The Dresden Files > DF Spoilers
Souls and Ghosts.
Arjan:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on May 20, 2020, 10:59:56 PM ---The was the Nightmare. Could Sir Stuart have entered? Seems silly to hire Sir Stuart and tell him he isn't welcome in his house. And in the text Harry notes this as an anomaly. And since we are on the wayback machine this is Harry's second round as a ghost. Makes Vadderung look a little foolish.
--- End quote ---
But maybe sir Stuart was not a ghost. I have argued that ser Stuart was a soul just like Harry and Corpstaker on this forum before. there are several reasons to believe so and Uriel’s interest is one of them. Uriel is all about souls. As Morty’s ancestor he could have had the talent for it.
And Harry was not just a ghost, that was what the book was all about. It was just that most rules were similar but not the holy ground thing. Holy ground is for souls, dead or alive.
g33k:
--- Quote from: morriswalters on May 20, 2020, 09:05:36 PM --- ... In the case of souls and spirits it makes absolutely no difference in how you parse them. They are interchangeable in effect, if not in fact. They are different only because Jim says they are, even though, when he writes, there are no markers that would let you analyze what each is ...
--- End quote ---
The distinction remains unclear, and it's obviously unclear even to many in the setting; even Morty seemed to think Harry was a more-or-less ordinary ghost. But, as you say -- Jim says they are different. So for the Dresdenverse, they... are. That's just a fact.
And it isn't clear how and why that's important, but... evidently, it is important.
Presumably, we'll learn more in future books.
Mira:
--- Quote from: g33k on May 21, 2020, 02:45:06 AM ---The distinction remains unclear, and it's obviously unclear even to many in the setting; even Morty seemed to think Harry was a more-or-less ordinary ghost. But, as you say -- Jim says they are different. So for the Dresdenverse, they... are. That's just a fact.
And it isn't clear how and why that's important, but... evidently, it is important.
Presumably, we'll learn more in future books.
--- End quote ---
Harry wasn't, because he was only mostly dead, as in slightly alive the whole time, Bob could tell the difference. Sir Steward as far as we know is all dead, I doubt there is any loose change in his pockets.
morriswalters:
--- Quote ---And it isn't clear how and why that's important, but... evidently, it is important.
--- End quote ---
It's important because it's the the central conceit of Ghost Story, is he or isn't he dead? Jim appears to be very flexible about ghosthood. In Grave Peril Harry dies so he can come back as a ghost and then get revived to save the day. He has Harry and Harry's ghost attack Kravos at the same time. All while in a dream no less.
--- Quote ---“That’s the only bad thing about this gig as a ghost. Once you accomplish whatever it was that caused you to get created, you’re done. Kravos—the real Kravos—is already gone. Just his shell stayed behind. And this would have happened to him, too, if he’d killed you.”
--- End quote ---
So there are facts and there are facts.
Arjan:
--- Quote from: g33k on May 21, 2020, 02:45:06 AM ---The distinction remains unclear, and it's obviously unclear even to many in the setting; even Morty seemed to think Harry was a more-or-less ordinary ghost. But, as you say -- Jim says they are different. So for the Dresdenverse, they... are. That's just a fact.
And it isn't clear how and why that's important, but... evidently, it is important.
Presumably, we'll learn more in future books.
--- End quote ---
Monty knows the distinction. He only assumes that most who think they are souls are self deluding ghosts.
But the most important difference is stated more than once. The soul is really you, it is the essence of you and not a mere reflection. It can go on to what comes next or sometimes even return to life. It is what Uriel tries to save and it has free will, it can make meaningful choices.
It is late antiquity Greek magic thinking. It is the essence of what makes you you.
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