Ossicle Wrote:POTENTIAL TOMB SPOILER
Interesting thread over on a newsgroup. It doesn't mention Jack, but touches on the way he saves Vickie.
http://groups-beta.google.com/group/misc...97182cbcdb
webby Wrote:Interesting, though I wonder if someone is taking Phantom of the Opera and Beauty and the Beast a little too personally....I don't actually disapprove of what Jack did -- that is, I don't think the ending of THE TOMB is less valuable because of it.
As far as Jack is concerned, and the main female characters in the stories mentioned as well....
**POSSIBLE SPOILER: THE TOMB***
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A promise made under duress, particularly to the one who put you under duress in the first place, does not count. Jack, and the ladies in the other stories, did the right thing.
Besides, where is it written that there must be "punishment" for promise-breaking in stories. Obviously, there is a long tradition of such, but also an equally long tradition where it doesn't happen. It certainly isn't mandatory - what would be the suspense in that?
Ossicle Wrote:I don't actually disapprove of what Jack did -- that is, I don't think the ending of THE TOMB is less valuable because of it.I agree with you on this, Oss. I don't think there is anything "written (in stone)" that oaths have consequences, but it is certainly a common literary theme (so, I guess, in a sense, it IS written).
However, as a matter of general interest I think you're dismissing his points a little too readily, even if you ultimately wound up not feeling the same way. He's not saying there's a rule that says promise-breakers must be punished. He's saying that works where ethical choices have consequences -- whatever they may be -- are -- or may be -- richer than ones where they don't. I do think it's an interesting subject to think about and discuss.
Also, I think he intends to apply his thought a bit more to works that have a mythic or fable quality to them. RJ books are very realistic and much of the point of Jack himself is how pragmatic he is (though of course with a strong sense of honor, personal ethics, etc.)* -- so I don't know that even that guy would have a problem with the end of THE TOMB.
-Oss
* And of course the tension between those two parts of Jack is exactly what makes his choice at the end of THE TOMB so interesting.
Ossicle Wrote:I don't actually disapprove of what Jack did -- that is, I don't think the ending of THE TOMB is less valuable because of it.
However, as a matter of general interest I think you're dismissing his points a little too readily, even if you ultimately wound up not feeling the same way.
Ossicle Wrote:He's not saying there's a rule that says promise-breakers must be punished. He's saying that works where ethical choices have consequences -- whatever they may be -- are -- or may be -- richer than ones where they don't. I do think it's an interesting subject to think about and discuss.
Ossicle Wrote:Also, I think he intends to apply his thought a bit more to works that have a mythic or fable quality to them. RJ books are very realistic and much of the point of Jack himself is how pragmatic he is (though of course with a strong sense of honor, personal ethics, etc.)* -- so I don't know that even that guy would have a problem with the end of THE TOMB.
-Oss
* And of course the tension between those two parts of Jack is exactly what makes his choice at the end of THE TOMB so interesting.