Haha about those title translations! So the original is “La parole c’est le verbe,” parole being speech and verbe being “the Word” (Wikisource translation gives the scare quotes). I like the evocation of the Gospel, and also the connotations of power. (I was going to link to Schoolhouse Rock’s “Verb” movie, but apparently I confused “Verb: That’s What’s Happening” with the PSA campaign for fitness “Verb: It’s What You Do.” Oh well, you know where to find Schoolhouse Rock if you need to.)
"Persuasive" seems kind of a letdown in translation, but oh well. This chapter’s Word has less to do with creation or incarnation, but indeed, more of one character trying to persuade another. Also, I guess the French "parole" isn’t that closely related to ours anymore, but the chapter does end with a declaration of forgiveness, so there’s that. "Prepare."
"For what?"
"To die."
—“My name is Halmalo, you killed my brother, but hey at least we finally get a namedrop.”
"That is true. You saved him first and then killed him." The symbolic honor doesn’t really play into it anymore, even though the reward and the execution seem more closely linked. Does the time lag between saving his life and having them killed matter, or are they independent events?
The boat, no longer guided by the oarsman, was drifting to leeward.
The sailor drew one of the pistols out of his belt with his right hand and took his rosary in his left.
Even if he did go through with killing the guy, eventually Halmalo is going to need to start steering the boat? He sort of needs a plan beyond the short term, but he’s really obsessed with getting revenge right at this moment.
"It is true," muttered the sailor. "They have the chaplain."
Whose competence really doesn’t impress me, overall. I know I’m harping on this but, eh, maybe it’s a contrast to the republicans, who wouldn’t necessarily have an associated chaplain with them?”
"the king of France, who is a child like the child Jesus, and who is imprisoned in the fortress of the Temple;" <- For my own reference: Louis XVII, nominal king, aged 7.
"Ah! you judge the means God chooses! Are you going to take it on yourself to judge the thunderbolt which is in heaven?" Questions of ends and means. Last chapter, the republican navy was equated to thunderbolts—now the old man thinks that he’s the one doing God’s work.
"While the old man, standing all the while, uttered these words in a voice above the noise of the sea," Maybe this actually is a creation allusion to? God’s spirit moves over the voice of the deep? Eh, I find it hard to see anything being created here—just the old man talking himself out of being killed. Which, to be fair, he succeeds.
Also, I think he’s the “old man” every time he’s mentioned here.
Edit: two things. 1. there’s already talk about the divided loyalties of Halmalo, between avenging his family and being merciful. Here, it’s framed not only in spiritual terms (“do this to spare your soul, and mine while you’re at it”) but also political ones. (“Sure, your blood family is important to you, but you know what’s really important? The legitimate government of France. D:<” When the old man’s life is in a stranger’s hands, this is the rhetoric it comes down to. Maybe for Halmalo, the religious aspects trump them all? Maybe there’s some other criterion.)
2. While looking up Louis XVII on Wikipedia, I learned that some people recognize a “Louis XIX” also. In particular, we have this excellent table.
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"Persuasive" seems kind of a letdown in translation, but oh well. This chapter’s Word has less to do with creation or incarnation, but indeed, more of one character trying to persuade another. Also, I guess the French "parole" isn’t that closely related to ours anymore, but the chapter does end with a declaration of forgiveness, so there’s that.
"Prepare."
"For what?"
"To die."
—“My name is Halmalo, you killed my brother, but hey at least we finally get a namedrop.”
"That is true. You saved him first and then killed him." The symbolic honor doesn’t really play into it anymore, even though the reward and the execution seem more closely linked. Does the time lag between saving his life and having them killed matter, or are they independent events?
The boat, no longer guided by the oarsman, was drifting to leeward.
The sailor drew one of the pistols out of his belt with his right hand and took his rosary in his left.
Even if he did go through with killing the guy, eventually Halmalo is going to need to start steering the boat? He sort of needs a plan beyond the short term, but he’s really obsessed with getting revenge right at this moment.
"It is true," muttered the sailor. "They have the chaplain."
Whose competence really doesn’t impress me, overall. I know I’m harping on this but, eh, maybe it’s a contrast to the republicans, who wouldn’t necessarily have an associated chaplain with them?”
"the king of France, who is a child like the child Jesus, and who is imprisoned in the fortress of the Temple;" <- For my own reference: Louis XVII, nominal king, aged 7.
"Ah! you judge the means God chooses! Are you going to take it on yourself to judge the thunderbolt which is in heaven?" Questions of ends and means. Last chapter, the republican navy was equated to thunderbolts—now the old man thinks that he’s the one doing God’s work.
"While the old man, standing all the while, uttered these words in a voice above the noise of the sea," Maybe this actually is a creation allusion to? God’s spirit moves over the voice of the deep? Eh, I find it hard to see anything being created here—just the old man talking himself out of being killed. Which, to be fair, he succeeds.
Also, I think he’s the “old man” every time he’s mentioned here.
Edit: two things. 1. there’s already talk about the divided loyalties of Halmalo, between avenging his family and being merciful. Here, it’s framed not only in spiritual terms (“do this to spare your soul, and mine while you’re at it”) but also political ones. (“Sure, your blood family is important to you, but you know what’s really important? The legitimate government of France. D:<” When the old man’s life is in a stranger’s hands, this is the rhetoric it comes down to. Maybe for Halmalo, the religious aspects trump them all? Maybe there’s some other criterion.)
2. While looking up Louis XVII on Wikipedia, I learned that some people recognize a “Louis XIX” also. In particular, we have this excellent table.