The Dresden Files > DF Reference Collection
Has Mab become something more? [CD Spoilers]
lt_murgen:
Based on my thoughts here:
http://www.jimbutcheronline.com/bb/index.php/topic,36663.0.html
I would say that Mab's soul has not been completely bested by the Purpose brought on by her mantle and position. Her constant interaction with mortals is feeding her soul, giving it metaphysical ammunition to subvert her Purpose. WHich might be yet another reason she chose Dresden- watching him fight his mantle for every metaphysical inch might empower her to do the same.
Not that she needs to change, mind you. I like her just the way she is.
Griffyn612:
--- Quote from: Rasins on March 04, 2013, 08:32:26 PM ---I understand your point, but ... I took it to mean that had Mab changed, she might have figured out a way to work around Maeve's infection rather than have her killed.
The fact that she was having the WL replaced is the important part, not who did it. So I don't see her as having changed or become something more (or something else). I just see it as her not wanting to do it, and that's within her ability to choose.
As to her soul, you have to be careful about what you mean. Harry using Soulfire can use up his soul and cease to exist. This is not the same thing as losing your soul. In the context of Mab I took Jim's answer to mean damnation (losing her soul to the search for power) vs. keeping your soul (for the northbound train).
--- End quote ---
Remember that Maeve might have been Infected since the end of SK. And Mab's known at least since PG, if not earlier, but after DB. That means that she's had years to work on Maeve subtly, trying to discover exactly how far gone she was. I think the important thing about Lea was that on some level, she wanted to be cured. It wasn't until Maeve openly said in CD that she didn't want to be cured that Mab gave up. And she let an Infected Maeve remain in power for years, and only eventually took action once Maeve was making a considerable effort to destroy the balances in place.
Remember, Mab can't lie.
- "I would prefer it if you were to allowed me to assist you to return to your duties."
- In reference to wanting to torture Maeve, she hesitated, but she still said "No, Maeve"
- "I cared too much."
She wanted Meave saved, but that doesn't mean that she'd convinced herself it was likely.
Don:
I like it.
I happen to believe that there was more to Maeve's comments at Macs back in PG than misdirection.
I floated a theory a few years ago that Mab is actually in love with Harry (her own demented kind of love, of course).
Mira:
I do not think Mab is any different from what she was or that she has become something more. I think simply that we and Harry understand her better. We understand what is at stake at the Gates, the perpetual war, the losses that Winter makes on a regular basis, we are getting Mab's point of view, something we really never had before. When pushed by Harry, Mab allowed us to see that there is a feeling side to her, unlike Titania who sheds a river of tears for Aurora, Mab's grief was a quiet silence. Mab knew that Maeve had to die, but while she didn't shirk from her duty to do it, she still is capable of love and does grieve for her only daughter. In short, though Harry should never underestimate her, let down his guard against her, fear her any less for what she is capable of, she is less scary now.
123456789blaaa:
--- Quote from: Mira on March 04, 2013, 09:57:59 PM --- I do not think Mab is any different from what she was or that she has become something more. I think simply that we and Harry understand her better. We understand what is at stake at the Gates, the perpetual war, the losses that Winter makes on a regular basis, we are getting Mab's point of view, something we really never had before. When pushed by Harry, Mab allowed us to see that there is a feeling side to her, unlike Titania who sheds a river of tears for Aurora, Mab's grief was a quiet silence. Mab knew that Maeve had to die, but while she didn't shirk from her duty to do it, she still is capable of love and does grieve for her only daughter. In short, though Harry should never underestimate her, let down his guard against her, fear her any less for what she is capable of, she is less scary now.
--- End quote ---
I think that's unlikely because of this WoJ:
--- Quote ---<snip>
Ask yourself why Mab had Molly brought in. What chain of events did that set in motion? What secondary effects came about because of it? Ultimately, Mab can always go to the Wyld and draw in more muscle to replace fallen thugs. If worst comes to worst, with just a few "seed" fae, she could rear up enough Changelings to repopulate her cadre within a human generation or two--nothing, to a being thousands of years old.
As far as she's concerned, everyone and everything is expendable, including herself, when it comes to adhering to her (seemingly irrational and inexplicable) priorities.
(And by the way--don't think Titania is much better. When push came to shove, she let her own daughter be murdered rather than upset the balance of the Faerie Courts. At least Mab is up front about it. Usually.)
Sacrifice her best troops? Mab would sacrifice every creature *in* Winter, every one she could bring from Summer, and every single mortal on planet Earth if that's what she thought was appropriate. And she wouldn't even need to add extra sugar to her cup of tea afterwards, much less lose sleep over it.
But no one does cold-blooded like the Queen of Winter. Mab's been in the business a long time, she's got a balance sheet, and she is *not* going to come out in the red--
--unless, of course, she really *has* stripped a gear, as Lily and Maeve believe. In which case there's a stark raving bonkers demigoddess whose powers are no longer being held in check by the Escher-esque code of Sidhe behavior. And that's all kinds of bad.
But hey. It's probably not that. I mean, not *everything* that happens can be the absolute worst possible possibility, right?
Jim
--- End quote ---
Wow...how the heck did I forget to post that :o.
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