Assassin's Apprentice Part 4 - Chapter 16 to 20

[Hanne]

Chapters 16 to 20

[Hanne]

Pfff wow!... quite a lot of impressions of these chapters

First of all, Burrich, WTF?? I really thought he had started to care for Fitz, especially after what he did the Galen because of the boy, and then now he kicks him out?
He better makes up for it on this trip to the mountain country

Verity on the other hand surprised me. And while i feel like kicking Burrich, I want to hug Verity (what on earth has Robin Hobb done to me that i feel so protective of young Fitz???).
I like that he took the time to find out what Galen did to cloud Fitz, and that he brought it out. I wish he'd take the time in the near future to teach the Skill decently to Fitz.

Five more chapters to go and this book is finished.
Luckily there are a dozen more :)

[David Sven]

I think a lot of Burrich's treatment of Fitz is because "tough love" is the only way he can think of to get Fitz from turning (he thinks) animal. So I think he does care for him but is at his wits' (yuk yuk) end as to what to do to save him from a terrible fate.

[Lee]

I agree with David. I think you have to view Burrich's treatment as something along the lines of 'rough' parenting. He hasn't the skills to raise a child, he is better with animals, yet know that if he doesn't turn Fitz away from what he thinks is natural his life will be full of misery.

[Hanne]

hmm, sounds a bit extreme for tough parenting, but then Fitz does have a second 'home' in the keep itself, so he's not really throwing him out on the street without food either
Still not sure i'm a fan of this degree of tough parenting though.

[David Sven]

Hanne wrote: "Still not sure i'm a fan of this degree of tough parenting though"

Oh no, I'm not either - neither is Fitz. I'm not trying to excuse his actions. Just trying to figure out why he's doing it? A lot of it is ignorance. But that still doesn't help Fitz any.

[Rob]

Burrich has been raised like most in the thought that the Wit is evil. In his mind doing all he can to stop Fitz from using it is a kindness.

The alternative to him is that someone else finds out and kills him and has him cut apart for good measure.

My opinion of Burrich changed a lot as the series went on. You may find yours does as well.

[Hanne]

David Sven wrote: "I'm not trying to excuse his actions. Just trying to figure out why he's d..."
I know, I know! :)


The tough parenting does make sense, especially (as rob mentioned) because of the image of the wit. Just wondering what his main reason is: is it purely because of Verity's request, or has Fitz himself that became the main reason for his parenting.

Let's see what burrich will do next.
(yes, complex he definitely is)


Final five chapters to go...

[Lee]

Remember also his only experience is with animals and how he was raised by his father. As Rob says, if he allows Fitz to follow his nature then he knows he'll become evil and killed.

The character development and the fact i rad this 10 years ago makes this difficult with not knowing what not to say. But I would imagine as Alex says, with knowledge of the story a re read of the book would give you some interesting insights to the early character motivations.

[[deleted user]]

The character arcs are the best things about these books for, they slowly reveal themselves to you more and more its amazing, so complicated.

[Hanne]

Yes i can see that happening with the characters. It's hard to judge over just the one book though. So i'm curious how i will look at all of this when i finish the trilogy.