The Claw of the Conciliator: Chapter XVII

The Tale of the Student and the Son

In all honesty, what are we to make of this rather long short story shoved into the narrative here? I think, perhaps, we could try to make a case for it being a microcosm of the whole of the novel or series, but I really don’t think that holds up at all. I mean, it does, in a sense, but I think this is more about mythology.

And the way our own history can become mythology to this far distant future Urth.

There’s much of ancient Greece here, but especially the story of Theseus and the Minotaur. There may be references to half a dozen other mythical characters from the ancient Greek canon. Along with that, there’s at least a hint of Jesus’ resurrection.

But this chapter is really Wolfe at his most playful and allusive. Perhaps, too, it’s full of hints of what’s to come and echoes of what’s happened.

It reminds me of Biblical scholarship, in a way, how we feel the need to dig and grasp inside asides like this for meaning. Is this story foreshadowing, prophecy, history, or just a great bit of filling out the world. Sort of elbowing out the sides of this place and making it feel more real.

For it’s stories that make us feel that a place is coming alive. Lord of the Rings would not be the same without the songs and poetry of long gone days, or events mythical and historical. And you feel that Wolfe is doing that here, too, though at a much greater length.

In truth, despite this being my third time through the series, I don’t really know what to make of this chapter, this story. I don’t have much to say about it either. It’s evocative and strange and seemingly placed here at random, yet I also don’t believe in the randomness of its placement.

I just cannot sort out why this story, why here, except that it happened to Severian.

For what could be more normal than to try to escape your prison through the sharing of stories?

And while I intend to be a guide for you through this Urth, I am not a scholar nor an endless font of knowledge and context. I’m just someone who has read this more than you have. And I could look up a guide myself and figure out what others have said this all means, but I think the casual or even focused reader is unlikely to tease this all out on their own.

And so all I can say is that I believe there is some importance here. Something echoing or reflecting. Something about Severian and Jonas, about Thecla and perhaps Vodalus. And perhaps it will ring truer in the next book or the final book. Some echo of this racing through the series.

I just don’t know. Can’t place my finger on it.

But I’d be curious to hear what you, dear reader, make of this story here.