Question H

[Jonetta]

As much as Lorelai yearned for Ash who returned as The Rook, she refused to relate to him until she saw some part of the man she initially fell in love with. Did he seem to have changed that radically to you?

[Robin]

Actually, I didn't see that much change in him from Ash to The Rook.

[Charlene]

I thought he'd almost completely lost his humanity, that he had indeed changed drastically.

[Anita]

After 20 years, I believe Lorelai had given up on Ash ever returning. When he shows up as a notorious pirate, she was at a loss trying to reconcile Ash whom she loved and The Rook who terrified her. We knew from his inner dialogue that he wasn't at all the kind soul Lorelai believed him to be, but The Rook was totally something else.

[Jonetta]

Ash was someone who still had hope in himself that was given to him by Lorelai. She made him feel like he had worth and possibility. Fifteen years of harsh servitude stripped him of all that and the man he saw was worthless except for his power and brutality. Yes, he was formidable but he couldn’t even relate to Lorelai with any tenderness. She didn’t know this man.

[Karen ♐]

Lorelei remembered Ash in a way that he didn't. With all that he went through, all he saw now was a man who took what he wanted and wasn't concerned with the consequences. What I tried to remember was that she hadn't seen him in 20 years. How could she possibly know him.

[Lauren]

While he did change over the years, it was mainly that the pain and suffering he endured enhanced traits that already existed in him. I don't believe he completely lost his humanity because if he had, he would not have been able to become Ash again and love Lorelai.

[Jonetta]

Lauren wrote: "While he did change over the years, it was mainly that the pain and suffering he endured enhanced traits that already existed in him..."

We forget that Ash was in Newgate Prison and already had some of these survival traits as we met him when he was confined to a bed and saw him through Lorelai’s eyes.

[Lauren]

Good point, Jonetta.
I think his time at Newgate better prepared him psychologically speaking for the hardships of being enslaved. He seemed able to compartmentalize.