"I am Uldwyr's honorable enemy, therefore his friend. By giving him opposition, I give meaning to his life."
-Poul Anderson, The Day Of Their Return IN Anderson, Captain Flandry: Defender Of The Terran Empire (Riverdale, NY, February 2010), pp. 73-238 AT 3, p. 84.
Although, fictional heroes and villains are not usually friends, nevertheless:
"...I must honestly confess that, if we had suddenly learned that the thieves had withdrawn, the game would have lost a curiously attractive savour, which even the lifting of the treasure would not have wholly restored. For danger, once you have tasted it, is a superlative spice."
-Dornford Yates, Blind Corner (London, 1947), CHAP. VIII, pp. 254-255.
Uldwyr finds meaning in opposition. Chandos finds savour in danger. ER Eddison's The Worm Ouroboros ends when its heroes rejoice that the gods have resurrected their slain enemies so that the war can recommence. Valhalla is cyclical fighting and feasting.
To value conflict for its own sake is to mistake a means for an end.
1 comment:
Kaor, Paul!
Another Merseian, of all beings, would agree with your last comment here! The then Protector of the Roidhun's Grand Council, Brechdan Ironrede, said in Chapter 3 of ENSIGN FLANDRY: "Because we Merseians have such instincts that most of us actively enjoy combat, we tend to look on combat as an end in itself. And such is not true. That way lies destruction. Combat is a means to an end--the hegemony of our race. And that in turn is but a means to the highest end of all--absolute freedom for our race, to make of the galaxy what they will."
While we would both disagree with the end desired by Brechdan, we would agree that conflict is merely a means for achieving an end, good or bad.
As for the quote from BLIND CORNER, there are people who enjoy the adrenaline rush of coping with dangers and risks. I have heard of people in the emergency rooms of hospitals who relish the rush from trying to save badly injured persons who suddenly arrived.
Ad astra! Sean
Post a Comment