What might rain symbolize?
Eyath, alone, grieving:
"...rain fell, slow as tears." (XV, p. 606)
Rain as tears is obvious.
However, Eyath and Arinnian, now reconciled:
"Her head she lay murmuring against his shoulder. Raindrops glistened within the crest like jewels of a crown." (XIX, p. 654)
Rain as a crown! It all depends on the point of view, of course.
Also relevant is the following. Eyath with Tabitha:
"A strangled sound, though Ythrians do not weep." (XVIII, p. 648)
Since Ythrians do not weep, "...rain fell, slow as tears..." is human symbolism. Who makes this comparison? Is it the omniscient narrator or Eyath reflecting on human expression of grief?
4 comments:
Presumably Ythrians would have some way of showing distress. It would be necessary, for a social species particularly.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I assume some movements of Ythrian feathers would be used to show signs of grief and emotional distress. And vocally, of course.
Ad astra! Sean
That's right. The feather language. Tabitha knows that Eyath has not been well because:
"Eyath's stance and feathers and membranes drawn over her eyes gave answer." (p. 647)
Kaor, Paul!
Exactly.
As astra! Sean
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