The Symbol of the Keep

I should have made this my first post but I figured they weren’t going to talk about Terminal Zeus again so I had to make it my second one. Anyway I figured I’d write about this now while it’s on my mind, as well as that rather nasty scene with Danny and the Baroness (seriously, she’s like 98 years old… wouldn’t he break her? >.>).

Anyway on the Keep itself…  I found an item in it particularly interesting when the possessions (weapons) of the Baroness were being described.  That item was her Greek Fire.  I had forgotten what it was when it was first mentioned but remembered after a while.  Greek Fire if I recall was originated by the Byzantine Empire and they got the idea from the mideval period.  The fire itself supposedly cannot be put out by normal means.  Using water to attempt to extinguish this blaze will only intensify it.  An “everlasting blaze” if you will.

To me this fire is a perfect symbol to go along with the Keep and the Baroness considering the fact that they are both something that cannot be changed by any outside force other than time.  I found it amusing (perhaps intentional of the author) that Greek Fire was one of the weapons she had in her Keep.  It can outlast even the elements so a theme of untouchablity can be seen here.

I think all of this might mean something.  Perhaps with all of these examples of certain things being the same and outlasting is saying that unless you make an effort to change, it simply won’t happen.  In Danny’s case, he seems stuck in a set pattern of behavior.  He’s dependant (perhaps overly) on technology and uses that as a connection to a superficial world.  I’m thinking if he doesn’t make an effort to change his behavior he’s going to end up getting drunk and having sex with a corpse… wait, nevermind… he did that already.  Regardless I think all of this is telling Danny that those who remain set in their own ways will forever remain in isolation (like the Baroness in her untouchable Keep).