Yes you read that right, anti-spoilers. Not a single spoiler in sight (well for the Sending) and I would like to keep it that way (use spoilers to make sure of that). And I know not having read the Sending and using a fan forum who are all obsessed with Obernewtyn, and read the Sending months ago, not the smartest of things. But I'm on a re-reading mission/blogging, and it won't be long (well it will still be a while, but I'm up to The Keeping Place) before I get up to the Sending and all its glorious plot and then I won't be able to be spoilt, and until then, I read at my own peril.
Enough about that Daniel, talk about the actual thread. (Yes, that was third person). So during my re-read and blogging, I tend to pick up a lot more than I usually would, and it gives me time (because it is basically 1/2 - 1 chapter a day, hey some of these chapters are really long) to think about things, and analyse things, without just rushing over everything.
And this blabbing does have some point. I picked up something I had never really noticed before. I haven't read The Keeping Place for some time, and maybe I did pick it up at the time, but I just forgot. But it is to do with the Beforetime (hence the title) and how surprised I was at the allusions that Isobelle Carmody makes with the Beforetime and our own current time.
I know the location of the Land has been discussed, and as we know it is in Uropa, or Europe. And I don't think it is that difficult a leap from Uropa to Europe. But these little jumps can be made for the other 4 super power groups, and quite a lot of places. Like Gadfia (which admittedly made me think of Colonel (seriously not how I thought that word was spelt, if you say it, it sounds like cernal) Gaddafi) which is clearly the Middle East, which is why it is liked to Uropa and the Sadorians are tanned like the Middle Easterns. There is also Chinon, which I really, really, don't think is that hard to get to China (though unless you think about it, you may not have noticed, who knows, have others noticed this?) and because Tiba/Tibet was swallowed up by Chinon, that one is certain. And there is Tipoda (which I was reminded of antipode, which actually means the direct opposite of the world, but the Antipodes were used for Australia and New Zealand in times past) is obviously (I say obviously, but it might not be) the Pacific. And then there is Mericanda (which just looks like Mexico, America and Canada combined).
Then there is talk of urolish (English) and how Mericanda, Uropa, and Tipoda all speak it, and a nice little hint that urolish took over all the other languages in Uropa. And the language in Gadfia is Gadi, which I guess comes from Gadfia, but reminded me of Hindi. And Chinon speaks chinanka (Chinese mixed with something).
There is just so many connections between names of Beforetime places and the languages with what actually 'is', that it astonishes me. I guess the power of this, is that Isobelle Carmody hasn't created a alternate reality/world, but a world which is literally our future. And it can be seen throughout the series, with various words that we all know, and yet the Misfits don't know and spell/say differently.
Part of why I was so astonished by this, is because with such connections between our world and this future, what Isobelle says, could be applied to our own world. For example, because Gadfia is seen as religious and very 'archaic' in their views of women, is this Isobelle condemning the Middle East (even if as an allusion)? And of the Chinon Empire taking over Tiba/Tibet, is this Isobelle again condemning the actions of China? Who really knows, except Isobelle, whether this is some sort of 'protest' against these things, or just telling things how they are. But I wonder if people think it 'toes the line' a bit. I mean it is clear that Isobelle is critical of our treatment of animals, our obsession with war, our terrible attitude towards the planet, etc, but is Isobelle also critical of some countries, and some politics? Don't get me wrong, I love Obernewtyn dearly, and I love Isobelle and all her opinions and messages I get through the book, I'm just interested in how or if other people see this stuff.
Hopefully this actually makes sense, and isn't just me rambling.
Wanderer Ward
11 years ago
Sat Sep 08 2012, 09:52pm
Wanderer Ward
Mage
You know Daniel, I never read Mericanda as an amalgamation of the three countries - I always thought it to be a bastadisation of 'America'! I do like your thinking there :)
I picked up on the Tiba/Tibet, Chinon/China, Tipoda/Antipodes, and Urpoa/Europe matches too :P
I always read 'Gadfia' more to be 'Africa' rather than the Middle East as such, not only because it sound similar, but because of how we learn that Turka had been destroyed before the Great White, and was a 'Blacklands' in Cassie's time. Turka here = Turkey, and therefore roughly the MIddle East.
(I've spoilered that because I can't remember which book that is mentioned in, and while I don't think it's TS, I don't want to spoil you Daniel!)
There is some talk of skin tones, and as we know, there a a whole host of skin tones across the African continent, so the "tanned" Gadfians could easily be from the norther areas (Berbers are quite "Anglo" in there colouring, for example), allowing for darker skin tones in other regions of Gadfia.
Also, in my mind, Gadfia=Africa allows the Gadfian religion to be a mix of Islam and various tribal religions, rather then just straight out Islam.
Plus, if it is Africa, it means that all the continents are accounted for - you wouldn't expect Cassie/the Beforetimers to ignore an entire continent!!
I don't think IC would be using the OC as a means to specifically condemn the Middle East. I always got the feeling that the political side is a condemnation of humanities worst traits in general, and a reminder to try harder on the positive aspects!
Quite right Blackbird, Africa needs to be included and Gadfia does fit, especially Northern Africa. And South America too, needs to be aligned (I guess they could be 'independent' of the superpowers) to a group as well, and it is mentioned that a Gadfian territory borders Mericanda, which makes me assume that part of South America is Gadfian run.
I didn't really think that IC was condemning the Middle East as such, but definitely using it to highlight humanities 'dark side'.
I thought it was the middle east too.
I also found it a little offensive at the time.
But having a think on it, where did the obernewtyners get their information? If they are using the kinds of things we consider as mainstream media, then this is exactly the kind of alarmist, uninformed muck that is written down and put forward as truth.
Ultimately, I don't believe Isobelle Carmody was making a comment on the quality of our media coverage and reporting. But i'd like to believe this before believing someone would negatively typecast an entire continent.
I'm also a new convert to the Africa as Gadfia idea.
