Can I just say how relieved I am to have finally gotten this out? I think I was just stressing out too much about it being perfect, because I know for a fact no one has ever written an academic essay on Garth Nix, at least, not to this extent. I'm very proud, no matter how rough it is, and hope to continue to write about his work. (That is, it's good for an English class, but I want to become an actual literary scholar here... I'm just not there yet...:-/)

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"...what is a recurring theme in his [Garth Nix's] work—namely, the constant tension between naïveté and experiential knowledge, as seen through the psychological development of his characters, as they are forced to sacrifice their personal desires for the overall good of the society."

If you've read Sabriel or its sequels, Lirael and Abhorsen, you know exactly what I'm talking about... (And it's forming in the Keys to the Kingdom...)

Unfortunately, this may not be relevant to the argument of my current paper, but it's good to save for whenever I do the bigger one on Sabriel...

So, I was just reading a very interesting post by 

docbrite

But... maybe I am a Baudelairean at heart. Art as religion. The Poet as an almost godlike figure. Except, not really.

I suppose what I mean, is my religion is like the opposite... not trying to find strength in others, but isn't that the aim of the poet, to help others find strength in their individuality? Very egocentric, yes, but didn't I say I was selfish?

Though, it is like finding strength in others--opening your heart; prayer and confession. You don't need a God, in my mind.

I just really love Catholic imagery. Dante and the Divine Comedy (and not just the seven circles of hell, but that whole thing with the stars at the end); seven virtues and vices (see Keys to the Kingdom); the sacraments (see name of hometown); all those saints and all that art and all that liturgy.

If I were to be religious, I'd prolly be a Catholic. That is, if I felt I needed God's forgiveness.

How blasphemous, no? But didn't I say I was individualistic? In the extreme. All I care about in the end is that I can forgive myself, that I can control my own destiny. I dislike the idea of someone else having control over me. In the end, it may be true, but no one can ever tell me what to think, y'know? So if God wants to damn me to hell, I dare him. I'll be cursing his cruelty all the while I'm burning.

See, the Virgin Mary wouldn't do that. And obviously I have scewed notions. Screw it. They're mine.

And that's me. I respect, even admire, Christians. But I can never be one of them, for these reasons. I'm full of sin, but it's also who I am. So, I have to politely (ha!) disagree, and we should just find a way to not just go our separate ways, but have an understanding of each other.

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Anywho, listened to podcast of Garth Nix reading prologue and first few pages of "Superior Saturday". After my recent revelation of his dastardly use of religious imagery, he comes out with this revelation: the Madam of the Upper House is building a literal Tower of Babel to try and literally invade the Incomparable Gardens (aka: heaven) and usurp Lord Sunday. She was apparently the first creation of the Architect and feels she should rightfully be in charge. Obviously the sin she suffers from is Pride. Oh, and did I mention the things holding up the Incomparable Gardens are four Dreissel trees straight out of Norse myth? They grow faster than she can build, pushing the Incomparable Gardens upward... Je l'aime!

Oh, and Arthur has now officially started his irreversible transition from mortal to Denizen (higher being). I knew after last book that he would inevitably have to do this to triumph in the end. Because it's a theme with my guy Nix: duty before desire. Arthur wants to return to his normal life, but he owes the simple fact of living now to this power he's coming under, which got rid of his asthma. And anyway, I think he can overcome this notion he has of Denizens as "monsters".

Meanwhile, Leaf remains our Everywoman. *pets*

The weekend's going to be intense, I can tell it! Book comes out in July! Yowza!