Composition 101

[Paul Mackin]

Don L. sez to Karen K. (alias Stan K):

I could take "
composite character" in two ways: 1) there is *a* character in each book
who is a composite of all the characters; or 2) all the characters are
a composite of some (archetypal?) ur-character.  Which do you mean?

If Karen has in mind the first sense, what about Pirate Prentice as a 
candidate? If "you are what you dream" P. P. would stand in good stead to
be a composite of the other characters in GR. Haven't thought this through
yet (gimme a second), but have always sensed the good captain as both
slightly overdetermined and shadowy at the same time.

People have remarked on the way Pirate's special gift is introduced early
on only to be dropped and never heard from again. But is this so?

Well, as I say, it'll take some thought.

Good luck on the project, Karen.

				P. 


If the latter, I'd agree that TRP, like other "encyclopedic" writers, tries
to create a microcosm within his books that encompasses a large part (if not
all) of the known universe.

On the other hand, I think that Pig Bodine and other characters like him
represent certain personalities, ideas, trends, or what you will but are
not really composites of the others themselves.

But the pig, as name for a character and as symbol in general, is obviously
favored in TRP's work.  More on *that* to come in the GRGR, I'm sure!

Don Larsson, Mankato State U (MN)