Feb-17-2011, 12:02 AM (UTC)
‘You’re my number one…’
I’ve already had a rant about the ending of FF over on the YUKU forum. Won’t repeat all here but having finished FF several weeks ago I’m still expecting to bump into these characters. They became so real to me.
I never thought Fool and Fitz would be together as ‘a couple’ and for me Syrocko has encapsulated a lot of how I saw the relationship between Fool and Fitz. The Fool wanted more than he knew Fitz could/would give. The Fool could have coped without bedding Fitz (and for all we know his idea of sexual intimacy might be more akin to what they had experienced in the skill link …which might have been acceptable to Fitz) but he saw all of the problems his presence in Fitz life would cause while Molly remained his no.1 love. Hence, the analogy around Fitz and Dutiful; the Fool would be ‘one step away’ from all that he wanted to be .ie Fitz’s lover.(or at least his main love). The Nighteyes analogy seemed to turn this around except in my reading this was the Fool simply trying to point out that a close bond can exist without ‘bedding’ (I so love that phrase!). He was also slightly teasing Fitz and was amused at his horrified reaction. I never really saw this analogy as the Fool stating a sexual relationship was never on because of human/non human considerations. If he had never been up for a sexual relationship with Fitz then why did he not reassure him of this earlier? The Fool wanted to protect himself from hearing again that rejection that was so painful in GF. Even at that point Fitz is getting angry at the suggestion remember? (It reminds me of an incident with a close gay friend who, years ago, when I asked if he fancied a particular chap, remarked that it would be as out of the question as…as..as..sleeping with you!!.-accompanied by a look of horror. Now, there were no suprises, I’d had no illusions about this, or any yearnings that way myself, I still knew he was a loving friend and we were soul mates but it still stung a bit …I didn’t need to hear that…ouch!)
I do think the Fool, having been confronted with his own mortality, was very aware of the lifespan differences but feel he would have coped with ‘another of your deaths Fitz’ If Fitz had indicated the Fool was his no.1. I also think the Fool would have set aside his considerations on the impact on the future in this case, and by his return to Buckeep its seems clear he had unwisely chosen to do this. He does wear his heart on his sleeve a bit….
Still at this point things did make sense.
Incidentally, I’m not sure that I agree there were no signs that Fitz ever fancied the Fool. I think there was a physical attraction but Fitz was so far away from ever acknowledging this I couldn’t see him ever letting himself explore his feelings. This would have taken several more volumes methinks, I’m also minded that to condone and explore the relationship moving further in this direction might have been a huge gamble for Ms Hobb and would risk alienating many readers . Sadly.
The parting was beautifully written and completely in keeping with the story at that point. I was upset because it was so desperately sad, not because I didn’t agree with the Fools decisions or the ending. However…long term with Molly…meh, I didn’t hate her but think it is so sad that Fitz has as his no.1 true love a person who would not accept so much of what had made him the person he was. He wanted peace and contentment at the end of the book but how long for I ask myself. Would he just suppress all of his wittedness for example? I also find it hard to see that Fitz would be truly happy without the Fools presence in his life and also believe that the Fool was the lifelong love Kettle referred to.
The bit that didn't make sense for me was learning the Fool had returned to Buckeep and had missed Fitz! I felt my emotions were a bit over exploited at that point. Why I wonder did Hobb do this? There would have been other ways of presenting a farewell gift and bittersweet poem without the image of the Fool looking ‘stricken’ and in my view the tale would have been better without this additional heart wrenching particularly as the remainder of the book seems to be written in a different style altogether. I found it very hard to see Fitz moving on apparently so easily, reading the poem ‘about dancing’ (gah!) twice mind you, then popping off to see Hap or something. It might have worked had this not been the end of the story but a prelude to a second half where the Fool and Fitz meet again. I have read that Robin Hobb had always intended to write more about Fitz and Fool but had been so daunted by people's reactions she hadn’t felt able to. Perhaps this is why for me the ending felt unfinished. It was.
