Jacqueline Carey... WTF?
Okay, this is regarding some rather disturbing realizations I've had about certain things in Carey's work in the Kushiel books. Not that I don't love them still, but this is giving me pause.
First of all, I should clarify that my use of the word "relationship" in this post is exclusively meant in terms of an emotional, romantic relationship. Platonic, familial, purely sexual relationships are not what I'm discussing.
My biggest disappointment with the new trilogy so far has been Imriel's total denial of sexual relationships with men. Not that I blame him, after what he suffered in Daršanga. However, this lead me to hope that part of Imriel's journey of healing would involve him having to come to terms with that part of himself. I was really hoping it would happen in Tiberium with Lucius. After all, Lucius kissed him, and he felt desire.
That, however, was the end of it, and now that Imriel has Sidonie, he's unlikely to pursue any sort of sexual relations with anyone else for a while, most definitely no men. The only way I can see this happening is if Sidonie, being perceptive and insightful, insists that he pursue it so that he may come to their bed entirely healed. Which... doesn't seem likely considering the way things are going. Somehow I doubt that in the next book, Kushiel's Mercy, Sidonie and Imriel will have the luxury of considering those types of things.
Which just doesn't sit right with me. A single kiss that invokes desire does not a healed person make.
All of this lead me to think back on the books as a whole and realize that, despite Carey having created a kingdom with little to no sexual inhibitions, despite her seemingly open mindset in portraying same-sex pairings in her work, she really has given them the short straw.
For one, she has yet to give us a same-sex pairing as a major relationship. They are always relegated to the side-characters and side-plots. Phèdre and Melisande's dynamic doesn't count, because it's just that, a dynamic. It's two powerful wills working against each other, not a true relationship. Even if it were a true relationship... well, would you want to consider THAT as an example of a same-sex pairing? I'll go into further detail on my opinions on Melisande/Phèdre in a moment.
No, the major relationships in both her trilogies have been the traditional man/woman pairing, which disappoints me. By creating a kingdom such as Terre D'Ange, she's almost promising her readers will find non-traditional pairings, but then does not deliver them.
Then, the same-sex relationships we do see are not portrayed in a positive light.
Rolande/Anafiel = Doomed to failure first because of Rolande's duty to the throne, and then because of Rolande's death.
Anafiel/Alcuin = Doomed because they both die.
Melisande/Phèdre = Melisande is a traitor of the realm, cruel and manipulative, and while there is something in her that can be respected, in the end she isn't a hero. Not to mention, Phèdre's heart will forever belong elsewhere. With Joscelin. In a traditional man/woman pairing.
Demetrios/Timanthes = Doomed because of Demetrios' duty to his throne.
Sidonie/Amarante = Doomed because of Sidonie's duty to her throne, and because Sidonie's heart belongs elsewhere. With Imriel. In a traditional man/woman pairing. I add this because it's never said implicitly, but is heavily implied that Amarante is in love with Sidonie.
Lucius = Then there's Lucius. Lucius, who prefers men and seems to at least have an infatuation with Imriel. Lucius, who is set to marry Helena and become just another one of the men who's given himself over to the duties of his people rather than be free to be himself. He doesn't even have the luxury of having a male lover on the side. Not that this would be any better, because it would never be truly emotionally fulfilling.
If I've missed any of the same-sex pairings portrayed, please feel free to point out another one.
So, Carey never gives us the full satisfaction of having a same-sex pairing featured. The closest she comes is with Melisande/Phèdre, which is doomed from the beginning because of Melisande's betrayal and Phèdre's love for Joscelin. The few same-sex relationships she does give are portrayed negatively by never working out in the same fulfilling way as the traditional pairings do. Because we know Imriel and Sidonie are going to find a way to be together, just as Phèdre and Joscelin did. They've already stated their intentions to not ignore Elua's precept in the way their fellow D'Angelines have.
What is Carey trying to say? Does she even realize this is what she's done? Why would she set up such possibility and then completely not deliver on it?
If there are going to be any more books set in this world after Kushiel's Mercy, I highly hope she will redeem herself, but somehow doubt it.
