around. So I know why that people always love a lady like Boa. Though... she is spoiled and selfish. Also not that kind. Boa never grew up know the hardships of life. She has an open life of being allowed to just enjoy creation without knowing it's dark intent. Clearly this has led her to have opportunities to be nice without the true meaning of nice. It is said you can only truly understand light once you have been surrounded by darkness. Boa until reincarnation has had no darkness and her death was so quick that it was fairly meaningless experience as she did not learn from it.
Boa should have married Carrion out of responsibility if not affection. Yes Carrion is obsessive which no denying would put anyone off. But Prince and Princess duties are not to themselves, but to the people. While it's often romantic to imagine a Princess or Prince(cough personal dreams as a kid) to truly have choices and marry the one you will love. It's not the case. I know it's Abarat and does not need to follow any sensible responsibilities. Even so marrying Hob would have not brought the peace between the two sides of light and dark times. As from book 2 Hob is just a child of Twilight. He already lives and is a creation of dark and light times. Nor was he in control of the dark kingdom. The marriage was only actions of a spoiled princess and a father who loved too much and didn't raise her right.
As the story progresses and near the end of book two we still see the signs that Boa is not a good person. We see emotions from Candy concerning Carrion. I don't believe these are Boa's at all. I'm pretty sure Boa only has the opinions of fear and mistrust. Candy however is the one that directly faced the abuse of her father. I believe Candy is the one showing any kind of connection to Carrion. Boa her self even with Carrion on his "death bed" still only had the idea of running. Which was for the best of course. But I think Carrion would have been happy to die with some one he still cared for and what makes is all the more said. Is that Carrion could not have been enthralled by Boa's charm as they never were together. Clearly is Carrion was more in love with the idea of love. Though he did try. Boa I think has a cold side to some parts of her. She is happy and light when she get's things her way.
Anyways I just wanted to share some opinions on these influential characters. It's late to the party I know, but still wanted to share.
Carrion is a great villain.
Carrion is an extreme version of what Candy could have been. Abused by a parent, filled with rage, hatred and malign intent. Both were either neglected or only had negative attention. Candy though had strong benefits. She had other family that was there for her. Mom, two brothers and her the comfort of her soul Sister. Carrion was raised as an only grandchild.
Even though Carrion is a [expletive] he does represent better possibilities. Even though he is a representation of balanced darkness. He also represented(past tense) the seeds of light. He did want to connect to the light. He did want to care even after being abused. He did not want to be surrounded by loneliness, abuse and neglect. All past tense. He just too obsessed to realize much of what he creates is his own undoing. In his loneliness he only creates a void of his own by being abusive. Clearly he is copying his grandmother in behaviour to create an artificial family structure shown by that he has taken in Letheo. There is also other signs though notably one being that he was disgusted by Captain Bloats own overenthusiastic for blood and destruction. Even though Carrion has his own dark moments as in the first book of turning the two brothers against each other. Quick to be abusive, accusing others of his own actions. He is by no means a good guy.
Finnigan Hob. A bad good guy
I was pretty much put on the path of disliking this character right from the beginning. I suppose I just don't like being told that I have to like a character. I like many characters without being told I have to like them. Hob however is a character that is supposed to be liked by written word.... I don't like him. Not only that there is good reasons to not like him.
Hob is hate filled murderer. He is not a good guy. He is merely justifying a dark heart under false pretences and self delusion. Abarat books clearly don't portray Dragons as neutral, but clearly as selfish background monsters.. but they are sentient and not just creatures of instinct. This is ultimately more disturbing about the character of Hob. Hob is committing genocide. While the Dragons are so far a dangerous element of Abarat. It's just wrong. Not only is it against what we would have believed in Boa's love for Creation. It's just plain dark.
www.snopes.com/photos/animals/tigerpig.asp
The link above talk about a zoo. The zoo shows that nurture is greater than instinct. Hob has a Dragon's egg. This is like an infant in the cradle. Hob goes back on deal to leave the baby and tries to kill it. It's clear that Hob tried to kill the baby. As the baby became dangerous once it was released. Hob should have known that it would have only been more trouble upon releasing it. So clearly Hob thought destroying the egg would kill younling. We could assume that he might have thought under early development and not be dangerous. But that just makes his actions all the worse. Once again nurture often proves to be strong influence. Dragon's don't need to be destructive. So Hob's actions to genocide even children are pretty dark. Let alone he kills the Dragons mother... is Hob really better than Carrion. Or is it just that the other forces of "Light" overlook this transgression due to the fact Dragons have been dangerous.
His actions are also dangerous in that it's a horrible obsession. He's being driven by actions of Hate and dark desires of vengeance. These are not signs of light. Getting revenge on the assassin is one thing. but committing a war of genocide is another. His obsession is unquenchable and even when the Dragons are dead he still won't let go. He is not a good example of light anything.
Does Hob love Boa.. good question. I wonder as the story progresses if Boa just had a natural enthral on people. It's all worse if his love is nothing but an obsession for her.
Finally is he really that grief stricken by the fact that we has not obsessive gone after Carrion? It was hinted at that Carrion had Boa killed then it was confirmed. Why is either Hob or Carrion dead at one of the others hands?
Princess Boa. Not a good representation of Light
I've met a person who could always stay bright, loving and light. They have a natural charm to them that you just can't help but adore and feel comfortable around. So I know why that people always love a lady like Boa. Though... she is spoiled and selfish. Also not that kind. Boa never grew up know the hardships of life. She has an open life of being allowed to just enjoy creation without knowing it's dark intent. Clearly this has led her to have opportunities to be nice without the true meaning of nice. It is said you can only truly understand light once you have been surrounded by darkness. Boa until reincarnation has had no darkness and her death was so quick that it was fairly meaningless experience as she did not learn from it.
Boa should have married Carrion out of responsibility if not affection. Yes Carrion is obsessive which no denying would put anyone off. But Prince and Princess duties are not to themselves, but to the people. While it's often romantic to imagine a Princess or Prince(cough personal dreams as a kid) to truly have choices and marry the one you will love. It's not the case. I know it's Abarat and does not need to follow any sensible responsibilities. Even so marrying Hob would have not brought the peace between the two sides of light and dark times. As from book 2 Hob is just a child of Twilight. He already lives and is a creation of dark and light times. Nor was he in control of the dark kingdom. The marriage was only actions of a spoiled princess and a father who loved too much and didn't raise her right.
As the story progresses and near the end of book two we still see the signs that Boa is not a good person. We see emotions from Candy concerning Carrion. I don't believe these are Boa's at all. I'm pretty sure Boa only has the opinions of fear and mistrust. Candy however is the one that directly faced the abuse of her father. I believe Candy is the one showing any kind of connection to Carrion. Boa her self even with Carrion on his "death bed" still only had the idea of running. Which was for the best of course. But I think Carrion would have been happy to die with some one he still cared for and what makes is all the more said. Is that Carrion could not have been enthralled by Boa's charm as they never were together. Clearly is Carrion was more in love with the idea of love. Though he did try. Boa I think has a cold side to some parts of her. She is happy and light when she get's things her way.
Anyways I just wanted to share some opinions on these influential characters. It's late to the party I know, but still wanted to share.
