Comments on: Garald confesses http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/ "They had to flee to Mhalwae..." Fri, 11 Nov 2011 04:25:47 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Sofie http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1499 Sofie Sun, 19 Apr 2009 15:45:47 +0000 http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1499 Poor Garald. Poor Nyawe. Poor Garald. Poor Nyawe.

]]> By: Verity http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1500 Verity Sat, 18 Apr 2009 17:46:15 +0000 http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1500 I can't imagine how messy it must get without women's magazines and word-of-mouth (let alone sex therapists) to sort out all the weird ideas people have. As my mother always likes to say there isn't a single (who knows if this is true or not) sexual relationship where there isn't some sort of problem (whether small or big... *snigger*). But seriously, if you think about that and then put it into the context of medieval times when noone was allowed to talk about it you have a whole big kettle of fish (gratuitous use of the phrase now that I know it means big salmony mess). I guess maybe it was slightly easier since who cares if the women had problems with things back then. But it is easy to see, in this context how poor Garald has gotten so messed up. Growing up in a family where sex was never mentioned ever Garald is extremely suppressed. Most medieval guys would have at least had a few practice runs on maids or whores but not him. One thing I really love is the massive contrast between him and Lyiss. While Garald is so suppressed and tortured I find writing Lyiss (who grew up in the same family obviously) to be something entirely different. I think she is sort of naively erotic in her view of the world and her extreme awareness of things. I am so enjoying writing these two characters. I think Harndall handled this okay because I do believe in some way that he can empathise with Garald. He too is experiencing guilty lust and trying to suppress it. I think he was actually quite sympathetic here. I wonder how much what Garald "did" echoes Valeriya and Radomir in his mind. I haven't really thought too much about what he is thinking here. He was just a soundboard for Garald's thoughts, but it is definitely an interesting point. Garald doesn't really have many friends. He is quite reserved and shy. He has a very deep affection for Lyiss though can only show it in a stunted manner (and obviously she is going to be no help at all). I do have some plan for where this is going and I think it is going to be rather fun (though also tortured and heartachey so maybe my definition of fun is not a very nice one... my poor characters). I can’t imagine how messy it must get without women’s magazines and word-of-mouth (let alone sex therapists) to sort out all the weird ideas people have. As my mother always likes to say there isn’t a single (who knows if this is true or not) sexual relationship where there isn’t some sort of problem (whether small or big… *snigger*). But seriously, if you think about that and then put it into the context of medieval times when noone was allowed to talk about it you have a whole big kettle of fish (gratuitous use of the phrase now that I know it means big salmony mess). I guess maybe it was slightly easier since who cares if the women had problems with things back then.

But it is easy to see, in this context how poor Garald has gotten so messed up. Growing up in a family where sex was never mentioned ever Garald is extremely suppressed. Most medieval guys would have at least had a few practice runs on maids or whores but not him.

One thing I really love is the massive contrast between him and Lyiss. While Garald is so suppressed and tortured I find writing Lyiss (who grew up in the same family obviously) to be something entirely different. I think she is sort of naively erotic in her view of the world and her extreme awareness of things. I am so enjoying writing these two characters.

I think Harndall handled this okay because I do believe in some way that he can empathise with Garald. He too is experiencing guilty lust and trying to suppress it. I think he was actually quite sympathetic here. I wonder how much what Garald “did” echoes Valeriya and Radomir in his mind. I haven’t really thought too much about what he is thinking here. He was just a soundboard for Garald’s thoughts, but it is definitely an interesting point.

Garald doesn’t really have many friends. He is quite reserved and shy. He has a very deep affection for Lyiss though can only show it in a stunted manner (and obviously she is going to be no help at all). I do have some plan for where this is going and I think it is going to be rather fun (though also tortured and heartachey so maybe my definition of fun is not a very nice one… my poor characters).

]]> By: Van http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1502 Van Sat, 18 Apr 2009 04:35:02 +0000 http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1502 Hmmm... is Garald by any chance in the process of making friends with any of the male characters? Perhaps one of them could set him straight, depending on who it happened to be of course. Hmmm… is Garald by any chance in the process of making friends with any of the male characters? Perhaps one of them could set him straight, depending on who it happened to be of course.

]]> By: Lothere http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1501 Lothere Sat, 18 Apr 2009 00:39:47 +0000 http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1501 I agree, this was really intense and wonderfully layered. Poor Garald, what a life he's had. I wonder what Father Harndall thinks about this. I wonder what <i>can</i> a celibate man who hears the confessions of everyone else think about this? But more than that, someone who loves Valeriya and must imagine what she's been through? (If he hasn't heard Radomir's explicit confession.) And if it's your wife, are you allowed to feel lust towards her? Harndall's duty is to say "as little as possible". That's why I'm worried about Garald -- it's a lot less likely anyone's going to say "you know, it's really OK if you do that..." because the Church says it's not OK. :-( I agree, this was really intense and wonderfully layered. Poor Garald, what a life he’s had.

I wonder what Father Harndall thinks about this. I wonder what can a celibate man who hears the confessions of everyone else think about this? But more than that, someone who loves Valeriya and must imagine what she’s been through? (If he hasn’t heard Radomir’s explicit confession.)

And if it’s your wife, are you allowed to feel lust towards her? Harndall’s duty is to say “as little as possible”. That’s why I’m worried about Garald — it’s a lot less likely anyone’s going to say “you know, it’s really OK if you do that…” because the Church says it’s not OK. :-(

]]> By: Van http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1503 Van Wed, 15 Apr 2009 22:39:21 +0000 http://www.mhalwae.com/2009/04/15/garald-confesses/#comment-1503 Oh wow, that was intense. Must have been difficult for Harndall to hear that confession, considering what happened to Valeriya (and how he himself may be the prime suspect). Garald is really confused about everything (that is, to state the obvious). The twelfth century really was in desperate need of psychologists and sex therapists :( Oh wow, that was intense. Must have been difficult for Harndall to hear that confession, considering what happened to Valeriya (and how he himself may be the prime suspect).

Garald is really confused about everything (that is, to state the obvious). The twelfth century really was in desperate need of psychologists and sex therapists :(

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