To answer questions about
Euphoria,
please sign up.
Dawn
I agree with all the responses here, but must add that I think it had a sacred phallic symbolism to Fen, who was trying to maintain his hold on Nell and his marriage, while he felt threatened by Bankson. He held on to it as tightly and protected it as fiercely as his privacy and masculinity, his "Northern" characteristics, don't you think?
Hameeda
Fen wanted the flute to make him more famous than his wife Nellie. She had written a book and had a grant for her work while he was just living off of that grant. The flute would have given him the recognition he was looking for.
Julie Ehlers
The flute was important because it had written language on it, when none of the tribes of that area were believed to have written language. And they did feed it; Fen mentions putting dried fish in it, which I assumed was some kind of offering since the tribe held the flute in such high regard.
Regina
The ''flute'' was considered a valuable artifact by Fen b/c it was sacred to the tribe, and the tribe believed the flute to have mystical powers. The way the flute was carved, it was made to look like it had a mouth that you could feed. Now I can't remember the specific details since I read it a month ago, but by feeding the flute, Fen could have meant he put herbs or something hallucinogenic in it. Maybe the tribesmen thought it had mystical powers b/c they smoked from it like a bong? Not sure on the specifics. But anyway, attaining this prized possession of the tribe's would have brought Fen acclaim in his field and money from whichever museum he chose to sell it to. I guess you could compare it to a Christian Holy relic, such as Jesus's shroud and how Westerners hold that sacred.
Jean Carlton
all good comments so far. I still have the book - just finished and see Ch 13 is the most info on the flute "they have verbs!" it is described as fashioned in the shape of a man with a large angry painted face"... and below "an erect unsheathed penis" were vertical rows of writing. then....We can't leave here without it. ..We could sell it to the museum...and there are books to be written about it.....it would fix us up for life....we're the perfect team (Fen and Bankson)
Jayati
As I gathered from the book, the 'flute' was important to Fen as it was the first in that region to have something called algorithmic language carved on it and he had learned to decipher it. It would have given him a huge advantage over Nell who was by far the most famous anthropologist. This is what is wrong with this book that there are no references mentioned where one can cross check about these things.
TheAccidental Reader
It seems to me the flute was something like a totem pole, covered with designs and glyphs. It stood in the forest, no more than about six feet high. It was narrow enough to fit under a hotel room bed. Fen thought he could steal it, transport it, sell it to a museum for big bucks, and retire.
About Goodreads Q&A
Ask and answer questions about books!
You can pose questions to the Goodreads community with Reader Q&A, or ask your favorite author a question with Ask the Author.
See Featured Authors Answering Questions
Learn more