Elettra
asked
Ada Palmer:
Hi, when Mycroft addresses the Reader he sometimes calls him (?) "Master", does it mean that he imagines the reader to be male?
Ada Palmer
Yes in a sense; Mycroft is mostly following the 18th century practice of using "he" as the generic, which in essence presumes a male reader, but mainly because that was the norm in the style Mycroft is imitating. I like how it reminds the real reader of how not-neutral the use of "he" feels when we read that kind of text, and thus of the value of examining the problems that arose from the period when "he" was the standard default.
More Answered Questions
Clay Zdobylak
asked
Ada Palmer:
Do you feel that panarchism is the most enlightenmentish socio-political ideology of the enlightenment? Like, a fuller development of enlightenment ideals? And should i assume you think highly of panarchist theory, or is it just a useful plot device for the Terra Ignota series?
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