An aspect of the treachery theme that struck me in the final chapter is the presentation of a clash between loyalty to friends and loyalty to principle.
When Rupert is unmasked as a traitor, Ginty says "we are his friends" and argues that they should help him escape or go into voluntary exile. Peter rejects that outright. This friendship vs the state (or personal loyalties vs principles) clash I'd argue is a very big theme - maybe the major theme- in The Players and the Rebels (and a theme of MATT too?)
Some of us have commented on Kim Philby as maybe inspiring this preoccupation of Forest's with treachery of a certain kind. But others have pointed out that the Philby case happened too late. But now I'm wondering if it's the EM Forster “If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend I hope I should have the guts to betray my country” line and perhaps related discussions/debates that Forest is interested in and taking issue with - the Forster quote is from an article published in 1938 by the way. Forster and Philby were both Apostles and so the linkages are still there, if you see what I mean. I must add quickly that I know very little about Forster/the Apostles/Bloomsbury set and the general background, but obviously these were questions that interested them.
It's interesting that Ginty makes the plea for friendship, oblivious to the fact that Patrick has betrayed his friendship with Nicola. And I like the fact that when Nicola breaks with the others, she still doesn't betray them to Rowan - despite having several opportunities to do so throughout the book. Of course, that's Nicola's character - she virtually never confides in anyone - but still.
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
timeasmymeasure
Treachery and friendship/Forster
Date: 2014-10-20 12:12 pm (UTC)When Rupert is unmasked as a traitor, Ginty says "we are his friends" and argues that they should help him escape or go into voluntary exile. Peter rejects that outright. This friendship vs the state (or personal loyalties vs principles) clash I'd argue is a very big theme - maybe the major theme- in The Players and the Rebels (and a theme of MATT too?)
Some of us have commented on Kim Philby as maybe inspiring this preoccupation of Forest's with treachery of a certain kind. But others have pointed out that the Philby case happened too late. But now I'm wondering if it's the EM Forster “If I had to choose between betraying my country and betraying my friend I hope I should have the guts to betray my country” line and perhaps related discussions/debates that Forest is interested in and taking issue with - the Forster quote is from an article published in 1938 by the way. Forster and Philby were both Apostles and so the linkages are still there, if you see what I mean. I must add quickly that I know very little about Forster/the Apostles/Bloomsbury set and the general background, but obviously these were questions that interested them.
It's interesting that Ginty makes the plea for friendship, oblivious to the fact that Patrick has betrayed his friendship with Nicola. And I like the fact that when Nicola breaks with the others, she still doesn't betray them to Rowan - despite having several opportunities to do so throughout the book. Of course, that's Nicola's character - she virtually never confides in anyone - but still.