V-2-ch3

[Joseph Tracy]

Victoria Wren

    Christopher Wren:  architect   who rebuilt London after great  
fire and scientist/founder of the Royal Society
      Queen Victoria: a pinnacle of British imperial power and the  
monarch of the time considered in Stencil's father's story.

V W is visiting Egypt at a critical time of its subjugation. The lust  
for her as  an object of murderous desire and sexual fantasy  is a  
lust to possess and reshape the architecture of power represented in  
her name. Historically there was a Shaftsbury who worked to bring  
down Christopher Wren and assume his role.

V. Wren is a sad figure, a girl barely past puberty surrounded by old  
men who seem to be the only ones with access to her person. Her  
situation is reminiscent  of the more universal issue of who is  
really allowed access to leadership. The empire encourages the  
boldest and most sordid lust as proof of manly leadership.. Piety is  
fine for a figurehead, but humane ideals and a true love for those  
actual people who could use some help must be laid down.

I think part of what P is getting at is the falseness of the image of  
protection , piety, and benign sovereignty projected by Victorian  
England. Stencil's investigation reveals in mircrocosm something   
more rapine.

Well actually I don't see where any of this can be attributed to  
Stencil. Did he interview all these Egyptians? How? In my reading  
Stencil's research is just a device to allow us to see what the  
author will show us in greater detail than we could plausibly  expect  
from actual research.