Interested in alchemical literature, which I've never encountered outside this fandom. Even as a fan of Jung with a rudimentary English degree. Googling more about alchemy and the "yellow" phase, I found this in wikipedia:
"Citrinitas, or sometimes xanthosis,[1] is a term given by alchemists to "yellowness." It is one of the four major stages of the alchemical magnum opus. In alchemical philosophy, citrinitas stood for the dawning of the "solar light" inherent in one's being, and that the reflective "lunar or soul light" was no longer necessary. The other three alchemical stages were nigredo (blackness), albedo (whiteness), and rubedo (redness).."
If we apply this as assuming there will necessarily be a phase where an external source of "light" becomes unnecessary as Strike comes to internalize/embody it, what does this imply about the only character I can think of offhand who is named "Light": LUCY???? I reluctantly hypothesize that she will be a key death in the "macrostory" which culminates book 10, when Strike presumably would confront Rokeby. I hate it, but I'm thinking she will be a goner in Hallmarked Man or book 9.
Wow! A great thought, Cheryl, especially if you consider that the final three Harry Potter books each ended with the death of an alchemical color character: Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore and red-haired fRED Weasley. (maybe Dumbledore also covers "yellow" given the "bumblebee" meeting of his surname?) Lucy's death would certainly fit in with that pattern. I would hate to see her go after the progress she and Strike made in their relationship in TRG, but it is certainly feasible.
Fascinating comments here, and I suspect you will be right about the funeral scene. However, I have a hard time knowing whose will be the corpse in the coffin (so to speak). Ted seems likelier, at this point, but Rokeby’s death carries substantially more symbolic weight, as it liberates Strike to be completely his own man.
I’ve also enjoyed thinking about how some of the stages of Campbell’s hero myth apply to these later volumes (especially Atonement with the Father and Aposteosis). It’s quite clear that Robin will be The Ultimate Boon.
Lana, I was thinking of Joe Campbell when I referred to Strike confronting Rokeby in the post I just made (on May 14, 2024. I know in the original version of the Hero's Journey, the Apotheosis with the Father precedes running home with the prize, i.e., a bit earlier in the cycle than I'm expecting it. We're already waiting for book 8, so, maybe that will happen in THM! If Lucy is to be sacrificed, I think it must be before then....and only AFTER Strike has some sort of epiphany that allows him to glow with Lucy-light from within.
New to the community, thanks for the add!
Interested in alchemical literature, which I've never encountered outside this fandom. Even as a fan of Jung with a rudimentary English degree. Googling more about alchemy and the "yellow" phase, I found this in wikipedia:
"Citrinitas, or sometimes xanthosis,[1] is a term given by alchemists to "yellowness." It is one of the four major stages of the alchemical magnum opus. In alchemical philosophy, citrinitas stood for the dawning of the "solar light" inherent in one's being, and that the reflective "lunar or soul light" was no longer necessary. The other three alchemical stages were nigredo (blackness), albedo (whiteness), and rubedo (redness).."
If we apply this as assuming there will necessarily be a phase where an external source of "light" becomes unnecessary as Strike comes to internalize/embody it, what does this imply about the only character I can think of offhand who is named "Light": LUCY???? I reluctantly hypothesize that she will be a key death in the "macrostory" which culminates book 10, when Strike presumably would confront Rokeby. I hate it, but I'm thinking she will be a goner in Hallmarked Man or book 9.
Thoughts?
Wow! A great thought, Cheryl, especially if you consider that the final three Harry Potter books each ended with the death of an alchemical color character: Sirius Black, Albus Dumbledore and red-haired fRED Weasley. (maybe Dumbledore also covers "yellow" given the "bumblebee" meeting of his surname?) Lucy's death would certainly fit in with that pattern. I would hate to see her go after the progress she and Strike made in their relationship in TRG, but it is certainly feasible.
With any luck, Luca Ricci will snuff it instead.
I can't tell you how much I HOPE this scenario does NOT pan out! JKR is willing to break our hearts, though. No guarantees!
Fascinating comments here, and I suspect you will be right about the funeral scene. However, I have a hard time knowing whose will be the corpse in the coffin (so to speak). Ted seems likelier, at this point, but Rokeby’s death carries substantially more symbolic weight, as it liberates Strike to be completely his own man.
I’ve also enjoyed thinking about how some of the stages of Campbell’s hero myth apply to these later volumes (especially Atonement with the Father and Aposteosis). It’s quite clear that Robin will be The Ultimate Boon.
Lana, I was thinking of Joe Campbell when I referred to Strike confronting Rokeby in the post I just made (on May 14, 2024. I know in the original version of the Hero's Journey, the Apotheosis with the Father precedes running home with the prize, i.e., a bit earlier in the cycle than I'm expecting it. We're already waiting for book 8, so, maybe that will happen in THM! If Lucy is to be sacrificed, I think it must be before then....and only AFTER Strike has some sort of epiphany that allows him to glow with Lucy-light from within.