The Guild, Serenity, Mal, and Inara
POSTED BY: Bytemite
UPDATED: Monday, January 15, 2024 00:21
VIEWED: 20583
PAGE 4 of 8
Oh! You misunderstand what I mean about a fertility rite. No, that's not what I'm saying here, about surrogate companions (think we had that conversation before).
In a fertility cult, a fertility rite was just a symbolic ritual, not necessarily about the priestess involved becoming pregnant, but rather as an emulation of the natural world, to produce some desired outcome through the magic of sex.
Weird, yes, but something I can see companions as being involved in.
Or, in the more usual use of the term fertility, and the example I used before, the idea of companions using their skills to treat impotence, or maybe disorders of the orgasm.
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But... that's not a belief! That's the problem I have. That's not a renewed faith in anything, or a change of faith, or discovered faith, it's not a belief in the context of the way the word belief is being used.
That's like saying "I believe I should eat some chocolate cake" is a belief. It's something I'm DOING. Just because the word belief is used... I still don't know what Mal suddenly apparently BELIEVES in. And when he sends the message, what, is that belief GONE now?
Doesn't make sense!
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The reason I've come to believe Serenity isn't a good place for them to stay is because staying on Serenity is dangerous. So dangerous, in fact, that it's as much of a threat to a long-term relationship between Mal and Inara as so many people seem to think inara continuing as a companion should be.
They do love Serenity, I've never denied that. But that doesn't make it suitable place for them... Or Mal's lifestyle suitable for Inara.
She doesn't like that he's a criminal either you know. yeah, she might call him a Robin Hood when he's not around, but I can't believe she's quite so delusional as to think that Mal's thievery is ALWAYS noble. And I think the possibility that Mal could go off on a job and come back bleeding or dead is a frightening prospect for Inara, enough so that she feels the need to pray for his safety.
And Serenity is a big part of Mal's career and lifestyle, is symbolic of his inability to move on after the war, and in many ways represents some of his more self-flagellating qualities that keep him from being more than a petty thief.
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Quote:
A note of interest...
Out of Curiosity, I looked up the word "Madrassa", as in House madrassa. It's a variation on an Arabic word, meaning "Public School". Take from this any meaning you want .
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madrasah
Neat! You know, I have thought that there must be a lot of Middle East influence on Sihnon as well as Indian and Chinese.
Inara's name, in Arabic, means "ray of light."
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Good discussion. Lots to think on.
Here's my two cents on the topics.
The House Priestess is likely the administrative head and public face of the House. She'd hire staff, manage disputes between Companions, offer guidance and generally run the House. Greet clients, schmooze clients and government officials, represent the House in public and at gatherings of other House Priestesses.
I can see too that she would maybe keep a very select clientel or even none at all depending on her other duties at the time.
I don't see Mal leaving Serenity. Maybe taking on more difficult jobs that stick it to the Alliance, but not all out personal war.
It would take even more changes in circumstances (defeat of the Alliance maybe?) to let him settle down on a planet or moon.
As to belief. I think it's believe in himself. He was shattered after the war and he never fully healed (dah!). He regained belief that what he does matters. He may not necessarily fight a literal war but from now on he'll be openly fighting his, his own way.
He'd been slipping below the Alliance radar being a "petty thief" and now I can see Mal being more open and honest, both personally and in dealings. It's like he has gotten his self confidence that was shattered in the war, back to some extent.
BTW I see a young Mal as a very self confident, maybe even brash and reckless young man before Serenity Valley. But smart and clever, in the things he does and the ultimate leader that inspies others to do great things. That's not the Mal we meet in the pilot.
He's reckless in the pilot, but in an almost self destructive way. He saves his ass and the crew's all the time but you can tell that the part of his heart that believes devoutly isn't in it.
I'd go on but I have to go to work. Work gets in the way of important things doesn't it?
http://fireflyfaninnc.livejournal.com/
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Quote:That makes more sense! It still doesn't quite fit my own personal notion of the Guild - I don't see it so formal about "rites and ceremonies" - but that could be my own bias.
Originally posted by Bytemite:
In a fertility cult, a fertility rite was just a symbolic ritual, not necessarily about the priestess involved becoming pregnant, but rather as an emulation of the natural world, to produce some desired outcome through the magic of sex.
I haven't read much fic that delves into the spiritual side of the Guild. I'd like to, I think it could be quite interesting. Especially if it really explores the Buddhism aspect.
Re belief: NCBrowncoat says it well. Mal found belief and faith in himself, and in a cause worth dying for. You can't fit the dictionary definition of belief better than that!
Re the ship's danger: we've been over this one too, haven't we?
I see the danger as inherent to the world they live in, and I don't think that settling on a ranch would be so much safer. The settlers we've seen are not removed from the slavers/thieves/bullies of the `verse. They actually seem more helpless, since they can't fight back dirty or leave a bad situation.This thread has also got me thinking that Mal brings a lot of it on himself. I think a safer way of life will come from changing his own ways, not from choosing a new locale.
ETA: NCBrowncoat said "He's reckless in the pilot, but in an almost self destructive way. He saves his ass and the crew's all the time but you can tell that the part of his heart that believes devoutly isn't in it."
That's totally how I see it! He lost his first fight with the Operative because his heart just wasn't in it. That changed by the end of the movie.
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hmm-burble-blah, blah-blah-blah, take a left
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Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Mal found belief and faith in himself, and in a cause worth dying for. You can't fit the dictionary definition of belief better than that!