~~**Sailorcelestial**~~
First of all, I should clarify that my use of the word "relationship" in this post is exclusively meant in terms of an emotional, romantic relationship. Platonic, familial, purely sexual relationships are not what I'm discussing.
My biggest disappointment with the new trilogy so far has been Imriel's total denial of sexual relationships with men. Not that I blame him, after what he suffered in Daršanga. However, this lead me to hope that part of Imriel's journey of healing would involve him having to come to terms with that part of himself. I was really hoping it would happen in Tiberium with Lucius. After all, Lucius kissed him, and he felt desire.
That, however, was the end of it, and now that Imriel has Sidonie, he's unlikely to pursue any sort of sexual relations with anyone else for a while, most definitely no men. The only way I can see this happening is if Sidonie, being perceptive and insightful, insists that he pursue it so that he may come to their bed entirely healed. Which... doesn't seem likely considering the way things are going. Somehow I doubt that in the next book, Kushiel's Mercy, Sidonie and Imriel will have the luxury of considering those types of things.
Which just doesn't sit right with me. A single kiss that invokes desire does not a healed person make.
All of this lead me to think back on the books as a whole and realize that, despite Carey having created a kingdom with little to no sexual inhibitions, despite her seemingly open mindset in portraying same-sex pairings in her work, she really has given them the short straw.
For one, she has yet to give us a same-sex pairing as a major relationship. They are always relegated to the side-characters and side-plots. Phèdre and Melisande's dynamic doesn't count, because it's just that, a dynamic. It's two powerful wills working against each other, not a true relationship. Even if it were a true relationship... well, would you want to consider THAT as an example of a same-sex pairing? I'll go into further detail on my opinions on Melisande/Phèdre in a moment.
No, the major relationships in both her trilogies have been the traditional man/woman pairing, which disappoints me. By creating a kingdom such as Terre D'Ange, she's almost promising her readers will find non-traditional pairings, but then does not deliver them.
Then, the same-sex relationships we do see are not portrayed in a positive light.
Rolande/Anafiel = Doomed to failure first because of Rolande's duty to the throne, and then because of Rolande's death.
Anafiel/Alcuin = Doomed because they both die.
Melisande/Phèdre = Melisande is a traitor of the realm, cruel and manipulative, and while there is something in her that can be respected, in the end she isn't a hero. Not to mention, Phèdre's heart will forever belong elsewhere. With Joscelin. In a traditional man/woman pairing.
Demetrios/Timanthes = Doomed because of Demetrios' duty to his throne.
Sidonie/Amarante = Doomed because of Sidonie's duty to her throne, and because Sidonie's heart belongs elsewhere. With Imriel. In a traditional man/woman pairing. I add this because it's never said implicitly, but is heavily implied that Amarante is in love with Sidonie.
Lucius = Then there's Lucius. Lucius, who prefers men and seems to at least have an infatuation with Imriel. Lucius, who is set to marry Helena and become just another one of the men who's given himself over to the duties of his people rather than be free to be himself. He doesn't even have the luxury of having a male lover on the side. Not that this would be any better, because it would never be truly emotionally fulfilling.
If I've missed any of the same-sex pairings portrayed, please feel free to point out another one.
So, Carey never gives us the full satisfaction of having a same-sex pairing featured. The closest she comes is with Melisande/Phèdre, which is doomed from the beginning because of Melisande's betrayal and Phèdre's love for Joscelin. The few same-sex relationships she does give are portrayed negatively by never working out in the same fulfilling way as the traditional pairings do. Because we know Imriel and Sidonie are going to find a way to be together, just as Phèdre and Joscelin did. They've already stated their intentions to not ignore Elua's precept in the way their fellow D'Angelines have.
What is Carey trying to say? Does she even realize this is what she's done? Why would she set up such possibility and then completely not deliver on it?
If there are going to be any more books set in this world after Kushiel's Mercy, I highly hope she will redeem herself, but somehow doubt it.
~~**Sailorcelestial**~~