Looking at the dead bodies of her husband and sons, Aelfrida whispers:
"'The priest says it would be a sin, or I would slay myself now and go to my rest beside you...'" (p. 58)
I agree with the priest although not for his reasons! By remaining alive, Aelfrida can later appreciate life although differently from before and even though this seems impossible to her at the time. More fundamentally, we are the organisms through which reality is known/knows itself. As such, our role is to remain conscious as long as possible, not to give up when times are bad.
The most fundamental question of philosophy is the relationship between being and consciousness and the most fundamental question of life is: "To be or not to be," - in Shakespeare and also here.
5 comments:
Kaor, Paul!
I agree, besides believing what that priest said about it being wrong to commit suicide, Aelfrida should live on in the hope of winning again to some happiness in this life.
Ad astra! Sean
Sean: chances of that are rather small in the context.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I should have said that would be contingent on Aelfrida's daughters not being kidnapped by Valgard.
Ad astra! Sean
Aelfrida (which means "Female Friend of the Elves", btw) -would- have comitted suicide before the Anglo-Saxons were converted to Christianity.
There's an instance in one of Poul's books where the mother of the two heroes comes to bless them as her husband's hall is being burnt down -- then turns around and goes back to die with her second husband (who killed her first one).
As she says, she doesn't plan to outlive -two- husbands.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
I agree, what you said about Aelfrida, if the Anglo-Saxons had not converted to Christianity.
I remember that, about mother of King Hroar and King Helgi choosing to die with her second husband, despite him being the murderer of her sons father.
Have thought of rereading HROLF KRAKIS SAGA, but I'm reading your three Lost Legion stories. Set in a timeline when the US and all other major powers collapsed.
Ad astra! Sean
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