Wizard's First Rule -- Children and Torture

[Zen]

A lot of people seem to comment on Richard's experience with the Mord Sith (both here and in regular reviews of the book)...however, there is also some child torture going on. Why do you think everyone seems to forget about Carl?

[Jeffrey]

I think people do not forget about it but its a minor issue in the first book, however, as you go on in the novels, the mord sith, graphic nature of torture and sadistic descriptions become ever more disgusting. In comparison for instance with Kushiel's Dart, where domination and pain are part of the story, I found the author's torture scenes eventually repelling

[Marc]

I was turned off by all of that in the second book, not to mention all the bad writing and recycled story lines and a general lack of interest in anything that happened.

[Zen]

So, based on a sort of non-response to this topic, it seems like Carl's plight and Rachel's plight do not affect readers as much as the Mord Sith do... maybe it's because the Mord Sith are more towards the end of the book?

Also, Sidden (of the Mud People) undergoes a bit of a trial thanks to Rahl...and Brophy's story shows yet another side of childhood in the Midlands.

And even nasty little Princess Violet - I really don't think she got that way from her mother (or anyone for that matter) being nice to her...

Bottom line - there are a lot of beaten children in this book, but they seem to be ineffective as characters who capture the imagination of the reader.

Children can be seen but not heard?

[Jim]

I see it more as a background, a mood setter. Since I know it's not a real kid, it's just one more example of how cheap life was & how grotesque they were.

[Kathy]

I agree that the child torture just went to show the brutality and evil of the Darken Rahl era. TG isn't one to sugar coat the evils of war. I mean, look at Iraq, look at Gaza, look at Darfur. It's not like it doesn't happen in OUR world. To turn from the pain and manipulation of children in the book is also to turn from the reality of what is--one of the central themes to Goodkind's series.

[Jessie]

Kathy, very well said. I think that part of the point TG is trying to get across too is the that there can still be beauty and hope amidst all that evil. It needs to be shown how terrible the reality (so to speak) is to make it that much more of a triumph for good to prevail.