I'd say this more describes Mal as having found a cause he believed in, not a belief like the one he lost in the Valley. Back then there is a faith in God, and the whole system of trust and justice and ethics attached to it. He still adhered to some of the ethics but clearly distanced himself from the entire concept of faith and belief AND from taking on causes because both his faith and his cause had failed him.
In the movie, he believes in the cause of making the Miranda secret public and in protecting River from the Operative. That second cause may outlast the other, but it's still not a kind of healing faith or belief that a person can base a life on, find peace in.
I don't think Mal has let go of his self-destructive anger in the movie. Sure, he talks about love, but that speech is not vastly different from the "That's enough" closing line of the pilot eppy, in terms of what we know about Mal afterwards. We already know Mal loves Serenity. That's not a revelation for those who've seen the series.
I didn't come out of the movie with the idea that Mal - the Mal from the series, not merely angry exposition!Mal from the movie - had grown in a significant way. He goes through an small arch from "stay away from all causes" to "this cause is worth fighting for" but it changes nothing about his overall mental state or life situation.
Which, I think, is the reason so many fics that pick up after the movie reflect it like that.
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Yes, that's how I see the House Priestesses. Although the way you've describe their going between Houses, maybe I wouldn't need a higher organizational occupation... Though I still like the idea of it.
It's funny how differently I seem to see the movie from everyone.
If Mal's suffering from something during the series, I don't really see it as a lack of self-confidence or a real questioning of the choices he makes. He has some low opinions of his self-worth, maybe, but when he acts, I think he definitely does so with confidence.
I've known people like Mal, just maybe not QUITE so angry all the time. They're all about decide-and-act, I'll hear just enough of the details so I understand the situation, then we're done talking, my decision is final. If the situation changes or turns out to be different from represented, they quickly adjust on the fly, but again, it's a decide-and-act mindset. Don't agree? I'm right, you're wrong, you get the boot.
But if you start talking to them about FEELINGS? Oh lord. That is really just not their strong point. They CONTINUE to try to do the decide-and-act, and if you're trying to explain why you're upset about something, they don't realize you're just asking them to sympathize and listen, they think you're asking them to tell you what to do. *shakes head* It's funny, if completely annoying.
But it works the same way for their own feelings. What's the problem, how do I fix it. Can't fix it? Bah. Move on, other things to deal with more important than emotions. When they actually do have to soul search, they become awkward and/or frustrated because they don't have a lot of experience dealing with their emotions and sorting through them. Often they just end up again deciding "no, I'm going to feel THIS way, okay all better," and it usually doesn't work.
Anyway, my point is, I think that Mal has a lot of confidence in how he acts. Sometimes, that confidence CAN be a facade, him putting on the captain face, and underneath he CAN actually have doubts and low self-esteem. The problem is, he deals with that, like with everything else, by decide-and-act. His mindset has become "I'm a criminal, I'm a bad man, this is what I do, this is where I am, this is what I have to be." He does NOT listen to anyone who tells him otherwise.
I seriously doubt that the Miranda broadwave would increase his confidence. Two of his friends/"soldiers" just died. And this after deciding he would protect them no matter what, because they're part of his crew. I think he'd see it as a failure on his part, which reinforces the "I'm a bad man" mindset and makes him less likely to risk what he has left on fool quests and crusades. Not that I think the Miranda broadwave was, but I think that's how Mal would come to see it after.
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Well stated ncb, I especially like your description of Mal, pre and post war, and the change in him after Miranda. The movie wouldn't have much of a purpose if it wasn't about something and it did show an arc for Mal. The belief in one's self is a good place to start.
Mal's choices: I think one of the things that the movie illustrated well was that once Mal embraced his former self and confronted his failure (one he feels as a personal lose) at Serenity Valley, he was able to regain his believe that he could do something meaningful (speak for others) and use his leadership talents by setting up the Alliance in the process.
Mal and Serenity, I'd like it to be his choice to leave, maybe if he found work he was comfortable with...ranching? But, that would be the end of the story as far as the one we call Firefly, second generation stories would ensue. But until that time, Inara's issues are left unresolved...and so forth.
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Quote:
Originally posted by AgentRouka:Quote:
Originally posted by mal4prez:
Mal found belief and faith in himself, and in a cause worth dying for. You can't fit the dictionary definition of belief better than that!
I'd say this more describes Mal as having found a cause he believed in, not a belief like the one he lost in the Valley. Back then there is a faith in God, and the whole system of trust and justice and ethics attached to it. He still adhered to some of the ethics but clearly distanced himself from the entire concept of faith and belief AND from taking on causes because both his faith and his cause had failed him.
In the movie, he believes in the cause of making the Miranda secret public and in protecting River from the Operative. That second cause may outlast the other, but it's still not a kind of healing faith or belief that a person can base a life on, find peace in.
I don't think Mal has let go of his self-destructive anger in the movie. Sure, he talks about love, but that speech is not vastly different from the "That's enough" closing line of the pilot eppy, in terms of what we know about Mal afterwards. We already know Mal loves Serenity. That's not a revelation for those who've seen the series.
I didn't come out of the movie with the idea that Mal - the Mal from the series, not merely angry exposition!Mal from the movie - had grown in a significant way. He goes through an small arch from "stay away from all causes" to "this cause is worth fighting for" but it changes nothing about his overall mental state or life situation.
Which, I think, is the reason so many fics that pick up after the movie reflect it like that.
Exactly exactly exactly what I think. And said SO much better.
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