Carl learns that:
human fire and metal drive back wild dogs, tigers, bears and snakes;
no demons, ghosts or gods threaten men;
night, storm, flood, fire, drought and winter had been conquered before and can be again;
"...man's remorseless and deadly foe was only - himself.
"But that enemy was old and strong and crafty. It had brought to agonized wreck the godlike civilization of the ancients. Today, in the form of taboo and invading barbarians, it was risen afresh, and seemed all too likely to win." (p. 58)
"The Old And Protean Enemy" rises again.
3 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I don't think "The Old and Protean Enemy" truly applies to the line quoted from VAULT OF AGES. The former refers to political extremism and fanaticism of various kinds. The latter simply states how IMPERFECT the human race is.
Sean
Sean,
"The Old and Protean Enemy" went deeper. It was the revolt of the primitive against civilization. Extremism was only its manifestation.
Paul.
Kaor, Paul!
I see your point, altho I still see a difference, at least of nuance and stress, in the two lines.
Sean
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