Re: Plot Resolution: The Lady or the Tiger

On Sat, 10 Dec 2005 15:23:45 GMT, mbottorff@xxxxxxx (Michelle Bottorff)
wrote:

>Patricia C. Wrede <pwrede6492@xxxxxxx> wrote:
/snip/

>That kind of pride isn't stupid?
>
>*sigh*
>
>Okay, I guess I'll conceed your point, but when I read that story in
>school I was *convinced* that the main character was a complete idiot.

Perhaps shorthand for, that the apparent author's intention for the
complete story was rejectworthy? I'd completely agree. :) [1]

I see most of her plot-moving choices as stupid: not planning for a jewel,
borrowing a (supposedly) expensive one, wearing it while running in the
street, not in ten years even considering some reality checking. As for the
larger questions -- well, to put a character in a situation where their
culturally determined reactions will be indistinguishable from
stupidity....

On the whole design, I see a sort of continuum, a sliding scale. To borrow
(and treat carelessly) a jewel that, if lost, would ruin your life, is
stupid. On the other end, it's also stupid to never during later years
think, "I wouldn't have borrowed it if I'd known it was so valuable -- hm,
how do I know it was real? She lent it very casually ... there is such a
thing as paste...."

Either forethought or afterthought would have -- dulled the author's story.
So it's got no thought at all. :)

Disclaimer: Even tho Mathilde might have had a high IQ and been quite good
at cards.


[1] Except perhaps as horror, cf Djuna Barnes.
[....]
--
RL at houseboatonstyx com (insert one 'the')
http://www.livejournal.com/users/houseboatonstyx/
Recent blog entries are re 'Non-Bickham terms'
Backups of WIPs http://www.sonic.net/mary/WIPS2005/
For some reason not seeing all the posts lately.
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