Character discussion: Erek

[buffyangellvr23.livejournal.com]

Late post is late. I somehow forgot last night :(

I'm still fascinated by the holographic stuff with the Chee, and how they can hologram the feel of skin.

I can see some debate over the whole nonviolence thing...I've heard some fans say that giving info still is fighting, or facilitating violence...IDK myself. What do you think?

Comments

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

The non violence brings to mind someone who started a character on world of warcraft whom she is trying to get to the max level by not killing anything. She does gathering, information, scavenging, etc, but doesn't shed blood.

The same thing applies to the Chee, in my opinion. They are on the side of good, and do what they can by contributing through non violent means- subterfuge and reconnaissance. That way they can help without causing harm to anyone. They may have been non violent, but they definitely knew the Yeerks were evil, and didn't wish to see them win. However, they still didn't wish harm on them, either- they even had the Yeerks kept alive within their heads. Kept blind and clueless, but they didn't kill them.

/2 cents

[joking.livejournal.com]

I don't see how keeping those Yeerks in their heads was kind. We know from Aftran and Esplin how dreary and empty the life of an unhosted Yeerk is. In fact, you could say the fate of the Yeerks the Chee keep is crueler, because they don't even have the dignity of knowing what's happening to them.

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

I didn't say it was kind- but it was a non violent alternative to letting them go or killing them.

[joking.livejournal.com]

But I am contesting your assertion that the Chee are "on the side of good" because I don't think any character or group of characters in this series is that clear-cut in terms of morality. For "good" people the Chee do some terrible things, like locking up the Yeerks in their heads, or allowing Rachel to die (because if Erek hadn't drained power from the Pool Ship's weapons, the Blade Ship disaster would not have occurred.)

[isteillia.livejournal.com]

I will agree with that- I say "good" in loose terms for lack of a better one. I guess...Chaotic Lawful Good with the Chee? I dunno.

I also had forgotten that Erek had drained the weapons of power- it's been a while since i read the last 5 books. ><;

[blue_rampion]

Furthering this point - I feel like this debate is rather similar to the one about whether trapping David in rat morph was really "better" than killing him. This action is technically non-violent, yes, but yet you could argue that the trauma caused by this is far greater than if they had just killed the Yeerks.

The Chee may have good intentions here, but like with Cassie you can argue that this good intentions sometimes lead to much harsher consequences.