Doh, another rant….
I’ve already had a rant about the ending of FF over on the YUKU forum. Won’t repeat all here but having finished FF several weeks ago I’m still expecting to bump into these characters. They became so real to me.
I never thought Fool and Fitz would be together as ‘a couple’ and for me Syrocko has encapsulated a lot of how I saw the relationship between Fool and Fitz. The Fool wanted more than he knew Fitz could/would give. The Fool could have coped without bedding Fitz (and for all we know his idea of sexual intimacy might be more akin to what they had experienced in the skill link …which might have been acceptable to Fitz) but he saw all of the problems his presence in Fitz life would cause while Molly remained his no.1 love. Hence, the analogy around Fitz and Dutiful; the Fool would be ‘one step away’ from all that he wanted to be .ie Fitz’s lover.(or at least his main love). The Nighteyes analogy seemed to turn this around except in my reading this was the Fool simply trying to point out that a close bond can exist without ‘bedding’ (I so love that phrase!). He was also slightly teasing Fitz and was amused at his horrified reaction. I never really saw this analogy as the Fool stating a sexual relationship was never on because of human/non human considerations. If he had never been up for a sexual relationship with Fitz then why did he not reassure him of this earlier? The Fool wanted to protect himself from hearing again that rejection that was so painful in GF. Even at that point Fitz is getting angry at the suggestion remember? (It reminds me of an incident with a close gay friend who, years ago, when I asked if he fancied a particular chap, remarked that it would be as out of the question as…as..as..sleeping with you!!.-accompanied by a look of horror. Now, there were no suprises, I’d had no illusions about this, or any yearnings that way myself, I still knew he was a loving friend and we were soul mates but it still stung a bit …I didn’t need to hear that…ouch!)
I do think the Fool, having been confronted with his own mortality, was very aware of the lifespan differences but feel he would have coped with ‘another of your deaths Fitz’ If Fitz had indicated the Fool was his no.1. I also think the Fool would have set aside his considerations on the impact on the future in this case, and by his return to Buckeep its seems clear he had unwisely chosen to do this. He does wear his heart on his sleeve a bit….
Still at this point things did make sense.
Incidentally, I’m not sure that I agree there were no signs that Fitz ever fancied the Fool. I think there was a physical attraction but Fitz was so far away from ever acknowledging this I couldn’t see him ever letting himself explore his feelings. This would have taken several more volumes methinks, I’m also minded that to condone and explore the relationship moving further in this direction might have been a huge gamble for Ms Hobb and would risk alienating many readers . Sadly.
The parting was beautifully written and completely in keeping with the story at that point. I was upset because it was so desperately sad, not because I didn’t agree with the Fools decisions or the ending. However…long term with Molly…meh, I didn’t hate her but think it is so sad that Fitz has as his no.1 true love a person who would not accept so much of what had made him the person he was. He wanted peace and contentment at the end of the book but how long for I ask myself. Would he just suppress all of his wittedness for example? I also find it hard to see that Fitz would be truly happy without the Fools presence in his life and also believe that the Fool was the lifelong love Kettle referred to.
The bit that didn't make sense for me was learning the Fool had returned to Buckeep and had missed Fitz! I felt my emotions were a bit over exploited at that point. Why I wonder did Hobb do this? There would have been other ways of presenting a farewell gift and bittersweet poem without the image of the Fool looking ‘stricken’ and in my view the tale would have been better without this additional heart wrenching particularly as the remainder of the book seems to be written in a different style altogether. I found it very hard to see Fitz moving on apparently so easily, reading the poem ‘about dancing’ (gah!) twice mind you, then popping off to see Hap or something. It might have worked had this not been the end of the story but a prelude to a second half where the Fool and Fitz meet again. I have read that Robin Hobb had always intended to write more about Fitz and Fool but had been so daunted by people's reactions she hadn’t felt able to. Perhaps this is why for me the ending felt unfinished. It was.
Doh, another rant….
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