Post by cass on Nov 25, 2014 19:12:15 GMT
Okay, so I've read many a story over the years where the Reverend Mother gives Maria some kind of racy negligee or what have you for her wedding night, and it just never quite sat well with the whole "she's the lady in charge of a convent" thing for me.
I'm all for expanding on one's concept of the Rev. Mother, but that one's a long stretch, in my opinion. I do agree, however, that she would want to give Maria something of intimate significance, and I'm not thinking in terms of a crucifix upgrade, though clearly Maria could use one (maybe Sister Berthe gives her that
).
It dawned on me yesterday what would work. It's already there, too.
The wreath of myrtle.
Not only is it a traditional leaf to use for bridal garlands to signify virginity, but it has mythological significance as the flower of the gods, specifically Aphrodite. If that's not enough punch, I remember learning in high school that myrtle tea was drank by the Romans and Greeks to keep love strong, as it were.
There could not be a more perfect wedding gift for Maria, in my opinion, coming from the woman who told her that the love she has for the Captain is not wrong and ordered Maria to return to him in order to resolve that. And what's more, it fits subtly into the nuance of the Rev. Mother's character, for me, and suits the spirit of the attempts I've seen in the Rev. Mother giving Maria something of incredible value that has incredible staying power.
Just thought I'd share.
As an aside, I don't know how Catholic canon approaches the Pentateuch and how much theological value is assigned to the OT in general, but I had a nagging sense that there was a Hebrew link to myrtle, so I looked into it, and, well... I know now why I remembered it, as myrtle is a significant part of Sukkot, but I found something else I wasn't expecting when I kept on reading. Check out the Wiki page for "Myrtus" and read the "Jewish" heading under Uses. I wouldn't go so far as applying this to the above observations, but I had a good laugh, and the Captain would appreciate it.
I'm all for expanding on one's concept of the Rev. Mother, but that one's a long stretch, in my opinion. I do agree, however, that she would want to give Maria something of intimate significance, and I'm not thinking in terms of a crucifix upgrade, though clearly Maria could use one (maybe Sister Berthe gives her that
).It dawned on me yesterday what would work. It's already there, too.
The wreath of myrtle.
Not only is it a traditional leaf to use for bridal garlands to signify virginity, but it has mythological significance as the flower of the gods, specifically Aphrodite. If that's not enough punch, I remember learning in high school that myrtle tea was drank by the Romans and Greeks to keep love strong, as it were.
There could not be a more perfect wedding gift for Maria, in my opinion, coming from the woman who told her that the love she has for the Captain is not wrong and ordered Maria to return to him in order to resolve that. And what's more, it fits subtly into the nuance of the Rev. Mother's character, for me, and suits the spirit of the attempts I've seen in the Rev. Mother giving Maria something of incredible value that has incredible staying power.
Just thought I'd share.
As an aside, I don't know how Catholic canon approaches the Pentateuch and how much theological value is assigned to the OT in general, but I had a nagging sense that there was a Hebrew link to myrtle, so I looked into it, and, well... I know now why I remembered it, as myrtle is a significant part of Sukkot, but I found something else I wasn't expecting when I kept on reading. Check out the Wiki page for "Myrtus" and read the "Jewish" heading under Uses. I wouldn't go so far as applying this to the above observations, but I had a good laugh, and the Captain would appreciate it.
