On Wed, 16 Feb 2005 01:33:05 -0600, Lydia Nickerson <lydy at demesne.com> wrote: > At 12:36 AM -0600 2/16/05, Matthew Hunter wrote: > >On Wed, Feb 16, 2005 at 12:30:17AM -0600, Lydia Nickerson > ><lydy at demesne.com> wrote: > >> At 12:22 AM -0600 2/16/05, Matthew Hunter wrote: > >> >Thirded. If anything, that aspect of the series is somewhat > >> >underdeveloped; it's important in one fairly vital way, but the > >> >reader is not really given the opportunity to understand why the > >> >character reacts that way, nor does that aspect of her > >> >personality grow or change detectably. > >> She was born that way. That's the way her nervous system works. > >> "Kushiel's Dart" is the visible sign of her physical nature. It's > >> not a personality trait, any more than tasting cilantro as soupy or > >> being color blind is a personality trait. > > > >You were (presumably) born a woman. Would you say that your > >understanding of, reaction to, and behavior concerning your > >gender and sexuality are the same today as what you were born > >with? > > You said that the reader isn't given the opportunity to understand > why she reacts as she does, nor does that aspect of her character > change. As I understood you, you were referring to her sexual > masochism. Rephrased, you would be saying, if I'm following you > correctly, that the readers aren't given an opportunity to understand > why she is a woman, nor does her gender grow or change detectably. > > If I've misunderstood you point, would you please clarify? > I kind of agree with Lydia here. In Kushiel's Dart, the masochism is a physical condition, just like being a woman or having hair a certain color. Specifically, a "gift" from the gods. But this makes it in some ways less interesting, because IRL s/m is generally understood as a psychological trait/taste preference, rather than a biological thing. In other words, it seems something outside of Phedre, imposed on her. But the books don't say that all people into s/m in the land of Terre D'Ange and the surrounding countries are into it because it's a gift >from the gods, it seems to be portrayed sort of like it is in reality. So that messes with it a bit for me. Charmian