I was fascinated by this character as well. He was a fortune teller and Severian wasn't keen to listen to him prognosticate. I'm curious why the bit about Severian becoming weaker within ten years time was so important to share, and also how it is that if he were to have children he would engender enemies against himself.
Would his sons become his enemies, would their actions lead to others rising up against him, or is it forbidden for the Autarch to have heirs? I'm reminded how it was speculated in the previous book that the present Autarch has a court of concubines, but he doesn't sleep with any of them, or even the women who are meant to serve as surrogates. I wonder if he received a similar warning about the dangers of having sons.
I've read a few more chapters ahead, and I'm very excited to read your essays on them, hopefully soon!
Yeah, these are all great questions! And it's difficult to know, even having finished the novel. But he also may be predicting the ways so many empires fall. A child usurping the father or simply failing as a governor, or if there are many children, the empire being split or collapsing into civil war.
Glad you're enjoying these! They'll keep coming every week!
I was fascinated by this character as well. He was a fortune teller and Severian wasn't keen to listen to him prognosticate. I'm curious why the bit about Severian becoming weaker within ten years time was so important to share, and also how it is that if he were to have children he would engender enemies against himself.
Would his sons become his enemies, would their actions lead to others rising up against him, or is it forbidden for the Autarch to have heirs? I'm reminded how it was speculated in the previous book that the present Autarch has a court of concubines, but he doesn't sleep with any of them, or even the women who are meant to serve as surrogates. I wonder if he received a similar warning about the dangers of having sons.
I've read a few more chapters ahead, and I'm very excited to read your essays on them, hopefully soon!
Yeah, these are all great questions! And it's difficult to know, even having finished the novel. But he also may be predicting the ways so many empires fall. A child usurping the father or simply failing as a governor, or if there are many children, the empire being split or collapsing into civil war.
Glad you're enjoying these! They'll keep coming every week!