not to ask more questions about orc and astrid (so sorry, i hope it's not too annoying, lol), but what did you think of their coates scene in "plague?" what was your reaction to it? what do you think it conveys about orc's feelings for astrid? do you think it's written well?
Oh don`t worry, it`s not annoying at all!
Funfact: When I first read the books, I read them in another language and I noticed a lot of the more intense scenes where completely cut out; I think thatâs super interesting, because if youâre gonna translate a book, then why change it in such fundamental ways?
Then a year later I reread them in English, and was kinda shocked, because there was so much more gore than in the translated version.
For example, the scene where Diana cut of Drakes arm? Sam and Astrid forcing Mary to eat? Not a single word of that.
Anyways, sorry for the ramble, but that was one of the scenes that got âsoftenedâ a little and I think that only shows how intense and shocking that scene really was.
One of the many sad things about that scene is Orc slowly turning into a version of his father, drunk, abusive, agressive, dangerous; which was so heartbreaking to see, because his father already brought so much pain into his life.
It was a big climax scene for Astrid as well- âWouldnât she want to die if she were Orc? Didnât she want to die herself?â- which is such an unlikely thing for her to think, since the bible and faith have always been one of her main guides in life, really showing how big her fear and dispair really were.
She could feel Orcâs pain- but at the same time she knew that if she would stay, he would eventually lose his fight with alcohol and let agression take over him. (Though she does come back later, her initial instict was to leave, leaving LP behind and saving herself).
âThey would come to understand what monsters they were: grown as ugly inside as Orc was outside.â
Another great line- because isnât that so unlikely for Astrid as well? Judging others based on their appearance like that, calling another human being ugly? I feel like sheâs not the kind of person to do such a thing, under normal circumstances.
(Might be Iâm reading too much into that line though, but I just find that interesting)
âShe was just the only one who had ever helped him. She was the only one who had ever seen him as Charles Merriman and not just Orc. She should feel his pain.â
He knows that what heâs about to do is wrong, yet he cannot stop himself.
I think we all want the people we love the most to empathize with us, to understand what weâre feeling in hard times, but he wants her to feel his pain on a physical level.
I guess itâs good that Drake showed up, because Astrid couldnât have known that he was there, so if she would have come back to just Orc- well, he probably would have done what he was thinking about, causing irreparable damage (even more than he already did).
So yes, I think itâs written very well! It really shows if you stare into the Abyss, the Abyss stares back at you. (Getting a little philosophical here.)
My initial reaction to that scene was shock, cause I really didnât see that coming, Orc bringing her to Coates, her big protector, knight in shining armor, only to have the same thoughts about her as the guy he wanted to protect her from.
A really thought provoking question, thank you!